עוֹנָה (o.nah)
o.nah
iniquities; heat
H:N-M/FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M/F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun עוֹנָה appears only twice in the Old Testament, and its meaning is a subject of textual uncertainty. In Hosea 10:10, the Masoretic Text reads it as "iniquities," aligning with the common root for sin or punishment. However, many scholars suggest this may be a scribal error for עוֹנֹתָם ("their iniquities"), which would fit the context more smoothly.
In Isaiah 11:15, the word takes on a different sense entirely, translated as "glow" or "heat." Here it describes the drying up of the sea's tongue, likely referring to the intense heat that evaporates the waters. This usage highlights how rare and context-dependent the term is, shifting from moral failure to physical phenomenon.
Because the word is so sparse in Scripture, its theological weight rests on these two distinct moments. It serves as a reminder of the complexity of biblical languages, where a single form can carry vastly different meanings depending on the manuscript tradition and the surrounding imagery.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word עוֹנָה appears only twice in Scripture, carrying two very different meanings that remind us of God’s comprehensive care. In Isaiah 11:15, it describes the scorching wind that dries up the waters, showing how even intense heat serves His purpose to clear a path for His people.
This rare term also connects to our struggles with sin in Hosea 10:10, where it refers to iniquities. The Bible does not shy away from the reality of moral failure, yet it places this weight within God’s larger story of redemption and justice. We see that He addresses both our physical needs and our spiritual condition.
When we face overwhelming obstacles or deep guilt, this word offers a quiet comfort. It suggests that no barrier is too great for God to remove, and no sin is beyond His reach. His power works through both the storm and the silence to bring about His good purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ [the] heat of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/עְיָ֣ם1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 11:15
Yahweh will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind he will wave his hand over the River, and will split it into seven streams, and cause men to march over in sandals.
This verse uses the word to describe the scorching wind that dries up the sea, illustrating God's power to remove obstacles for His people.