### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼâvâh**, represented by `{{H183}}`, is a primitive root meaning to **wish for** or **desire**. It appears 26 times across 26 unique verses in the Bible. The word conveys a strong sense of longing, which can be expressed as coveting, lusting after, or being desirous of something.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H183}}` captures a wide spectrum of desire, from the righteous to the sinful. It describes God's own desire for Zion as His chosen habitation [[Psalms 132:13]]. It also depicts personal, human longings, such as David's desire for water from a well in Bethlehem [[2 Samuel 23:15]] or the soul's yearning for God [[Isaiah 26:9]]. Conversely, the word is used negatively to describe the covetousness forbidden in the Ten Commandments, specifically the desire for a neighbor's house [[Deuteronomy 5:21]]. It also characterizes the sinful "lusting" of the mixed multitude in the wilderness [[Numbers 11:4]], a desire that led to divine judgment [[Numbers 11:34]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of desire and longing:
* `{{H8378}}` **taʼăvâh** (a longing): A noun derived from `{{H183}}`, it often intensifies the desire, as seen in the phrase "lusted {H183} exceedingly {H8378}" [[Psalms 106:14]] and "coveteth {H183} greedily {H8378}" [[Proverbs 21:26]].
* `{{H2530}}` **châmad** (to delight in): This verb for coveting or desiring is used in parallel with `{{H183}}` in the Ten Commandments, where the text forbids desiring a neighbor's wife and then coveting his house and property [[Deuteronomy 5:21]].
* `{{H5315}}` **nephesh** (soul, appetite, desire): This word for the inner being or soul is frequently the subject of the verb `{{H183}}`, highlighting that desire originates from the core of a person. It is the "soul" that longs, lusts, or desires ([[Deuteronomy 12:20]], [[Isaiah 26:9]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H183}}` is significant, revealing much about the nature of God and humanity.
* **Divine Will:** The verb `{{H183}}` is used to express God's own sovereign will and choice. His desire for Zion establishes it as His sacred dwelling place, setting it apart from all other locations [[Psalms 132:13]].
* **The Heart's Inclination:** The word reveals that desire is a core aspect of the soul `{{H5315}}`. This inclination can be righteous, as when the soul desires God [[Isaiah 26:9]], or wicked, as when the soul of the wicked desires evil [[Proverbs 21:10]].
* **Desire and Futility:** Scripture uses `{{H183}}` to illustrate the vanity of misplaced desire. The sluggard who desires has nothing [[Proverbs 13:4]], and a man who is granted everything his soul desires but cannot enjoy it lives a life of vanity and evil disease [[Ecclesiastes 6:2]].
### Summary
In conclusion, **ʼâvâh** `{{H183}}` is a potent word that encapsulates the deep longings of the inner being. Its usage ranges from the holy desire of God for His dwelling place, to the forbidden covetousness that violates divine law. By examining its context, we see that desire itself is a powerful force, and its direction—whether toward God or toward worldly things—carries significant spiritual and practical consequences, as illustrated in both the Psalms and Proverbs.
TRV