אוֹי (oy)
oy
woe!
H:IntjQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Intj
Word Overview
The Hebrew interjection oy expresses a sudden, passionate cry of grief or despair. It functions as an immediate reaction to tragedy, judgment, or overwhelming sorrow. In the Old Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from personal lament to prophetic warning, conveying a raw emotional response that words alone cannot fully contain.
This word often carries a tone of threat or impending doom, particularly in the writings of Jeremiah and Isaiah. For instance, prophets use it to announce divine judgment on nations, as seen when Jeremiah cries out against the coming disaster (Jeremiah 4:13). It also appears in moments of personal crisis, such as Samuel’s grief over Saul’s failure (1 Samuel 4:8).
Its etymology likely connects to a sense of crying out or longing, suggesting that oy is not just an exclamation but a vocalization of deep inner turmoil. Translators typically render it as "woe" or "alas," capturing its dual role as both a lament and a warning. This single word encapsulates the weight of human suffering and divine justice in biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word 'oy' is a raw cry of grief or despair, often used in moments of sudden tragedy or divine judgment. It captures the weight of human suffering and the reality of consequences for sin. When we encounter this interjection in Scripture, it reminds us that our pain is seen and acknowledged by God.
In personal lament, 'oy' expresses deep inner turmoil, as when Jeremiah cries out over his injury or Samuel grieves over Saul’s failure. It is not a sign of weak faith but a honest response to overwhelming sorrow. God hears these cries, even in the darkest moments.
For your faith, this word invites you to bring your heaviest burdens to God with honesty. You do not need to hide your pain or pretend everything is fine. In Christ, we find hope that suffering is not the final word, and that God’s justice and mercy meet at the cross.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- woe!19×
- woe1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- א֥וֹי6×
- אֽוֹי\־5×
- א֣וֹי4×
- אוֹי\־2×
- א֤וֹי1×
- א֖וֹי1×
- א֕וֹי1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 6:5
Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!”
This verse shows 'oy' as a response to seeing God's holiness, revealing human unworthiness and deep conviction of sin.
-
Jeremiah 4:13
Behold, he will come up as clouds, and his chariots will be as the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! For we are ruined.
Here the prophet uses 'oy' to announce impending national disaster, highlighting the word’s role in prophetic warning.
-
Lamentations 5:16
The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!
This occurrence links 'oy' directly to corporate sin and its consequences, showing grief over lost blessings due to disobedience.
-
Numbers 21:29
Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to Sihon king of the Amorites.
Used as a prophetic judgment against Moab, this verse demonstrates the word’s function in declaring divine justice on nations.