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בַּוַּי

𐤁𐤅𐤉

Bavay

H942 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (personal name)

Definition

Personal name designating an Israelite figure, attested as one of the leaders involved in the repair of Jerusalem's wall during the Persian period. The name Bavvay does not have an attested meaning in Hebrew and is likely a foreign (Persian or Aramaic) loan integrated into the Israelite onomasticon. It functions as a proper noun and does not denote a general concept or occupation.

Semantic Range

personal name, designation of a post-exilic Israelite leader, no broader lexical usage

Root / Etymology

The root of בַּוַּי is uncertain; it does not correspond to a known Hebrew verbal or nominal root. Most likely of Persian or Aramaic origin, possibly reflecting the multicultural context of Yehud/Judea under Persian administration. Etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בַּוַּי appears in Nehemiah 3:18 as the name of a person designated as 'the son of Henadad,' participating in the repairs of Jerusalem's wall under Persian imperial authorization. The name's foreign character reflects the integration of non-Hebrew names among Israelites in the post-exilic era, a common feature of Yehud during Achaemenid rule. Some translations render the name as 'Bavai' or 'Bavvai,' and the English 'Bavai' is a direct transliteration. The name does not occur elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, and there is no evidence of semantic development within biblical literature; the referent is always the same individual. Later Jewish tradition does not appear to ascribe special significance to the name. Unlike more transparently Hebrew names, the meaning of Bavvay is opaque, and its inclusion among reconstruction leaders illustrates the diversity of the community at that time. The KJV and other traditional English versions transliterate the name but do not capture its potentially foreign origin or the broader cultural context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably of Persian origin; Bavvai, an Israelite; Bavai.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain (personal name)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar
H1114 בִּלְשָׁן Bilshan
H1150 בִּנְעָא Bin'a
H116 אֱדַיִן and then

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H942-01 בַּוַּ֖י bavay HNp Bavvai Bavvay 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H942-01 Nehemiah 3:18 בַּוַּ֖י bavay HNp Bavvai Bavvay
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