תַּאֲבָה (ta.a.vah)
ta.a.vah
longing
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ta’avah denotes a strong longing or desire. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 119:20, where the psalmist expresses an intense yearning for God’s commandments.
While the word simply means "longing," its placement in this specific verse highlights a spiritual dimension of desire. The psalmist does not merely wish for rules but craves them deeply. This usage suggests that holy desires can be as powerful and consuming as physical appetites, turning obedience into something eagerly sought rather than reluctantly followed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Have you ever found yourself craving something so deeply that it feels like a physical hunger? The Hebrew word ta’avah captures this intensity. It is not a casual wish or a mild preference, but a soul-deep yearning. In Psalm 119:20, the psalmist uses this powerful term to describe his desire for God’s commandments. This tells us that our spiritual desires can be just as real and urgent as our need for food or water.
When we read this, it invites us to examine what truly fills our hearts. Are we content with surface-level faith, or do we ache for the wisdom and guidance found in Scripture? Ta’avah suggests that obedience is not a burden, but a treasure we eagerly seek. It shifts our perspective from seeing rules as restrictions to viewing them as gifts that sustain our souls.
This kind of longing transforms how we live. Instead of feeling forced to follow God’s ways, we begin to desire them because they lead to life and peace. It is a beautiful picture of a heart aligned with its Creator. May you find yourself growing in this holy appetite, finding joy in the path God has set before you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- for/ longing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/תַאֲבָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:20
My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
This is the only occurrence of ta’avah in the Old Testament, where it vividly portrays the psalmist's intense, consuming yearning for God's ordinances rather than a simple wish.