אוֹיָה (o.yah)
o.yah
woe!
H:IntjQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Intj
Word Overview
The Hebrew interjection oyah expresses a sudden, sharp cry of distress or grief. It functions as an exclamation of woe, conveying immediate pain or dismay rather than a prolonged lament. This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, marking it as a rare and specific vocalization of suffering.
In its sole occurrence, Psalm 120:5, the psalmist cries "Oyah to me" while describing life among hostile people. The brevity of the term mirrors the suddenness of the emotional blow, serving as a raw outlet for anguish in a moment of acute vulnerability. It captures the instinctive human response to overwhelming pressure or threat.
Translators typically render this word as "woe" or "alas," preserving its tone of lament. Its scarcity in Scripture highlights the unique intensity of the psalmist’s situation, where such a direct cry becomes necessary. The word stands as a testament to the honesty with which biblical writers brought their deepest sorrows before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word oyah is a sudden cry of distress, used only once in the Hebrew Bible. In Psalm 120:5, the psalmist cries out, "Woe is me," while living among hostile people. This raw expression shows that it is okay to bring your deepest pain directly to God without filtering it.
When you face overwhelming pressure or feel surrounded by those who do not understand you, this word reminds you that honesty in prayer is valued. You do not need to hide your anguish or pretend everything is fine. Bringing your genuine sorrow to the Lord is an act of trust, showing that He can handle your pain.
God invites you to bring your heaviest burdens to Him. In moments of acute vulnerability, remember that your cries are heard and that He walks with you through the difficulty, offering peace that surpasses understanding.
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.
- אֽוֹיָה\־1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 120:5
Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
This verse captures the psalmist's sudden cry of distress while living among hostile people, showing the word as a raw outlet for anguish.