אֵיבָה (e.vah)
e.vah
enmity
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun eḇah denotes a state of active hostility or deep-seated enmity between parties. In the Hebrew Bible, it is not merely a fleeting feeling of dislike but a relational condition marked by conflict and opposition. This word appears in only three verses, giving its usage in Scripture a concentrated and significant weight.
Its most prominent occurrence is in Genesis 3:15, where God declares an eḇah between the serpent and the woman. Here, the term establishes a fundamental division that shapes human history, marking a permanent break in relationship caused by disobedience. It also appears in Numbers 21:2 regarding the Amalekites, describing a specific, enduring feud that required divine judgment.
While often translated as "hatred," eḇah carries a stronger sense of entrenched opposition than simple emotional aversion. It describes a structural rift between groups or individuals, setting the stage for ongoing struggle rather than just personal animosity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eḇah describes a deep, structural rift between parties, not just a fleeting feeling of dislike. In Genesis 3:15, God declares this enmity between the serpent and the woman after the fall. This establishes a permanent division in human history, marking the break in relationship caused by disobedience. It is more than personal animosity; it is an entrenched opposition that shapes our world.
Understanding this helps us see the gravity of sin. It creates barriers that only God can bridge. While the word appears in contexts of judgment, like the feud with Amalek, its primary use points to the cosmic struggle between good and evil. We are invited to trust that God is aware of these divisions and works within them for His purposes.
This reality reminds us that we live in a fallen world where conflict exists. Yet, even in this hostility, there is hope. The promise in Genesis points toward a future resolution. We can find comfort in knowing that God is not distant from our struggles but is actively working to restore what was broken.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ enmity1×
- enmity1×
- and/ enmity1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אֵיבָ֣ה\׀1×
- בְ/אֵיבָ֞ה1×
- אֵיבָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 3:15
I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”
This verse uses eḇah to establish a fundamental, permanent division between the serpent and the woman, shaping the course of human history.
-
Numbers 35:21
or in hostility struck him with his hand, so that he died, he who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
Here the word describes active hostility in a killing, distinguishing intentional murder from accidental death for legal judgment.
-
Numbers 35:22
“‘But if he shoved him suddenly without hostility, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait,
The absence of eḇah (hostility) in this scenario shifts the legal outcome, showing how intent defines the nature of the act.