Original Word: אָוָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: avah
Pronunciation: ah-vah'
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-vaw')
KJV: covet, (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, lust (after)
NASB: desire, desires, desired, had a craving, been greedy, crave, craved
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to wish for

covet, greatly desire, be desirous, long, lust after

A primitive root; to wish for -- covet, (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, lust (after).

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
to incline, desire
NASB Translation
been greedy (1), crave (1), craved (1), craves (1), craving (1), desire (8), desired (2), desires (5), desires* (1), had (1), had a craving (2), longed (1), longing (1), longs (1).

[אָוָה] verb incline, desire (compare Stem 2).

Pi`el Perfect אִוָּה Psalm 132:13; אִוְּתָה Micah 7:1 +, etc.; Imperfect3feminine singular תְּאַוֶּה Deuteronomy 12:20 4t. — desire subject usually נֶפֶשׁ, object fruit Micah 7:1 (in metaphor); flesh (to eat) 1 Samuel 2:16, compare Deuteronomy 12:20 (followed by infinitive לֶאֱכֹל בָּשָׂר); food & drink Deuteronomy 14:26; of king desiring rule, וּמָלַכְתָּ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁרתְּֿאַוֶּה נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ 2 Samuel 3:21; 1 Kings 11:37; object evil (רַע) Proverbs 21:10; once object ׳י Isaiah 26:9 נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִךָ בַּלַּיְלָה; of God וְנַפְשׁוֺ אִוְּתָה וַיַּעַשׂ Job 23:13; as desiring Zion for dwelling-place (late, only cases without נפשׁ) Psalm 132:13; Psalm 132:14;

Hithpa`el Perfect הִתְאַוָּת Proverbs 21:26; הִתְאַוֵּיתִי Jeremiah 17:16; הִתְאַוּוּ Numbers 11:4; וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶם Numbers 34:10; Imperfect יִתְאַוֶּה Ecclesiastes 6:2; וַיִּתְאַוֶּה 2 Samuel 23:15; with apocope וְיִתְאַו Psalm 45:12, וַיִּתְאַו 1 Chronicles 11:17, etc. — Participle feminine singular מִתְאַוָּה Proverbs 13:4; masculine plural מִתְאַוִּים Amos 5:18; Numbers 11:34 — desire, long for, lust after, of bodily appetites; for dainty food Numbers 11:4 (E; followed by accusative of cognate meaning) = Psalm 106:14; Numbers 11:34 (E); followed by ל Proverbs 23:3,6 compare Ecclesiastes 6:2 (followed by accusative), see also Proverbs 13:4 (absolute, subject נֶפֶשׁ); absolute of extreme thirst 2 Samuel 23:15 = 1 Chronicles 11:17; of king desiring the beauty (יֳפִי) of princess Psalm 45:12 (followed by accusative); of covetous man Proverbs 21:26 (followed by accusative of cognate meaning); object בֵּית רֵעֲךָ Deuteronomy 5:18 ("" חמד); followed by infinitive Proverbs 24:1 (of desiring evil companionship); object ׳יוֺם י Amos 5:18 (accusative; of presumptuous, reckless longing) compare Jeremiah 17:16. (Numbers 34:7,8 for תְּתָאוּ — Pi`el of תאה — Di proposes תִּתְאַוֻּ, & queries whether this & הִתְאַוִּיתֶם Numbers 34:10 are not from אוה, = desire for yourselves.)

Range of Meaning

The verb אָוָה conveys a powerful inner pull—longing, craving, yearning, or coveting. It covers both legitimate desire and disordered appetite, so its context determines whether the longing is commended, tolerated, or condemned. The twenty-five uses span every major section of the Old Testament, allowing Scripture to illustrate the full moral spectrum of human desire before God.

Desire and Discontent in the Wilderness

The first biblical occurrences expose sinful craving during Israel’s desert sojourn.
• Numbers 11:4 records that “the rabble among them had a strong craving,” provoking the people to complain for meat. The indulgence ends at Kibroth-hattaavah—“Graves of Craving” (Numbers 11:34), a lasting memorial to unchecked appetite and divine judgment.
• Psalm 106:14 later summarizes the event: “They craved intensely in the wilderness and tested God in the desert.”

These texts warn that desire, when severed from trust in the LORD’s provision, turns blessing into rebellion.

Covenant Boundaries for Legitimate Desire

The same verb appears in the Tenth Commandment as Moses restates the law: “You shall not desire your neighbor’s house” (Deuteronomy 5:21). Coveting is thus identified not merely as an external act but as an inward violation of covenant love. By contrast, Deuteronomy also legitimizes orderly longing:
• “When … you crave eating meat, you may eat as much of it as you want” (Deuteronomy 12:20).
• Tithers traveling to the sanctuary may buy “whatever you desire—cattle, sheep, wine or strong drink” (Deuteronomy 14:26).

Covenant life therefore channels, rather than suppresses, God-given appetites.

Royal and Messianic Connotations

Several historical narratives employ אָוָה to depict royal longing:
• David “longed for water” from Bethlehem’s well (2 Samuel 23:15; 1 Chronicles 11:17). His yearning stirred heroic devotion in his mighty men, foreshadowing the self-giving loyalty Christ would inspire in His followers.
• The LORD offers Jeroboam a kingdom, saying, “You will reign over all your heart desires” (1 Kings 11:37), showing that earthly authority must submit desire to divine appointment.

Psalm 45:11 deepens the theme: “Then the king will desire your beauty,” portraying the Messianic King’s delight in His bride. Here אָוָה expresses pure, covenantal affection, elevating longing to a picture of Christ’s love for His people.

Divine Desire for Zion

Astonishingly, the verb is applied to God Himself: “For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home” (Psalm 132:13-14). The same word that exposes human covetousness also reveals the Lord’s own settled, holy delight in dwelling among His people. This theological balance guards readers from assuming that desire is intrinsically sinful; rather, righteousness or sinfulness depends on its object and motive.

Ethical Wisdom on Longing

Proverbs repeatedly contrasts righteous and unrighteous cravings:
• “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied” (Proverbs 13:4).
• “The soul of the wicked craves evil” (Proverbs 21:10), whereas the righteous are marked by generosity, not incessant wanting (Proverbs 21:26).
• Warnings against longing for delicacies or companionship of the stingy (Proverbs 23:3, 6; 24:1) train the heart to refuse the bait of worldly allure.

These sayings form a practical theology of desire, teaching believers to submit appetite to wisdom and industry.

Yearning for God

Isaiah 26:9 captures sanctified longing: “My soul longs for You in the night; yes, my spirit within me seeks You.” Here אָוָה expresses profound spiritual hunger rather than material covetousness. By placing the Lord Himself at the center of desire, the prophet models the ultimate corrective to distorted craving.

Prophetic Warnings Concerning Misplaced Yearning

The prophets also expose false hopes:
• Amos 5:18 indicts those who “long for the day of the LORD” while living in hypocrisy; their desire will bring judgment, not relief.
• Micah 7:1 illustrates the anguish of unfulfilled longing amid national corruption: “There is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs I crave.”

Such passages caution against yearning for divine intervention on one’s own terms rather than God’s.

Sovereign Desire

Job 23:13 reminds sufferers that ultimate desire rests with God: “He does what He desires.” The same root that diagnoses human restlessness affirms divine sovereignty; God’s purposes cannot be frustrated, and His desires are always righteous.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Diagnostic tool: Identifying prevailing desires helps pastors and counselors expose idols of the heart (Numbers 11; Proverbs 21:10).
2. Discipleship goal: Redirecting believers from self-indulgent coveting to God-centered longing nourishes holiness (Isaiah 26:9; Psalm 132:13-14).
3. Ethical instruction: Teaching on contentment and generosity draws directly from the proverbs that contrast diligent satisfaction with sluggardly craving.
4. Worship perspective: Remembering that the King “desires” His bride (Psalm 45:11) cultivates assurance and adoration within the congregation.

Summary

אָוָה portrays the engine of the human will—desire. Scripture records its power to wreck a generation in the wilderness, to shape royal decisions, to expose sloth and greed, and to express both the believer’s hunger for God and the Lord’s own affection for Zion. The word therefore calls every reader to examine what the heart wants, submit those wants to God’s covenant standards, and ultimately find satisfaction in the One whose holy desire secures redemption and everlasting fellowship.

אִ֝וָּ֗הּ אִוְּתָ֣ה אִוְּתָ֥ה אִוְּתָה־ אִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ אִוִּתִֽיהָ׃ אוה אויתיך אותה אותה־ אותיה׃ הִתְאַוֵּ֖יתִי הִתְאַוָּ֣ה הִתְאַוּ֖וּ הַמִּתְאַוִּ֖ים הַמִּתְאַוִּֽים׃ המתאוים המתאוים׃ התאוה התאוו התאויתי וְיִתְאָ֣ו וַיִּתְאַוֶּ֥ה וַיִּתְאַוּ֣וּ וַיִּתְאָ֥יו ויתאו ויתאוה ויתאוו ויתאיו יִתְאַוֶּ֗ה יתאוה מִתְאַוָּ֣ה מתאוה תְּאַוֶּ֖ה תְּאַוֶּ֨ה תְאַוֶּ֥ה תִּ֭תְאָו תִתְאַוֶּ֜ה תִּ֝תְאָ֗יו תאוה תתאו תתאוה תתאיו ’iw·wāh ’iw·wə·ṯāh ’iw·wə·ṯāh- ’iw·wi·ṯî·hā ’iw·wî·ṯî·ḵā ’iwwāh ’iwwəṯāh ’iwwəṯāh- ’iwwiṯîhā ’iwwîṯîḵā ham·miṯ·’aw·wîm hammiṯ’awwîm hammitavVim hiṯ’awwāh hiṯ’awwêṯî hiṯ’awwū hiṯ·’aw·wāh hiṯ·’aw·wê·ṯî hiṯ·’aw·wū hitavVah hitavVeiti hitavVu ivVah ivveTah ivviTicha ivviTiha miṯ’awwāh miṯ·’aw·wāh mitavVah tə’awweh ṯə’awweh tə·’aw·weh ṯə·’aw·weh teavVeh tiṯ’āw ṯiṯ’awweh tiṯ·’āw ṯiṯ·’aw·weh titAv titavVeh tito vaiyitAv vaiyitavVeh vaiyitavVu veyitAv way·yiṯ·’āw way·yiṯ·’aw·weh way·yiṯ·’aw·wū wayyiṯ’āw wayyiṯ’awweh wayyiṯ’awwū wə·yiṯ·’āw wəyiṯ’āw yiṯ’awweh yiṯ·’aw·weh yitavVehInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts