אָוָה (a.vah)
a.vah
to desire
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb avah describes a deep, inward longing or inclination toward something. It moves beyond simple want to express a craving that grips the soul. In Proverbs and Psalms, it often appears with the word for "soul" (nepesh), showing that this desire comes from the core of a person’s being rather than just a passing whim.
The word carries distinct nuances depending on its grammatical form. The Piel stem typically denotes a strong desire or craving, such as when the wicked soul desires evil in Proverbs 21:10. The Hithpael stem intensifies this meaning, often translated as "lust" or "burning desire," particularly regarding physical appetites, as seen in Numbers 11:4 where the community lusted for meat.
A notable feature of avah is its application to both negative cravings and positive spiritual yearning. While it frequently warns against greedy coveting, it also describes a holy hunger. In Isaiah 26:9, the prophet uses it to express a deep, nightly longing for God himself, proving that the same word can describe either destructive greed or faithful devotion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word avah describes a deep longing that reaches into the core of your being. It is more than a passing wish; it is a craving that defines where your heart truly lies. This desire can pull you toward selfish greed, as seen when people demanded meat in the wilderness, or it can lift you upward in faithful devotion.
When this word appears in Isaiah 26:9, it captures a holy hunger for God Himself. The prophet speaks of desiring God with his soul and spirit during the night. This shows that the same deep longing can be either destructive or redemptive depending on its object. You are invited to examine what your soul truly craves.
God knows the deepest inclinations of your heart. He does not judge your struggles with desire harshly but invites you to direct that energy toward Him. When you long for His presence, you find a rest that satisfies more than any earthly thing ever could.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it will desire3×
- you crave2×
- it desires2×
- it craves2×
- you must desire1×
- you desire1×
- who/ craved1×
- those/ [who] desire1×
- they craved1×
- it has desired1×
- he has desired/ it1×
- he desires1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּאַוֶּ֖ה3×
- תִּ֝תְאָ֗יו2×
- תִּ֭תְאָיו1×
- תְּאַוֶּ֨ה1×
- תִתְאַוֶּ֜ה1×
- תְאַוֶּ֥ה1×
- מִתְאַוָּ֣ה1×
- יִתְאַוֶּ֗ה1×
- וַ/יִּתְאָ֥יו1×
- וַ/יִּתְאַוֶּ֥ה1×
- וַ/יִּתְאַוּ֣וּ1×
- הַ/מִּתְאַוִּֽים\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 26:9
With my soul I have desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
This verse demonstrates the positive use of the word, showing a soul actively seeking God with earnest spiritual yearning.
-
Numbers 11:4
The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly; and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?
Here the word describes a destructive craving for immediate gratification that led to rebellion against God's provision.
-
Deuteronomy 5:21
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
The commandment uses this term to prohibit coveting, highlighting how deep desires can turn into harmful envy of others.
-
Psalms 132:14
“This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired it.
God declares His own desire for Zion, showing that divine longing is a powerful force for establishing His presence among people.