Original Word: עָוָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: `avah
Pronunciation: ah-vah
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-vaw')
KJV: do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse(-ly), trouble, X turn, do wickedly, do wrong
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to crook, literally or figuratively (as follows)

do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, do perversely, trouble, turn,

A primitive root; to crook, literally or figuratively (as follows) -- do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse(-ly), trouble, X turn, do wickedly, do wrong.

I. [עָוָה] verb bend, twist (so Arabic ); —

Niph`al Perfect1singular נַעֲוֵיתִי Isaiah 21:3; Psalm 38:7; Participle construct נַעֲוֵה Proverbs 12:8; feminine construct נַעֲוַת 1 Samuel 20:30 (but read נַעֲרַת ᵐ5 We Dr SS Bu HPS); — be bent, bowed down, twisted, "" שׁחה Psalm 38:7; "" נבהל Isaiah 21:3; נַעֲוֵה לֵב Proverbs 12:8 one perverted of mind.

Pi`el Perfect3masculine singular עִוָּה, subject ׳י: — Lamentations 3:9 my paths hath he twisted; ׳וְע Isaiah 24:1 its surface will he distort ("" בּוֺקֵק הָאָרֶץ).

Hiph`il Perfect1singular יָשָׁר הֶעֱוֵיתִי Job 33:27 the right have I perverted ("" חָטָא); so 3 plural הֶעֱווּ אֶתדַּֿרְכָּם Jeremiah 3:21.

[עָוָה] verb denominative (Gerber⁹⁰) commit iniquity, do wrong (Aramaic עוי commit sin, עֲוָיָא sin, compare Levy^{NHWB iii. 626}); —

Qal (late) Perfect3feminine singular עָֽוְתָה Esther 1:16 she hath done wrong (with עַל); 1 plural עָוִינוּ Daniel 9:5 we have committed iniquity ("" חָטָא).

Hiph`il commit inquity; — Perfect3masculine singular הֶעֱוָה 2 Samuel 19:20, 1singular הֶעֱוֵיתִי 2 Samuel 24:17 ("" חָטָא); 1 plural הֶעֱוִינוּ 1 Kings 8:47 2Chronicles 6:37; Psalm 106:6 (all "" חָטָא); Infinitive absolute הַעֲוֵה Jeremiah 9:4 construct suffix הַעֲוֺתוֺ 2 Samuel 7:14. — Job 33:27 see עָוָה.

[עֲוָיָה] noun feminine iniquity (Biblical Hebrew II. עוה, עָוֺן; compare ᵑ7 עֲוָיָא); — plural suffix עֲוָיָתָךְ (K^{§ 56 a})β)2) Daniel 4:24.

Overview

The verb עָוָה (ʿāvâ) portrays a deliberate turning from what is straight, whether by moral defection, perversion of justice, or the physical image of being bent over. Across its seventeen occurrences, Scripture employs the term to expose sin, describe its consequences, and invite repentance.

Literary Distribution

Historical Books: 1 Samuel 20:30; 2 Samuel 7:14; 2 Samuel 19:19; 2 Samuel 24:17

Monarchical Prayer: 1 Kings 8:47

Chronicler’s Parallel: 2 Chronicles 6:37

Exilic Narrative: Esther 1:16

Wisdom and Poetry: Job 33:27; Psalm 38:6; Psalm 106:6; Proverbs 12:8

Major and Minor Prophets: Isaiah 21:3; Isaiah 24:1; Jeremiah 3:21; Jeremiah 9:5; Lamentations 3:9; Daniel 9:5

Sin as Twisting the Covenant Path

When Israel or her leaders “act wickedly,” Scripture pictures covenant unfaithfulness as a twisting away from God’s straight path. In Daniel’s confession the nation acknowledges, “we have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly and rebelled” (Daniel 9:5). Solomon anticipates that very cry: “We have sinned, we have done wrong, and we have acted wickedly” (1 Kings 8:47). Both passages locate repentance within the larger narrative of exile, underscoring that crooked behavior leads to covenant curses, yet confession anticipates restoration.

Royal Accountability

The Davidic covenant frames divine discipline in paternal terms: “When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men” (2 Samuel 7:14). The same root reappears in David’s own life when he pleads after the census, “Surely I have sinned and have done wickedly” (2 Samuel 24:17). The coupling of royal privilege with the peril of deviating from righteousness warns every leader that God’s favor never excuses iniquity.

Personal Admissions and Physical Imagery

Job rejoices that God “redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit” after confessing, “I have sinned and perverted what was right” (Job 33:27). In the Psalms the word paints bodily anguish: “I am bent over and brought low” (Psalm 38:6). The physical curvature mirrors the moral one, reminding worshipers that sin burdens body and spirit alike.

Corporate Failure in the Wilderness and the Land

“We have sinned like our fathers; we have done wrong; we have acted wickedly” (Psalm 106:6) links Israel’s persistent deviations from the Exodus to the Promised Land, proving that geographic blessing cannot straighten a crooked heart. Jeremiah echoes the theme: “They have taught their tongues to speak lies; they weary themselves with wrongdoing” (Jeremiah 9:5). The prophets thus trace national calamity to accumulated perversion.

Consequences: Social Disorder and Cosmic Upheaval

Isaiah broadens the scope: “Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants” (Isaiah 24:1). Human twisting invites divine uncreation, signaling that moral inversion eventually disrupts the created order itself. Lamentations 3:9 describes God “He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains,” picturing obstructed paths where life once moved freely.

Wisdom’s Contrast of Character

Proverbs 12:8 commends a discerning mind but warns that “one with a warped heart is despised.” Wisdom literature insists that inward crookedness devalues a person regardless of public acclaim, steering readers toward integrity.

Narrative Illustration: Court Intrigue

Esther 1:16 presents the counselors’ accusation that Queen Vashti “has wronged not only the king but all the officials.” Though politically motivated, the charge reflects how deviation at the top threatens social stability, a recurring biblical principle.

Pathway to Restoration

Separation can be reversed. Both Kings and Chronicles record that exiles who “return to You with all their heart and soul… saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and we have acted wickedly,’” find God attentive to their plea (2 Chronicles 6:37). The recurrent triad—sin, wrong, wickedness—magnifies mercy by first naming guilt.

Christological Trajectory

The Davidic promise of discipline (2 Samuel 7:14) ultimately converges on the Son who “knew no sin” yet bore the penalty for all twisted ways. His straightness answers the crookedness of Adam’s heirs and secures the new covenant in which God writes His law on the heart, enabling believers to “walk in newness of life.”

Ministry Implications

1. Preaching: Confront twisting of truth with the straight standard of Scripture, proclaiming both guilt and grace.
2. Pastoral Care: Address physical and emotional fallout of sin (Psalm 38:6) while offering the hope of confession and healing.
3. Discipleship: Form consciences that detect subtle deviations before they harden into patterns (Jeremiah 9:5).
4. Intercession: Model Daniel’s corporate confession, owning shared fault and pleading covenant promises.

Practical Exhortation

Believers must “make level paths” for their feet, refusing small compromises that warp character. Where crookedness is discovered, swift confession—“I have sinned and perverted what was right”—opens the door to divine restoration and renewed usefulness in God’s purposes.

בְּהַ֣עֲוֹת֔וֹ בהעותו הֶעֱוִ֖ינוּ הֶעֱוִ֥ינוּ הֶעֱוֵ֔יתִי הֶעֱוֵ֗יתִי הֶעֱוָ֣ה הֶעֱוּוּ֙ הַעֲוֵ֥ה העוה העוו העוינו העויתי וְהֶעֱוִ֖ינוּ וְנַעֲוֵה־ וְעִוָּ֣ה וְעָוִ֖ינוּ והעוינו ונעוה־ ועוה ועוינו נַעֲוֵ֣יתִי נַעֲוַ֖ת נעויתי נעות עִוָּֽה׃ עָוְתָ֖ה עוה׃ עותה ‘ā·wə·ṯāh ‘āwəṯāh ‘iw·wāh ‘iwwāh aveTah bə·ha·‘ă·wō·ṯōw bəha‘ăwōṯōw ha‘ăwêh ha·‘ă·wêh haaVeh he‘ĕwāh he‘ĕwêṯî he‘ĕwînū he‘ĕwwū he·‘ĕ·wāh he·‘ĕ·wê·ṯî he·‘ĕ·wî·nū he·‘ĕw·wū heeVah heeVeiti heeVinu heevVu ivVah na‘ăwaṯ na‘ăwêṯî na·‘ă·waṯ na·‘ă·wê·ṯî naaVat naaVeiti O veaVinu veheeVinu veivVah venaaveh wə‘āwînū wə‘iwwāh wə·‘ā·wî·nū wə·‘iw·wāh wə·he·‘ĕ·wî·nū wə·na·‘ă·wêh- wəhe‘ĕwînū wəna‘ăwêh-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts