Word Study for H1933 (הָוָא) | Strong's Concordance

hâvâʼ /haw-vaw'/ Ask about this word

Rootor הָוָה · a primitive root (compare אָוָה, הָיָה) supposed to mean properly, to breathe

Meaningto be (in the sense of existence)

KJV usagebe

Idioms & phrasesidiom have.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of hâvâʼ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word hâvâʼ, represented by H1933, is a primitive root that means to be (in the sense of existence). It can also carry the idiomatic sense of "to have." This rare term, appearing just 6 times in 6 unique verses, is understood to be related to the fundamental act of breathing and existence.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H1933 is used to make powerful declarative statements that establish a new reality or status. It is found in the patriarchal blessing where Jacob is told to "be lord over thy brethren," conferring a position of authority Genesis 27:29. Similarly, it appears in an accusation that Nehemiah's intent in rebuilding the wall was so "that thou mayest be their king" Nehemiah 6:6. The word also functions as a divine, creative command, as when God speaks to the snow, saying, "Be thou on the earth" Job 37:6. In a simpler sense, it can affirm a state of being, as with a fallen tree: "in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be" Ecclesiastes 11:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the states of being that H1933 establishes:

H1376 gᵉbîyr (a master; lord): This term for mastery is directly connected to H1933 in the blessing given to Jacob, where he is told to "be lord" Genesis 27:29.
H4428 melek (a king): Similar to lord, this word for royalty describes the status that Nehemiah was accused of pursuing when it was said his goal was to "be their king" Nehemiah 6:6.
H1481 gûwr (properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest)): This word for dwelling is used in the same context as H1933 in Isaiah's prophecy, where Moab is instructed to "be thou a covert" for outcasts who will "dwell with thee" Isaiah 16:4.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1933 is demonstrated in its specific applications.

Conferring Authority: The word is used in spoken declarations to establish a person's role or authority over others. This is evident when Isaac blesses Jacob to "be lord" Genesis 27:29, making the word an instrument for enacting a new social reality.
Divine Creative Command: The term highlights God's sovereignty over creation. His command to the snow, "Be thou on the earth," is a direct creative act, bringing something into its intended state and place simply by speaking it into being Job 37:6.
Establishing a State of Existence: Whether as an imperative or a statement of fact, H1933 defines a condition. It can be a command for Moab to "be thou a covert" for the oppressed Isaiah 16:4 or an observation about what is, as when a man considers what he "hath of all his labour" Ecclesiastes 2:22.

Summary

In summary, H1933 is a concise but potent term. Though rare, it is far more than a simple verb for existence; it is frequently used in powerful contexts of command and declaration. From establishing a person's authority as a lord Genesis 27:29 to executing a divine decree upon nature Job 37:6, hâvâʼ is a word that calls a state of being into reality. It demonstrates how the fundamental concept of "to be" can be charged with the power to define roles, create conditions, and affirm unchangeable truths.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Qal Imperative 2nd Singular Masculine 2×
Qal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 2×
Qal Imperative 2nd Singular Feminine 1×
Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×

Singular: One.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal: The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Absolute: The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ecclesiastes (2 verses); never once in the other 34.

Genesis

Nehemiah

Job

Ecclesiastes

Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.