עַוָּתָה (av.va.tah)
av.va.tah
oppression
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun avvatah describes a state of subversion or bending that results in the deprivation of justice. It conveys the idea of a legal system being twisted out of shape, where fairness is lost because the scales have been manipulated. The term appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Lamentations 3:59.
In this context, it highlights the severity of the suffering described by the poet. The word suggests that injustice was not merely an occasional failure but a fundamental distortion of order. By focusing on the "bending" of right and wrong, the text emphasizes how deeply the community’s trust in justice had been undermined during their crisis.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word for oppression here paints a picture of justice being bent out of shape. It describes a situation where the scales are manipulated and fairness is lost. This is not just a minor error, but a deep distortion of order that leaves people feeling abandoned by the systems meant to protect them.
In Lamentations 3:59, the poet cries out to God because he sees this wrong clearly. He does not hide from the pain or pretend it is normal. Instead, he brings his broken trust directly to Yahweh. This reminds us that God sees when things are twisted and unfair.
You do not have to carry the weight of injustice alone. When you feel that right has been bent wrong, you can bring your cause to Him. He notices the suffering and hears the cry of those who seek true justice.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- oppression/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַוָּ֣תָתִ֔/י1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 3:59
Yahweh, you have seen my wrong. Judge my cause.
The poet uses this rare word to describe a fundamental distortion of justice, showing that his plea for judgment is based on seeing the clear wrong done to him.