עָוָה

ʻâvâh /aw-vaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto crook, literally or figuratively
KJV usagedo amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse(-ly), trouble, do wickedly, do wrong.
Idioms & phrasesidiom turn
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻâvâh, represented by H5753, is a primitive root meaning to crook, pervert, or do amiss. It appears 17 times in 17 unique verses. The term describes actions that are literally bent or crooked, as well as figuratively perverse or iniquitous, capturing a sense of twisting what is right.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H5753 carries a dual meaning of physical distortion and moral corruption. In a literal sense, God "turneth" the earth upside down in judgment Isaiah 24:1, and a path can be "made crooked" Lamentations 3:9. It can also describe a physical posture of distress, as when Isaiah was "bowed down" by a terrible vision Isaiah 21:3. More frequently, it denotes moral transgression. It is a key term in confessions of sin, where individuals or the nation admit they have "committed iniquity" or "done perversely" (Daniel 9:5; 1 Kings 8:47). It describes the act of perverting God's way Jeremiah 3:21 or twisting what is right Job 33:27.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the scope of perversity and sin:

  • H2398 châṭâʼ (to sin): This word, meaning to miss the mark, is frequently paired with H5753. In confessions, it establishes the initial failure, while H5753 describes the subsequent twisting of the standard Psalms 106:6.
  • H7561 râshaʻ (do wickedly): Often appearing in a triad with H2398 and H5753, this term describes active wickedness. The sequence suggests a progression from missing the mark to perverting the way and finally to committing wicked acts Daniel 9:5.
  • H5771 ʻâvôn (iniquity): As the noun form derived from H5753, this word signifies the state of perversity or the guilt resulting from it. A servant who "did perversely" H5753 asks that the king not impute "iniquity" H5771 to him 2 Samuel 19:19.
  • H4775 mârad (to rebel): Used alongside H5753 in Daniel's prayer, this word highlights that perversity is an act of rebellion against divine authority Daniel 9:5.
  • H7725 shûwb (to turn back): This verb represents the remedy for perversity. Confessions of having "done perversely" H5753 are often linked with a call to "turn" or "repent" H7725, demonstrating the path to restoration 2 Chronicles 6:37.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5753 is significant, defining the nature of sin and the path of repentance.

  • Comprehensive Confession: The frequent use of H5753 in a three-part formula with H2398 and H7561 illustrates a thorough understanding of sin. This confession acknowledges missing the standard, perverting the way, and acting wickedly 1 Kings 8:47.
  • The Essence of Perversity: H5753 moves beyond a simple mistake to describe a deliberate distortion. It is the act of taking something straight and making it crooked, whether it is God's law, a personal path, or justice itself. This is seen in the confession of having "perverted that which was right" Job 33:27.
  • Divine and Human Action: While humans commit iniquity H5753, God can also perform a similar action in judgment by making paths "crooked" Lamentations 3:9 or turning the world "upside down" Isaiah 24:1. This connects human moral distortion with divine consequences.
  • Personal and Social Wrongdoing: The term is not limited to theological sin but applies to interpersonal relationships. A person with a "perverse heart" is despised Proverbs 12:8, and Queen Vashti is accused of having "done wrong" H5753 against the king and his people Esther 1:16.

Summary

In summary, H5753 is a powerful word that encapsulates the idea of distortion and deviation. It describes more than just a failure; it signifies a willful act of bending, twisting, and corrupting. From a crooked path to a perverse heart, and from a body "bowed down" in anguish to a nation that has "committed iniquity," H5753 illustrates the profound nature of turning away from the straight path of righteousness.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 17 occurrences, inflected in 13 grammatical forms.

  • Hiphil Perfect 1st Plural common gender 3×
  • Hiphil Perfect 1st Singular common gender 2×
  • Niphal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 2×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Absolute 1×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Participle Singular Feminine Construct 1×
  • Niphal Participle Singular Masculine Construct 1×
  • Piel Consecutive Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Perfect 1st Plural common gender 1×

+ 1 rarer form

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 17 verses across 12 books. Most frequent in 2 Samuel (3 verses).

1
1 Samuel
3
2 Samuel
1
1 Kings
1
2 Chronicles
1
Esther
1
Job
2
Psalms
1
Proverbs
2
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah
1
Lamentations
1
Daniel

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