What does תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah) mean in the Bible?
תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah): Desire that encompasses both inner craving and external attractiveness; often implies appetite or lust rather than noble longing.
Hebrew · H8378
תַּאֲוָה
A longing ; by implication, a delight (subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm)
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תַּאֲוָהH8378
Pronunciationta'avah
What does תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah) mean in the Bible?
תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah): Desire that encompasses both inner craving and external attractiveness; often implies appetite or lust rather than noble longing.
Full entry for תַּאֲוָה (H8378) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8378?
The BSB source-word alignment has 20 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the desire (3), desire (2), . . . (1), [loathes] his favorite (1), and the bounty (1).
Where does תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 3:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (8), Psalms (7), Genesis (2), Isaiah (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 Itthe desire3×Psalms 10:17, Proverbs 11:23, Proverbs 19:22
desire2×Psalms 38:9, Proverbs 13:19
. . .1×Numbers 11:4
[loathes] his favorite1×Job 33:20
and the bounty1×Genesis 49:26
are the desire1×Isaiah 26:8
but desire1×Proverbs 13:12
but the desire1×Proverbs 10:24
intensely1×Psalms 106:14
more1×Proverbs 21:26
pleasing1×Genesis 3:6
selfish desires1×Proverbs 18:1
The craving1×Proverbs 21:25
the cravings1×Psalms 10:3
the desires1×Psalms 112:10
their desire1×Psalms 78:30
what they craved1×Psalms 78:29
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 3:6תַֽאֲוָה־topleasingNoun - feminine singularGenesis 49:26תַּאֲוַ֖תtoand the bountyNoun - feminine singular constructNumbers 11:4תַּאֲוָ֑הto. . .Noun - feminine singularJob 33:20תַּאֲוָֽה׃to[loathes] his favoriteNoun - feminine singularPsalms 10:3תַּאֲוַ֣תtothe cravingsNoun - feminine singular constructPsalms 10:17תַּאֲוַ֬תtothe desireNoun - feminine singular constructPsalms 38:9תַּאֲוָתִ֑יtodesireNoun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularPsalms 78:29וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗םtowhat they cravedConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralPsalms 78:30מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑םtotheir desirePreposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralPsalms 106:14תַ֭אֲוָהtointenselyNoun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 3:6
Aligned rows20
Books represented6
Genesis2Numbers1Job1Psalms7Proverbs8Isaiah1
Source forms
תַּאֲוַ֣ת4xta·’ă·waṯPsalms 10:3, Proverbs 11:23, Proverbs 19:22, Proverbs 21:25
תַּאֲוַ֖ת2xta·’ă·waṯGenesis 49:26, Psalms 112:10
וְתַאֲוַ֖ת1xwə·ṯa·’ă·waṯProverbs 10:24
וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם1xwə·ṯa·’ă·wā·ṯāmPsalms 78:29
לְֽ֭תַאֲוָה1xlə·ṯa·’ă·wāhProverbs 18:1
מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם1xmit·ta·’ă·wā·ṯāmPsalms 78:30
תַ֭אֲוָה1xṯa·’ă·wāhPsalms 106:14
תַאֲוָ֑ה1xṯa·’ă·wāhProverbs 21:26
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular construct8xGenesis 49:26, Psalms 10:3, Psalms 10:17, Psalms 112:10
Noun - feminine singular7xGenesis 3:6, Numbers 11:4, Job 33:20, Psalms 106:14
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct1xProverbs 10:24
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural1xPsalms 78:29
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular1xPsalms 38:9
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular1xProverbs 18:1
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural1xPsalms 78:30
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Desire that encompasses both inner craving and external attractiveness; often implies appetite or lust rather than noble longing.
Strong'sH8378
Lexical occurrences21 versesWord forms1 form16 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 10:24Source Gloss
a longing ; by implication, a delight (subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Desire that encompasses both inner craving and external attractiveness; often implies appetite or lust rather than noble longing.
a longing; by implication, a delight (subjectively, satisfaction, objectively, a charm) BDB: desire Usage: dainty, desire, × exceedingly, × greedily, lust(ing), pleasant. See also 6914.
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 forms16
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
Imperfect1Sam 2:161×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
longing, desire, or heartfelt expectation
My longing; my deep desire; indicates the internal yearnings of the soul that are visible only to God
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 21 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
תַּאֲוָה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The term highlights the hopes shaped by righteousness and trust in God.Proverbs 10:24
Canonical Themes
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.