What does הַוָּה (havvah) mean in the Bible?
הַוָּה (havvah): Desire as destructive force; the word pivots from wanting toward ruin and moral corruption.
Hebrew · H1942
הַוָּה
By implication, of falling) ; desire ; also ruin
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הַוָּהH1942
Pronunciationhavvah
What does הַוָּה (havvah) mean in the Bible?
הַוָּה (havvah): Desire as destructive force; the word pivots from wanting toward ruin and moral corruption.
Full entry for הַוָּה (H1942) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1942?
The BSB source-word alignment has 15 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include destruction (4), a destructive (1), and from the deadly (1), by destruction (1), by their own desires (1).
Where does הַוָּה (havvah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Job 6:30. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (8), Proverbs (4), Job (2), Micah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itdestruction4×Psalms 5:9, Psalms 38:12, Psalms 52:2, Psalms 55:11
a destructive1×Proverbs 17:4
and from the deadly1×Psalms 91:3
by destruction1×Psalms 52:7
by their own desires1×Proverbs 11:6
Can a corrupt1×Psalms 94:20
evil1×Micah 7:3
from my destruction1×Job 30:13
malice1×Job 6:30
ruin1×Proverbs 19:13
the craving1×Proverbs 10:3
the danger1×Psalms 57:1
Show sample aligned rows
Job 6:30הַוּֽוֹת׃tomaliceNoun - feminine pluralJob 30:13לְהַוָּתִ֥יtofrom my destructionPreposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularPsalms 5:9הַ֫וּ֥וֹתtodestructionNoun - feminine pluralPsalms 38:12הַוּ֑וֹתtodestructionNoun - feminine pluralPsalms 52:2הַ֭וּוֹתtodestructionNoun - feminine pluralPsalms 52:7בְּהַוָּתֽוֹ׃toby destructionPreposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularPsalms 55:11הַוּ֥וֹתtoDestructionNoun - feminine pluralPsalms 57:1הַוּֽוֹת׃tothe dangerNoun - feminine pluralPsalms 91:3הַוּֽוֹת׃toand from the deadlyNoun - feminine pluralPsalms 94:20הַוּ֑וֹתtoCan a corruptNoun - feminine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowJob 6:30
Aligned rows15
Books represented4
Job2Psalms8Proverbs4Micah1
Source forms
הַוּֽוֹת׃3xhaw·wō·wṯJob 6:30, Psalms 57:1, Psalms 91:3
הַוּ֑וֹת2xhaw·wō·wṯPsalms 38:12, Psalms 94:20
בְּהַוָּתֽוֹ׃1xbə·haw·wā·ṯōwPsalms 52:7
הַ֫וּ֥וֹת1xhaw·wō·wṯPsalms 5:9
הַ֭וּוֹת1xhaw·wō·wṯPsalms 52:2
הַוּ֥וֹת1xhaw·wō·wṯPsalms 55:11
הַוַּ֥ת1xhaw·waṯMicah 7:3
הַוֺּ֣ת1xhaw·wōṯProverbs 19:13
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine plural10xJob 6:30, Psalms 5:9, Psalms 38:12, Psalms 52:2
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct1xProverbs 10:3
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct1xProverbs 11:6
Noun - feminine singular construct1xMicah 7:3
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular1xPsalms 52:7
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular1xJob 30:13
Evidence Summary
Revelation
Hebrew word. Desire as destructive force; the word pivots from wanting toward ruin and moral corruption.
Source Gloss
by implication, of falling) ; desire ; also ruin
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Desire as destructive force; the word pivots from wanting toward ruin and moral corruption.
by implication, of falling); desire; also ruin BDB: desire Usage: calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous (thing), naughtiness, naughty, noisome, perverse thing, substance, very wickedness.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
desire or destructive appetite
desire, craving, or destructive passion
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 16 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
הַוָּה is built from this root:
הָוָאH1933
Why This Word Matters
The verse exposes the destructive desires that drive wicked behavior.Proverbs 10:3
The word indicates the internal cravings that eventually trap the treacherous.Proverbs 11:6
Canonical Themes
Revelation
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.