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הוֹי

𐤄𐤅𐤉

hôwy

H1945 particle

SILEX Entry

Root הוי to lament, to cry out in distress, to summon with urgency

Definition

An interjection expressing distress, lamentation, threat, or summons, often translated as 'woe,' 'alas,' or 'ah.' In prophetic and poetic speech, הוֹי signals impending calamity, calls to attention, mourning, or intense emotion. The term introduces pronouncements of doom, expressions of sorrow, or draws focus to significant statements. Its semantic range includes exclamation of pain, grief, warning, or urgent address depending on context.

Semantic Range

expression of impending doom, exclamation of grief or pain, call for attention, summons to hear pronouncement, lamentation, pronouncement of threat

Root / Etymology

הוֹי is generally viewed as onomatopoeic, reflecting a natural exclamation of distress or alarm. It is a lengthened form of הוֹ or related to אוֹי, all expressing similar emotional cries or calls. The root is הוי, which is not used as an independent verb in Biblical Hebrew. Its exact morphological origin is uncertain, but it fits within a set of Hebrew interjections of lament or vocative force.

Historical & Contextual Notes

הוֹי is found especially in prophetic pronouncements, frequently preceding indictments or judgments (e.g., Isaiah 5:8; Habakkuk 2:6). It signals lament or mourning in poetic contexts and sometimes appears as a call to attention. In later periods (Second Temple and beyond), similar forms persist in Hebrew and related languages as emotional interjections. English 'woe' captures much but not all of the semantic range; 'ah,' 'alas,' and 'ho' are also possible but context-specific. In Greek translations (LXX), often rendered as οὐαί, a term later associated with Gospel language. Though sometimes translated as 'O' as a direct address, such usage is rare; more commonly it introduces exclamations of threat or grief. Distinct from related interjections such as אוֹי ('oy'), which more narrowly denotes personal distress. Meaning remains stable across biblical periods but is especially prominent in oracular literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a prolonged form of הוֹ (akin to אוֹי); oh!; ah, alas, ho, O, woe.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

הוי (h-w-y) — lament, cry out in distress, summon urgently

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1945-01 ה֥וֹי hoy HTj Woe Woe! 48
H1945-02 וְ/ה֣וֹי vehoy HC/Tj and Alas and woe! 3

Occurrences in Scripture

51 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1945-01 1 Kings 13:30 ה֥וֹי hoy HTj Alas Woe!
H1945-01 Isaiah 1:4 ה֣וֹי hoy HTj Ah! Woe!
H1945-01 Isaiah 1:24 ה֚וֹי hoy HTj Ah Woe!
H1945-01 Isaiah 5:8 ה֗וֹי hoy HTj Woe Woe!
H1945-01 Isaiah 5:11 ה֛וֹי hoy HTj Woe Woe!
H1945-01 Isaiah 5:18 ה֛וֹי hoy HTj Woe Woe!
H1945-01 Isaiah 5:20 ה֣וֹי hoy HTj Woe! Woe!
H1945-01 Isaiah 5:21 ה֖וֹי hoy HTj Woe Woe!
H1945-01 Isaiah 5:22 ה֕וֹי hoy HTj Woe Woe!
H1945-01 Isaiah 10:1 ה֥וֹי hoy HTj Woe Woe!
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