a shortened form of אֲהָהּ; ah! expressing grief; woe worth.
Transliteration:hâhh
Pronunciation:haw
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew interjection הָהּ (hâhh, `{{H1929}}`) is a potent exclamation, primarily denoting grief, lament, or woe. It serves as a shortened form of the more common and slightly more emphatic interjection אֲהָהּ (’āhāh, `{{H30}}`). Both forms convey a strong emotional outcry, indicating deep distress, sorrow, or dread. Unlike a simple expression of surprise, הָהּ is specifically associated with negative circumstances, signifying a lamentable state, impending disaster, or the pain of present suffering. Its semantic range is thus narrow but intensely focused on the articulation of profound sorrow or warning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of הָהּ (hâhh, `{{H1929}}`) in the Hebrew Bible are limited, yet each instance carries significant emotional and theological weight, primarily appearing in contexts of divine judgment and prophetic lament.
* **[[Ezekiel 21:15]]**: "that their heart may melt and their stumblings multiply. Ah! (הָהּ) it is made for glittering, it is sharpened for slaughter." Here, the interjection is placed in the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, lamenting the devastating power of the sword of judgment. It underscores the terror and inevitability of the impending slaughter, functioning as a mournful exclamation over the instrument of divine wrath. The prophet's cry reflects both the horror of the destruction and the certainty of its arrival.
* **[[Ezekiel 30:2]]**: "Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Wail, ‘Ah! (הָהּ) for the day!’”" In this passage, הָהּ is part of a divine command to lament the "day of the Lord," which is depicted as a day of judgment and desolation for Egypt. The interjection serves as a direct call to mourn, initiating the lament for the catastrophic events that are about to unfold. It emphasizes the severity and finality of the judgment, urging an immediate and profound emotional response.
In both instances, הָהּ is found within the book of Ezekiel, a prophetic text deeply concerned with judgment, exile, and restoration. Its usage consistently marks a moment of intense sorrow or dread, often associated with the consequences of sin and the execution of divine justice. The interjection acts as a verbal sigh or groan, giving voice to the profound anguish felt in the face of overwhelming calamity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of הָהּ (hâhh, `{{H1929}}`) is enriched by examining its relationship to other Hebrew words and broader biblical concepts:
* **אֲהָהּ (’āhāh, `{{H30}}`):** As noted, הָהּ is a shortened form of this more frequent interjection. Both convey similar meanings of lament, distress, or woe. ’āhāh often appears in prophetic laments (e.g., [[Jeremiah 1:6]], [[Amos 7:2]], [[Amos 7:5]]), expressing the prophet's personal anguish or intercession in the face of judgment. The slight difference in form does not appear to indicate a significant semantic distinction, but rather a stylistic variation.
* **הוֹי (hôy, `{{H1945}}`):** This interjection, frequently translated as "Woe!" or "Alas!", is another powerful expression of lament or warning, often pronounced as a prophetic curse or a cry of despair. While הָהּ is a cry *of* grief, הוֹי can be a cry *pronouncing* woe upon others, though it also expresses sorrow. Both contribute to the biblical vocabulary of lament and judgment.
* **אָי (’ay, `{{H336}}`):** Less common, this interjection also expresses distress or lament, sometimes implying "Where?" in the sense of "Where is help?" or "Where is hope?" (e.g., [[Job 21:28]]).
* **Concepts of Lamentation and Mourning:** הָהּ connects to the broader biblical themes of lamentation (e.g., נָהָה, nāhāh, `{{H5091}}`, "to wail"; קוּן, qûn, `{{H6963}}`, "to chant a dirge"). While these verbs describe the act of mourning, הָהּ is the raw, immediate sound of it, the visceral outcry.
* **Divine Judgment and Prophetic Utterance:** The contexts of הָהּ consistently link it to the pronouncement or experience of God's judgment. It underscores the solemnity and severity of divine action against sin, often articulated through the prophet's voice, who embodies the sorrow of both God and the people.
### Theological Significance
The interjection הָהּ (hâhh, `{{H1929}}`) holds significant theological weight, particularly within the prophetic literature:
* **The Gravity of Sin and Judgment:** The very sound of הָהּ conveys the profound and lamentable consequences of sin. Its use in passages describing impending judgment (e.g., [[Ezekiel 30:2]]) serves to impress upon the audience the gravity of divine wrath and the inescapable nature of its execution when covenant obligations are forsaken. It is a cry that underscores the absolute righteousness of God's judgment.
* **Prophetic Empathy and Burden:** When placed in the mouth of a prophet like Ezekiel, הָהּ reveals the prophet's deep empathy with God's sorrow over His people's rebellion and the subsequent necessity of judgment. It reflects the heavy burden of the prophetic office, where the messenger not only declares God's word but also often experiences the anguish of its implications. The prophet's cry of "Ah!" becomes a shared lament, bridging the divine and human experience of sorrow.
* **Call to Repentance and Reflection:** While an expression of grief, the prophetic utterance of הָהּ also functions as a stark warning, a call for a visceral response to the impending doom. It is an invitation to reflection on the causes of such lamentable conditions, implicitly urging a turn from sin and a return to God. The sound itself is a summons to serious consideration of one's spiritual state.
* **Divine Sovereignty in Suffering:** Even in the midst of cries of woe, the biblical narrative maintains God's ultimate sovereignty. The circumstances that elicit the cry of הָהּ are often the direct result of God's righteous dealings with humanity. Thus, the interjection, while expressing human pain, implicitly acknowledges the divine hand at work, even in bringing about suffering for corrective or punitive purposes.
### Summary
The Hebrew interjection הָהּ (hâhh, `{{H1929}}`) is a concise yet powerful expression of grief, lament, or woe. As a shortened form of אֲהָהּ (`{{H30}}`), it consistently appears in biblical contexts, particularly within the prophetic book of Ezekiel, to convey deep distress in the face of impending or actual divine judgment. Its limited but impactful occurrences highlight the severe consequences of sin and the solemnity of God's righteous wrath. The prophet's use of הָהּ underscores the burden of the prophetic message and serves as a visceral call to lament and reflection. Theologically, it emphasizes the gravity of sin, the empathy of God's messengers, and the inescapable nature of divine justice, even as it gives voice to profound human sorrow.
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