יָאַב (ya.av)
ya.av
to long
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ya’av means to long for or deeply desire something. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 119:131, where the psalmist describes opening his mouth wide and panting for God’s commands. This vivid imagery captures an intense, almost physical craving, suggesting that spiritual obedience is not a dry duty but a heartfelt yearning.
Lexical sources note that this form is likely a late Aramaism, reflecting the linguistic shifts in Hebrew during the later biblical period. While it shares the general sense of desire with more common Hebrew words like chamad or ta’avah, ya’av carries a specific nuance of eager anticipation. The psalmist’s use of it emphasizes that knowing God’s laws is not burdensome but something to be eagerly pursued.
Its single occurrence highlights how even rare words can carry significant theological weight. By choosing ya’av, the writer conveys that true devotion involves an active, passionate longing for divine instruction, rather than passive compliance. This perspective invites readers to consider their own attitude toward spiritual disciplines as a source of joy and desire.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ya’av paints a picture of intense physical craving, used only once in Scripture to describe longing for God’s commands. In Psalm 119:131, the psalmist opens his mouth wide and pants for divine instruction. This vivid imagery shows that true devotion is not a dry duty but a heartfelt yearning.
When we read this, it invites us to examine our own hearts. Do we view spiritual disciplines as burdensome tasks or as sources of joy? The psalmist suggests that knowing God’s laws should be something we eagerly pursue, like food for the hungry.
This perspective shifts our focus from passive compliance to active passion. It reminds us that obedience flows from a deep desire to know God better. May you find yourself panting for His word with fresh excitement today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I longed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָאָֽבְתִּי\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:131
I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments.
This single occurrence uses ya’av to contrast the physical act of panting with spiritual desire, showing that obedience is driven by eager anticipation rather than obligation.