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עָוַן

𐤏𐤅𐤍

ʻâvan

H5770 verb

SILEX Entry

Root עין to see, to observe, to eye

Definition

'To watch with suspicion or hostility, to gaze upon with a hostile or jealous intent.' This verb denotes the act of observing someone with a purpose driven by rivalry, envy, or ill will, distinct from benign or neutral watching. Used almost exclusively in the context of hostile scrutiny or malevolent intent in interpersonal relationships, often signaling conflict or impending harm.

Semantic Range

to watch with jealousy, to regard with hostile intent, to eye with envy, to look suspiciously at

Root / Etymology

Denominative verb from עַיִן (ʿayin, 'eye'), drawing on the root sense of seeing or watching, but the derived verb form עָוַן (ʿāvan) specifically indicates a watching associated with jealousy, envy, or ill-will, rather than neutral observation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb עָוַן (ʿāvan) is exceedingly rare in the Hebrew Bible, occurring only once in a clear verbal form (1 Samuel 18:9: וַיָּעַוֹן שָׁאוּל אֶת-דָּוִד), where it describes Saul's hostile, jealous observation of David after David's successes. Its formation is directly from the noun עַיִן ('eye'), but the verb's meaning is narrower—never simply 'to look' but rather 'to look with ill will or suspicion.' This specific shade distinguishes it from other Hebrew verbs meaning 'to watch,' such as שָׁמַר (shamar, 'to keep watch, guard') or צָפָה (tsafah, 'to keep lookout'), which lack the element of animosity. The word is not attested outside pre-exilic Hebrew and does not appear in later periods or in post-biblical Hebrew. English translations sometimes obscure the nuance, offering terms like 'eyed' or 'watched,' but standard renderings such as 'eyed David with suspicion' or 'kept a jealous eye on David' better convey the emotional connotation. The notion of the 'evil eye' in later Jewish tradition is unrelated to this verb, though both play on watching with ill intent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

denominative from עַיִן; to watch (with jealosy); eye.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עין (ʿ-y-n) — eye, see, observe

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2704 חֲצַר עֵינָן Spring-Eyed One
H3282 יַעַן because
H4599 מַעְיָן the springs
H5869 עַיִן eyes
H5870 עַיִן my eye

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5770-01 עוֹיֵ֣ן oyen HVqrmsa eyeing the hostile-watching one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5770-01 1 Samuel 18:9 עוֹיֵ֣ן oyen HVqrmsa eyeing the hostile-watching one
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