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מַאֲוַי

𐤌𐤀𐤅𐤉

maʼăvay

H3970 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אוה to desire, to wish, to crave, to long

Definition

A longing, desire, or yearning, particularly for something earnestly wished for. The term denotes both a strong inward wish or appetite, often with emotional intensity, and the object of such desire. In contexts, it commonly refers to deep personal longing, sometimes of an unfulfilled or unattainable nature.

Semantic Range

longing, yearning, desire, earnest wish, object of intense desire, inward craving

Root / Etymology

The word is derived from the root אָוָה (ʼ-w-h), which conveys the idea of desiring, craving, or wishing. The formation with the prefix מַ-(ma-) typically indicates the noun form denoting the object or act of desire. Thus, מַאֲוַי emerges as a noun meaning 'longing' or 'desire,' developed from the more general sense of craving or wishing signaled by the root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַאֲוַי appears only rarely in the Hebrew Bible (Psalm 78:29), with its usage conveying an intense emotional longing, not only physical or material but sometimes metaphysical or psychological. Its contexts suggest a broader range than simply generic 'want.' While most English Bibles translate the term as 'desire' or 'longing,' these words may not fully express its connotation of deep, sometimes consuming yearning. The root אָוָה supplies similar terms (like תַּאֲוָה, 'passion,' 'lust'), but מַאֲוַי is distinct in emphasizing more personal or heartfelt yearning, not necessarily base or sensual craving. Later Hebrew literature sometimes uses cognate forms for poetic or intense desire. In translation traditions, there is occasional conflation with more carnal or negative forms of desire, but the biblical use should be distinguished as morally neutral and contextually defined. Its extremely limited attestation precludes confident assertions about diachronic semantic development, but parallels in related Semitic languages suggest a stable core meaning across periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָוָה; a desire; desire.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אוה (ʾ-w-h) — to desire, to wish, to crave, to long

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H183 אָוָה the ones craving
H184 אָוָה you have craved
H185 אַוָּה craving of
H188 אוֹי Woe!
H189 אֱוִי Evi

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3970-01 מַאֲוַיֵּ֣י maavayey HNcmpc desires longings of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3970-01 Psalms 140:9 מַאֲוַיֵּ֣י maavayey HNcmpc desires longings of
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