שַׁוְעָה (shav.ah)
shav.ah
cry
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun shav’ah denotes a cry for help, appearing six times in the Hebrew Bible with a heavy concentration in Psalms, Lamentations, and Jeremiah. It captures the urgent vocalization of distress, serving as the audible signal that someone is in trouble and needs intervention. The word does not describe a casual call but rather a desperate appeal arising from immediate danger or deep suffering.
Its usage highlights the relational dynamic between the sufferer and God. In Lamentations 3:55-56, for instance, the psalmist describes calling out to God’s name from the depths of a pit, emphasizing that this cry is directed specifically toward divine deliverance. The term underscores the belief that vocalizing one’s plight is the first step in receiving aid, framing prayer not as a silent meditation but as an active, loud request for rescue.
Translators typically render shav’ah as "cry" or "shout," preserving the intensity of the original Hebrew. This choice reflects the raw emotion inherent in the word, distinguishing it from quieter forms of petition. The consistent association with times of crisis reinforces its theological weight: it is the sound of human vulnerability reaching out to divine strength.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels overwhelming, it is natural to feel a need for urgent help. The Hebrew word shav’ah captures this raw, desperate cry for rescue. It is not a polite request but a loud call from the depths of trouble. This term reminds us that God hears the sound of our distress when words fail.
In Lamentations 3:56, the writer pleads, "Don’t hide your ear from my sighing, and my cry." This shows that bringing our pain to God is an act of faith. He does not turn away from our noise or our fear. Instead, He listens closely to those who call out in their need.
You do not have to carry your burdens alone. Bringing your honest cries to Him is the first step toward finding peace. His ear is always open to your voice, ready to respond with care and strength.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- cry for help/ their2×
- [the] cry for help of2×
- to/ cry for help/ my1×
- and/ cry for help/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שַׁוְעָתָ֥/ם1×
- שַׁוְעָתָ֛/ם1×
- שַֽׁוְעַ֥ת1×
- שַֽׁוְעַ֣ת1×
- לְ/שַׁוְעָתִֽ/י\׃1×
- וְ/שַׁוְעָתִ֖/י1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 3:56
You heard my voice: “Don’t hide your ear from my sighing, and my cry.”
This verse shows the psalmist explicitly asking God not to hide His ear from his cry, highlighting that vocalizing pain is a direct appeal for divine attention.
-
II Samuel 22:7
In my distress, I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears.
Here David connects his distress directly to God hearing his voice in the temple, demonstrating that cries from trouble reach the divine presence.
-
Psalms 145:19
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
This promise links the fear of the Lord with God’s willingness to hear their cry and save them, showing a reliable pattern of divine response.