אָ֫וֶן (a.ven)
a.ven
evil: wickedness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 59 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun aven describes trouble, sorrow, or wickedness, often carrying a sense of emptiness or futility. Its root likely conveys the idea of panting or exerting oneself in vain, suggesting that such evil leads to nothing of lasting value. This nuance connects moral failure with vanity, as seen when Job reflects on the empty toil of the wicked (Job 15:35) or when Proverbs warns against the futility of mocking a scoffer (Proverbs 22:8).
Aven also has a specific association with idolatry. The prophets use it to describe the worthlessness of false gods, calling them "vanities" that cannot save (Isaiah 41:29). In Hosea, the city of Bethel is contemptuously renamed Beth-aven, or "house of idols," highlighting how worshiping empty things replaces true devotion (Hosea 4:15). This usage underscores the belief that turning away from God results in spiritual emptiness.
While often translated as "iniquity" or "wickedness," aven emphasizes the destructive and hollow nature of sin. It appears frequently in Psalms and Job, where it describes the trouble that comes from unjust actions (Psalm 5:5; Job 4:8). The word reminds readers that evil is not just a moral error but a force that drains life of its meaning and purpose.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word aven carries a heavy weight, describing not just moral failure but the hollow emptiness that follows it. It suggests that wickedness is ultimately futile, like chasing wind or building on sand. When we look at the lives of those who pursue evil, we see they reap only trouble and sorrow. This word reminds us that sin does not bring lasting satisfaction; instead, it drains life of its true meaning and purpose.
Scripture uses aven to highlight the worthlessness of idolatry, calling false gods "vanities" that cannot save. By turning away from God to worship empty things, we invite spiritual emptiness into our hearts. The prophets warned Israel that such devotion leads to a broken relationship with the Creator. Recognizing this helps us see why true peace is found only in Him.
Yet there is hope. Because God sees all iniquity, He also offers a way out. He invites us to put away what harms us and return to His path. This word challenges us to examine our own lives, asking if we are chasing after things that leave us empty or resting in the fullness of God’s presence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 59 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wickedness26×
- <of> wickedness14×
- trouble4×
- wickedness/ your1×
- wickedness/ their1×
- wickedness/ his1×
- mourning<s>1×
- in/ mourning/ my1×
- hardship1×
- from/ wickedness1×
- evil1×
- disaster1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אָֽוֶן\׃16×
- אָ֑וֶן15×
- אָ֥וֶן3×
- אָ֖וֶן3×
- אָ֔וֶן3×
- אָ֙וֶן֙2×
- מֵ/אָֽוֶן\׃1×
- לְ/אָֽוֶן\׃1×
- וָ/אָֽוֶן\׃1×
- וָ/אָ֑וֶן1×
- וְ/אָ֥וֶן1×
- הָ/אָ֑וֶן1×
Key Verses
-
Job 4:8
According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.
This verse establishes the fundamental principle that those who sow evil inevitably reap trouble, linking human action directly to consequence.
-
Psalms 90:10
The days of our years are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty years; yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for it passes quickly, and we fly away.
Here the word connects human pride and labor to sorrow, illustrating how a life focused on self leads to fleeting and empty years.
-
Job 36:10
He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
This occurrence shows God’s mercy, as He uses the awareness of iniquity to open ears to instruction and call people back from their errors.