What does אָבָה (toʾvē’ (from אָבָה, ʾāvāh)) mean in the Bible?
אָבָה (toʾvē’ (from אָבָה, ʾāvāh)): Willing consent that moves from literal breathing/panting toward figurative acceptance or agreement.
Hebrew · H14
אָבָה
To breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent
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אָבָהH14
Pronunciationtoʾvē’ (from אָבָה, ʾāvāh)
What does אָבָה (toʾvē’ (from אָבָה, ʾāvāh)) mean in the Bible?
אָבָה (toʾvē’ (from אָבָה, ʾāvāh)): Willing consent that moves from literal breathing/panting toward figurative acceptance or agreement.
Full entry for אָבָה (H14) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H14?
The BSB source-word alignment has 54 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (19), would (5), willing (3), consent (2), They were unwilling (2).
Where does אָבָה (toʾvē’ (from אָבָה, ʾāvāh)) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 24:5. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Samuel (10), Deuteronomy (7), Isaiah (5), 1 Chronicles (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It. . .19×Genesis 24:5, Genesis 24:8, Exodus 10:27, Leviticus 26:21
would5×Deuteronomy 2:30, Deuteronomy 23:5, Judges 19:25, 1 Samuel 22:17
willing3×Deuteronomy 25:7, 2 Samuel 13:25, Isaiah 30:15
consent2×Judges 11:17, Job 39:9
They were unwilling2×1 Samuel 15:9, Isaiah 42:24
to do it2×1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Chronicles 10:4
was unwilling2×2 Samuel 6:10, 2 Kings 24:4
[David] refused1×1 Chronicles 11:19
[the LORD] has been unwilling1×2 Kings 13:23
agreed1×Deuteronomy 10:10
and wanted1×Proverbs 1:25
be willing1×Deuteronomy 29:20
but I would1×Joshua 24:10
But they would1×Isaiah 28:12
consent to his terms1×1 Kings 20:8
I would not1×1 Samuel 26:23
obey1×Psalms 81:11
persuaded1×Proverbs 6:35
refused1×Judges 20:13
They accepted1×Proverbs 1:30
they are unwilling1×Ezekiel 3:7
unwilling1×Isaiah 30:9
will be unwilling1×Ezekiel 3:7
yield1×Deuteronomy 13:8
yield [to them]1×Proverbs 1:10
you are willing1×Isaiah 1:19
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 24:5תֹאבֶ֣הto. . .Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularGenesis 24:8תֹאבֶ֤הto. . .Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularExodus 10:27אָבָ֖הto. . .Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 26:21תֹאב֖וּto. . .Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 1:26אֲבִיתֶ֖םto. . .Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 2:30אָבָ֗הtowouldVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 10:10אָבָ֥הtoagreedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 13:8תֹאבֶ֣הtoyieldVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 23:5אָבָ֞הtowouldVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 25:7אָבָ֖הtowillingVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 24:5
Aligned rows54
Books represented17
Genesis2Exodus1Leviticus1Deuteronomy7Joshua1Judges41 Samuel42 Samuel101 Kings22 Kings31 Chronicles42 Chronicles1Job1Psalms1Proverbs4Isaiah5Ezekiel3
Source forms
אָבָ֖ה9x’ā·ḇāhExodus 10:27, Deuteronomy 25:7, 2 Samuel 13:14, 2 Samuel 13:16
אָבָה֙4x’ā·ḇāh1 Samuel 31:4, 2 Samuel 23:16, 2 Kings 13:23, 1 Chronicles 10:4
אָבָ֣ה4x’ā·ḇāh2 Samuel 2:21, 2 Samuel 6:10, 1 Chronicles 19:19, 2 Chronicles 21:7
אָבָ֥ה3x’ā·ḇāhDeuteronomy 10:10, 2 Samuel 13:25, 2 Kings 24:4
אָבָ֤ה3x’ā·ḇāhJudges 19:10, 2 Kings 8:19, 1 Chronicles 11:18
אָב֤וּ2x’ā·ḇūJudges 19:25, Isaiah 42:24
אָב֥וּ2x’ā·ḇūProverbs 1:30, Isaiah 30:9
אֲבִיתֶֽם׃2x’ă·ḇî·ṯemProverbs 1:25, Isaiah 30:15
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular28xExodus 10:27, Deuteronomy 2:30, Deuteronomy 10:10, Deuteronomy 23:5
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural9xJudges 19:25, Judges 20:13, 1 Samuel 15:9, 1 Samuel 22:17
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3xDeuteronomy 29:20, Job 39:9, Proverbs 6:35
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural3xDeuteronomy 1:26, Proverbs 1:25, Isaiah 30:15
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural2xLeviticus 26:21, Isaiah 1:19
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 13:8, 1 Kings 20:8
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular2xGenesis 24:5, Genesis 24:8
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular2xJoshua 24:10, 1 Samuel 26:23
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Willing consent that moves from literal breathing/panting toward figurative acceptance or agreement.
Strong'sH14
Lexical occurrences54 versesWord forms1 form53 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 1:8-19Source Gloss
to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Willing consent that moves from literal breathing/panting toward figurative acceptance or agreement.
to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent BDB: be willing Usage: consent, rest content will, be willing.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms53
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense53×
Perfect1Chr 10:4 · 1Chr 11:18 · 1Chr 11:19 · 1Chr 19:19 · 1Kgs 22:50 · 1Sam 31:4 · 2Chr 21:7 · 2Kgs 8:19 · 2Kgs 13:23 · 2Kgs 24:4 · 2Sam 2:21 · 2Sam 6:10 · 2Sam 12:17 · 2Sam 13:14 · 2Sam 13:16 · 2Sam 13:2542×
Imperfect1Kgs 20:8 · Deut 13:9 · Deut 29:19 · Prov 6:35 · Gen 24:5 · Gen 24:8 · Isa 1:19 · Lev 26:21 · Ezek 3:79×
Participle activeEzek 3:71×
JussiveProv 1:101×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to be willing, to agree, to desire
Showing 1 selected witness from 54 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָבָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The decisive moment is early. Wisdom refuses at the level of consent, before the feet begin walking and the hands begin acting.Proverbs 1:8-19