← H5757 H5759 →

עִוְיָא

𐤏𐤅𐤉𐤀

ʻivyâʼ

H5758 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עוה to twist, bend, pervert, distort

Definition

A term for iniquity, wrongdoing, or moral corruption; connotes a severe deviation from what is just, upright, or acceptable, most often used in juridical or moral contexts to denote acts or states contrary to expected norms. It refers to serious violations of law or ethics, especially as recognized within ancient Aramaic-speaking communities and in biblical Aramaic passages.

Semantic Range

iniquity, moral corruption, perverseness, perversion (of law or morality), wrongdoing

Root / Etymology

The word עִוְיָא (ʻivyâʼ) is of Aramaic origin and is likely derived from the Hebrew root עוה (ʿ-w-h), which means 'to bend, pervert, twist.' While the root is attested in Hebrew, the morphological form and application in עִוְיָא are specifically Aramaic. Thus, the term operates as an abstract noun conveying the sense of moral or legal perversion based on the act of 'twisting' right order.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עִוְיָא appears only in biblical Aramaic sections, such as Ezra and Daniel. Its meaning is closely linked to the Hebrew עָוֹן (ʿāwōn), with a similar semantic range, but its use is restricted to Aramaic passages. The term denotes not only individual acts of wrongdoing but also the state or outcome resulting from a collective or personal deviation from moral or legal standards. In legal or communal declarations (e.g., in confessions or decrees), it encompasses both juridical guilt and the moral quality of the action. English translations often render it as 'iniquity' or 'perverseness,' but the nuance of active ‘twisting’ or distortion of norms is sometimes lost. Unlike the broader Hebrew עָוֹן, which may at times emphasize consequences or punishment for wrongdoing, עִוְיָא more often highlights the intrinsic perversion or moral aberration itself. No evidence connects the word to later Jewish identity or practice, as its use is confined to the earlier biblical period and an Aramaic linguistic setting.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to עָוָה; perverseness; iniquity.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

עוה (ʿ-w-h) — to twist, bend, pervert, distort

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4596 מְעִי ruin-heap of
H5753 עָוָה she acted crookedly
H5757 עַוִּי and the Avvites
H5771 עָוֺן distortion-guilt
H5773 עַוְעֶה moral distortions

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5758-01 וַ/עֲוָיָתָ֖/ךְ vaavayatakhe AC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms and your iniquities and your perversions 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5758-01 Daniel 4:24 וַ/עֲוָיָתָ֖/ךְ vaavayatakhe AC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms and your iniquities and your perversions
← H5757 Hebrew Lexicon H5759 →