שָׁוַע (H7768) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁוַע

𐤔𐤅𐤏

shâvaʻ

H7768 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁו״ע to be free, to deliver, to seek release

Definition

To cry out for help, to raise a loud call or appeal in distress, most often directed toward a higher authority such as the deity. The term frequently conveys a sense of urgency and desperation, especially in the context of affliction, danger, or injustice. In various contexts, it may represent an earnest plea for intervention or deliverance.

Semantic Range

to cry out for help, to plead for rescue, to raise a desperate shout, to call out in distress, to make an earnest appeal, to invoke deliverance

Root / Etymology

Root שׁו״ע, with core meaning 'to be free, to release, to deliver.' The verb שָׁוַע (shâvaʻ) is derived from this root and principally conveys the idea of vocalizing a strong plea for aid or freedom. The original sense may be linked to the act of seeking release or liberation, which is expressed by crying out.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, שָׁוַע is predominantly used in poetic and supplicatory genres, particularly in Psalms and Lamentations, to denote the act of seeking deliverance during times of suffering or oppression. Unlike other Hebrew verbs for 'cry out' such as צָעַק (tsa‘aq, 'to shout' or 'proclaim') and זָעַק (za‘aq, 'to call out' or 'raise a cry'), שָׁוַע often emphasizes the desperate, sometimes formal, appeal for intervention rather than mere loudness. Over time, its use narrowed, with a stronger association with prayer and supplication, especially in post-exilic literature. Standard English translations typically render the verb as 'cry out', 'plead', or 'call for help,' sometimes missing the intensity of the original term's distress and expectation of rescue.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to be free; but used only causatively and reflexively, to halloo (for help, i.e. freedom from some trouble); cry (aloud, out), shout.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שוע (sh-w-ʿ) — to be free, to release, to seek deliverance

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H7769	שׁוּעַ	Cry-for-Help
H7771	שׁוֹעַ	wealthy man of rank
H7772	שׁוֹעַ	and Shoa
H7773	שֶׁוַע	my outcry

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7768-05`	שִׁוַּ֖עְתִּי	shivaeti	`HVpp1cs`	I cried out	I urgently cried out	4
`H7768-11`	יְשַׁוְּע֥וּ	yeshaveu	`HVpi3mp`	cry for help	they cry out for release	4
`H7768-04`	מְשַׁוֵּ֑עַ	meshavea	`HVprmsa`	when he cries for help	one pleading for release	2
`H7768-01`	אֲ֝שַׁוַּ֗ע	ashava	`HVpi1cs`	I cry out	I cry out for release	2
`H7768-02`	אֲשַׁ֫וֵּ֥עַ	ashavea	`HVpi1cs`	I cry for help	I cry out for release	2
`H7768-03`	בְּ/שַׁוְּעִ֣/י	beshavei	`HR/Vpc/Sp1cs`	when I cried out	in my desperate cry for help	2
`H7768-10`	וָ/אֲשַׁוֵּ֑עָ/ה	vaashaveah	`HC/Vpw1cs/Sh`	and cried for help	and I cried out for release	1
`H7768-07`	תְּשַׁוֵּ֑עַ	teshavea	`HVpi3fs`	cries out	she cries for deliverance	1
`H7768-06`	תְּשַׁוַּ֖ע	teshava	`HVpi2ms`	you will cry out	you will cry out for release	1
`H7768-09`	וַ/אֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ	vaashavea	`HC/Vpi1cs`	and cry for help	I cry out for release	1
`H7768-08`	וּֽ/בְ/שַׁוְּע֖/וֹ	uveshaveo	`HC/R/Vpc/Sp3ms`	when he cried	and in his desperate cry-for-release	1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7768-06`	Isaiah 58:9	תְּשַׁוַּ֖ע	teshava	`HVpi2ms`	you will cry out	you will cry out for release
`H7768-05`	Jonah 2:3	שִׁוַּ֖עְתִּי	shivaeti	`HVpp1cs`	I cried out	I urgently cried out
`H7768-05`	Habakkuk 1:2	שִׁוַּ֖עְתִּי	shivaeti	`HVpp1cs`	must I cry for help	I urgently cried out
`H7768-02`	Psalms 18:7	אֲשַׁ֫וֵּ֥עַ	ashavea	`HVpi1cs`	I cry out	I cry out for release
`H7768-11`	Psalms 18:42	יְשַׁוְּע֥וּ	yeshaveu	`HVpi3mp`	they cried out	they cry out for release
`H7768-08`	Psalms 22:25	וּֽ/בְ/שַׁוְּע֖/וֹ	uveshaveo	`HC/R/Vpc/Sp3ms`	when he cried	and in his desperate cry-for-release
`H7768-03`	Psalms 28:2	בְּ/שַׁוְּעִ֣/י	beshavei	`HR/Vpc/Sp1cs`	when I cry	in my desperate cry for help
`H7768-05`	Psalms 30:3	שִׁוַּ֥עְתִּי	shivaeti	`HVpp1cs`	I cried out	I urgently cried out
`H7768-03`	Psalms 31:23	בְּ/שַׁוְּעִ֥/י	beshavei	`HR/Vpc/Sp1cs`	when I cried out	in my desperate cry for help
`H7768-04`	Psalms 72:12	מְשַׁוֵּ֑עַ	meshavea	`HVprmsa`	when he cries for help	one pleading for release
`H7768-05`	Psalms 88:14	שִׁוַּ֑עְתִּי	shivaeti	`HVpp1cs`	have cried out	I urgently cried out
`H7768-10`	Psalms 119:147	וָ/אֲשַׁוֵּ֑עָ/ה	vaashaveah	`HC/Vpw1cs/Sh`	and cried for help	and I cried out for release
`H7768-01`	Job 19:7	אֲ֝שַׁוַּ֗ע	ashava	`HVpi1cs`	I cry for help	I cry out for release
`H7768-07`	Job 24:12	תְּשַׁוֵּ֑עַ	teshavea	`HVpi3fs`	cries out	she cries for deliverance
`H7768-04`	Job 29:12	מְשַׁוֵּ֑עַ	meshavea	`HVprmsa`	who cried for help	one pleading for release
`H7768-01`	Job 30:20	אֲשַׁוַּ֣ע	ashava	`HVpi1cs`	I cry out	I cry out for release
`H7768-02`	Job 30:28	אֲשַׁוֵּֽעַ	ashavea	`HVpi1cs`	I cry for help	I cry out for release
`H7768-11`	Job 35:9	יְשַׁוְּע֖וּ	yeshaveu	`HVpi3mp`	they cry for help	they cry out for release
`H7768-11`	Job 36:13	יְ֝שַׁוְּע֗וּ	yeshaveu	`HVpi3mp`	cry for help	they cry out for release
`H7768-11`	Job 38:41	יְשַׁוֵּ֑עוּ	yeshaveu	`HVpi3mp`	cry out	they cry out for release
`H7768-09`	Lamentations 3:8	וַ/אֲשַׁוֵּ֔עַ	vaashavea	`HC/Vpi1cs`	and cry for help	I cry out for release

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