אֲבוֹי (a.voy)
a.voy
pain!
H:IntjQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Intj
Word Overview
The Hebrew interjection avoy serves as a sharp exclamation of pain, distress, or deep uneasiness. Translated as "Oh!" or "Woe!", it captures an immediate emotional reaction to suffering or misfortune rather than a long theological reflection. Its singular occurrence in Proverbs 23:29 underscores this raw human response to the physical and social consequences of excessive drinking.
Unlike broader terms for sorrow, avoy is brief and visceral, signaling a moment of acute realization that something has gone wrong. The sources note it indicates a desire or discomfort born from witnessing trouble, making it a powerful tool for emphasizing the gravity of the warning in its context. It reminds readers that the costs of folly are not abstract but felt deeply.
Because this word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, its impact relies entirely on its placement within Proverbs 23:29. There, it punctuates a list of woes associated with wine, acting as an emotional anchor for the reader to feel the weight of the described pain. Its rarity highlights how specific and urgent such exclamations were when used in ancient wisdom literature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word avoy is a sharp cry of pain, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible within Proverbs 23:29. It captures an immediate reaction to suffering rather than a long theological reflection. This brief exclamation signals that the costs of folly are not abstract ideas but deep, felt realities.
When we face the consequences of poor choices, this raw human response reminds us that wisdom matters. The text uses this sharp cry to anchor the reader in the gravity of the warning against excessive drinking. It invites us to consider how our actions impact our well-being and relationships.
May you find peace in seeking wisdom that protects your heart and mind. Let this reminder guide you toward choices that bring health and stability, trusting in God’s provision for a life of balance and joy.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- woe!1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲב֡וֹי1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 23:29
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
The word avoy punctuates the list of woes associated with wine, acting as an emotional anchor that emphasizes the immediate pain resulting from excessive drinking.