תְּאַוֶּ֖ה
𐤕𐤀𐤅𐤄
ʼâvâh
desires
To desire intensely, to long for, to incline toward something or someone with strong attraction. In biblical contexts, this desire can be for objects, conditions, or persons, and may carry either positive or negative connotations depending on context—ranging from simple yearning or inclination to covetousness or unrestrained longing.
2 Samuel 3:21 · Word #20
Lexicon H183
| Lemma | אָוָה |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤀𐤅𐤄 |
| Transliteration | ʼâvâh |
| Strong's | H183 |
| Definition | To desire intensely, to long for, to incline toward something or someone with strong attraction. In biblical contexts, this desire can be for objects, conditions, or persons, and may carry either positive or negative connotations depending on context—ranging from simple yearning or inclination to covetousness or unrestrained longing. |
Morphology HVpi3fs
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state |
| Binyan | p — Piel — Intensive active |
| Conjugation | i — Imperfect — Incomplete or ongoing action |
| Person | 3 — 3rd person — Third person ("he/she/they") |
| Gender | f — Feminine — Feminine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
Common Translation
| Phrase | desires |
SIBI-P1 Translation H183-10
she intensely desires
| Morphological Notes | Verb, Piel stem (intensive), imperfect, 3rd person feminine singular. |
| Rendering Rationale | The root אוה denotes strong desire or longing. The Piel stem intensifies the verbal action, and the imperfect 3rd feminine singular form indicates "she" as the subject in an ongoing or future sense, thus "she intensely desires." |
View full lexicon entry for H183 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
she desires
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | P1 'she intensely desires' is literal but too strong for the context; 'she desires' matches English usage for נפש + תאוה (soul desires). |