אַוָּה (av.vah)
av.vah
desire
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb avvah describes a strong desire or longing, often carrying the nuance of craving something intensely. It appears seven times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Deuteronomy, Jeremiah, and 1 Samuel. The term does not inherently imply evil; rather, it signifies a deep yearning that can be directed toward good or bad ends depending on the context.
In Deuteronomy 5:21, avvah is used to prohibit coveting a neighbor’s house or wife, highlighting its potential for destructive lust when misdirected. Conversely, in Jeremiah 2:24, it describes the wild donkey’s instinctive craving for the wind, illustrating a natural, powerful drive. This duality shows that the word itself is neutral, focusing on the intensity of the want rather than its moral quality.
Translators often render avvah as "lust" or "desire," but these English terms can carry negative connotations that obscure the original meaning. The sources emphasize that avvah simply marks a powerful pull of the heart. Understanding this helps readers see how Scripture addresses human motivation, whether it be for material gain or spiritual fulfillment, without immediately judging the emotion itself.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word avvah captures a deep, intense longing or craving. It is not inherently negative; instead, it describes the powerful pull of the human heart toward what it seeks. In Deuteronomy 12:15, for instance, it is used to describe the desire to eat meat after God’s blessing, showing that such cravings can be part of normal, blessed life.
Yet this same intensity can lead us astray if we seek only what satisfies our immediate impulses. Jeremiah 2:24 compares a wild donkey sniffing the wind for its craving, illustrating how natural drives can become uncontrollable when misdirected. The word invites us to examine where our deepest desires are pointed.
Understanding avvah helps us see that longing itself is neutral—it is the object of our desire that matters. When we align our cravings with God’s will, even our strongest emotions can become pathways to gratitude and peace rather than sources of conflict or emptiness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] desire of4×
- in/ [the] lust of1×
- at/ desire/ my1×
- [the] desire1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַוַּ֨ת2×
- אַוַּ֥ת2×
- בְּ/אַוָּתִ֖/י1×
- בְּ/אַוַּ֤ת1×
- אַוַּ֣ת1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 12:15
Yet you may kill and eat meat within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to Yahweh your God’s blessing which he has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer.
This verse shows that desire can be a legitimate response to God’s blessing, permitting the enjoyment of food as part of daily life.
-
Jeremiah 2:24
a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
Here the word illustrates how instinctive cravings can become uncontrollable when they are not guided by wisdom or divine direction.
-
Deuteronomy 18:6
If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel where he lives, and comes with all the desire of his soul to the place which Yahweh shall choose,
The phrase 'with all the desire of his soul' highlights wholehearted devotion to God’s service as a positive use of intense longing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word avvah mean?
Is avvah always negative in the Bible?
How is avvah different from other words for desire?
Where does avvah appear most often?
Every Occurrence (7 verses across 4 books)
Deuteronomy 4 verses
Yet you may kill and eat meat within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to Yahweh your God’s…
Deuteronomy 12:20When Yahweh your God enlarges your border, as he has promised you, and you say, “I want to eat meat,” because your soul…
Deuteronomy 12:21If the place which Yahweh your God shall choose to put his name is too far from you, then you shall kill of your herd…
Deuteronomy 18:6If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel where he lives, and comes with all the desire of his soul to…