תָּוָה (ta.vah)
ta.vah
to wound
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb tavah appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Psalm 78:41. In this context, it describes the act of provoking or wounding the Holy One of Israel. The form used is Hiphil, which typically indicates causative action, suggesting that the subject causes pain, trouble, or deep distress to God.
Lexical sources characterize this meaning as probable but clear in its emotional weight. It conveys a sense of inflicting injury or causing significant anguish. This single usage highlights the relational breach caused by Israel’s rebellion, framing their actions not just as disobedience, but as a direct wound to the divine presence.
Its rarity makes it a unique lexical marker for this specific psalm. Translators often render it as "grieved" or "provoked," capturing the idea that human sin has tangible consequences for God’s heart. The word underscores the intimacy of the relationship, where offense is felt as pain.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tavah appears only once in Scripture, found in Psalm 78:41. It describes how Israel’s rebellion did not just break a rule, but wounded the Holy One of Israel. This rare verb shows that our actions have real weight. When we turn away from God, it is not a distant event. It causes genuine pain to His heart.
Understanding this helps us see sin as relational damage rather than mere legal fault. God is not an unfeeling judge. He feels the breach in intimacy. This truth invites us to approach Him with care and reverence. We are reminded that our choices matter deeply to Him.
This awareness should lead to humility, not fear. Because God feels our distance, He also longs for our return. The psalmist uses this word to call Israel back to faithfulness. It reminds us that reconciliation restores what was broken. We can trust that His desire is healing, not rejection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they pained1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הִתְווּ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 78:41
They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
This verse uniquely uses tavah to show that Israel's tempting of God caused direct pain to the Holy One, framing sin as a relational wound rather than just disobedience.