וָו (vav)

vav

hook

H2053 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 13 verses

H:N-M

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 13 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-M

Definition

hook, peg, nail, pin

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[וָו] n.[m.] hook, pin or peg

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

hook, peg, nail, pin

What This Word Means for Your Faith

When you read about the Tabernacle in Exodus, the word vav appears again and again as a simple hook. These were not decorative pieces but functional fasteners that held the heavy curtains of the sanctuary together. Without these small metal hooks, the sacred space would have fallen apart, leaving the presence of God exposed to the elements.

This detail reminds us that God cares about the small things. He did not just provide a grand vision; He provided the specific hardware needed to make it stand. In your own life, you might feel like a minor part of a larger plan, but even the smallest connection can hold something precious in place. Your faithful obedience, no matter how quiet or unnoticed, contributes to the stability of God’s work around you.

Consider how these hooks connected the pillars to the curtains. They created a boundary that protected and defined a holy space. Similarly, your daily acts of kindness and integrity connect you to others, creating spaces where God’s love can be safely experienced. You are part of a structure built by grace, held together by many small, faithful connections.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.

hooks/ their6×
[the] hooks of6×
hooks1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

וָוֵ֧י5×
וָוֵי/הֶ֖ם4×
וָוֵי/הֶ֣ם1×
וָוֵ֨י1×
וָוִ֖ים1×
וָ֣וֵי/הֶ֔ם1×

Key Verses

Exodus 26:32
You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.

This verse specifies gold hooks for the inner sanctuary, showing that even functional hardware was crafted from precious materials to honor God's presence.
Exodus 27:10
Its pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.

Here silver hooks are used for the outer court pillars, distinguishing the materials of the holy place from those of the surrounding enclosure.
Exodus 38:28
From the one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made fillets for them.

This summary verse highlights that the hooks were made from the redeemed silver of the people, turning their contribution into a permanent part of God's dwelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word vav (H2053) mean?

The word vav literally means 'hook'. In the Old Testament, it is almost exclusively used to describe the metal hooks that held up the curtains and pillars of the Tabernacle.

Why are hooks mentioned so many times in Exodus?

The Tabernacle was a complex tent structure that needed to be assembled and disassembled for travel. Hooks were essential fasteners that connected the heavy linen curtains to the wooden pillars, ensuring the shelter remained secure.

Is vav used in any other contexts besides construction?

In this specific Strong's entry, it is primarily associated with the Tabernacle's hardware. While the root can relate to connecting or joining, the noun form here focuses on the physical hook used in sacred architecture.

Every Occurrence (13 verses across 1 books)

Exodus 13 verses

Exodus 26:32

You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.

Exodus 26:37

You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold. You…

Exodus 27:10

Its pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be…

Exodus 27:11

Likewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and…

Exodus 27:17

All the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze.

Exodus 36:36

He made four pillars of acacia for it, and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold. He cast four sockets of…

Exodus 36:38

and the five pillars of it with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold, and their five…

Exodus 38:10

their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of…

Exodus 38:11

For the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the…

Exodus 38:12

For the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars,…

Exodus 38:17

The sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. Their capitals…

Exodus 38:19

Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of bronze; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their…

Exodus 38:28

From the one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and…