הַוָּה (hav.vah)
hav.vah
desire
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun havvah carries the primary meaning of a strong desire or craving. In the Old Testament, it appears ten times, mostly in wisdom literature like Proverbs and Job, as well as in the Psalms. The sources indicate that this word often describes a longing that leans toward negative outcomes, suggesting a desire for something harmful or destructive rather than merely neutral.
Beyond simple want, havvah can also signify a chasm or pit, used metaphorically to represent engulfing ruin or calamity. This dual sense connects the internal feeling of craving with the external reality of destruction. When Proverbs warns against the "desire" of the wicked, it points to a pull that leads to this very pit, illustrating how unchecked longing can result in spiritual or physical downfall.
Translators typically render havvah as "desire," "calamity," or "ruin" depending on the context. The word’s power lies in this link between internal motivation and external consequence. It reminds readers that certain cravings are not just harmless wishes but forces that can lead to deep loss, framing desire as a critical area for moral reflection.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word havvah reveals a heavy truth about human longing. It describes a craving that does not simply want something good, but actively pulls toward ruin. When we feel this intense pull for things that harm our spirit or relationships, we are encountering the dangerous side of desire. This word reminds us that unchecked cravings can become a pit from which it is hard to climb.
Scripture invites us to examine what we truly want. Proverbs 10:3 shows that God protects the righteous by turning away these destructive desires. This is not about suppressing all wants, but about recognizing when a longing leads to destruction rather than life. By seeking God’s wisdom, we can find peace in desires that build us up instead of tearing us down.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- destruction<s>4×
- to/ destruction/ my1×
- and/ destruction/ my1×
- and/ by/ [the] craving of1×
- and/ [the] craving of1×
- [the] craving of1×
- [is] destruction<s>1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַוּֽוֹת\׃2×
- לְ/הַוָּתִ֥/י1×
- וּ֝/בְ/הַוַּ֗ת1×
- וְ֝/הַוָּתִ֗/י1×
- וְ/הַוַּ֖ת1×
- הַוֹּֽת\׃1×
- הַוֹּ֣ת1×
- הַוַּ֥ת1×
- הַוּ֑וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 10:3
Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
This verse contrasts the righteous with the wicked, showing how God actively turns away the destructive desire (havvah) that leads to ruin.
-
Proverbs 11:6
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
Here, havvah is linked directly to unfaithfulness, illustrating how evil desires become a trap that ensnares those who follow them.
-
Micah 7:3
Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe. The powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.
The prophet uses this word to describe the powerful man’s soul-driven desire for evil, highlighting how corruption starts in internal cravings.