עֲוִית
𐤏𐤅𐤉𐤕
Avit
H5762 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Avith is a toponym designating a location associated with Edomite kingship (specifically the royal residence of Hadad, an Edomite king). The name itself likely functions as a place name, with its precise etymological meaning uncertain; the biblical context links it to the territory of Edom rather than the land of Israel. The semantic range is restricted to this specific place and does not extend to common nouns. Some lexica have conjectured connections to words for 'ruin' or 'destruction,' but within the Hebrew Bible, Avith is used solely as a proper noun for this Edomite locality.
Semantic Range
Avith (a city in Edom), proper noun, personal place name; not used with a descriptive noun sense, not generalized; specific to Edomite context.
Root / Etymology
The root is uncertain. Strong's suggests possible derivation from עוה (ʿ-w-h), 'to bend, twist, pervert, ruin,' but this is speculative and not linguistically demonstrated. Some manuscripts give the spelling עַיּוֹת (perhaps a plural of עַי, 'heap, ruin, ruin city'), but the attested usage as a proper noun for a place connected to Edom renders these derivations conjectural. Thus, etymology is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Avith appears only in Genesis 36:35 and 1 Chronicles 1:46, where it names the city from which Hadad, an Edomite king, ruled. The location is otherwise unknown in biblical or extrabiblical sources. The name is not linked with Israelite settlements, and its appearance in later translations and traditions has led to varying attempts to supply meaning based on resemblance to Hebrew roots (e.g., connection to 'ruin'), but these are not lexically certain. The use as a city name aligns with ancient Near Eastern practices of place-naming; the specific meaning or significance to Edomite culture is lost. Later translation traditions occasionally equivocate Avith with 'ruin' due to root speculation, but the term in Hebrew context is a personal toponym without distinct descriptive lexical content.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or perhaps (עַיּוֹת (as if plural of עַי) (עַיוּת; from עָוָה; ruin; Avvith (or Avvoth), a place in Palestine; Avith.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עוה (?) (ʿ-w-h (?)) — to bend, twist, pervert (speculative)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5762-01 |
עֲוִֽית | avit | HNp |
Avith | Avith | 2 |
H5762-02 |
עיות | yvt | HNp |
Avith | Avith | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5762-01 |
Genesis 36:35 | עֲוִֽית | avit | HNp |
was Avith | Avith |
H5762-02 |
1 Chronicles 1:46 | עיות | yvt | HNp |
Avith | Avith |
H5762-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:46 | עֲוִֽית | avit | HNp |
Avith | Avith |