### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term **ʻAvvîy**, represented by `{{H5757}}`, is a patrial name for an **Avvite or native of Avvah**. It appears just **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, where it is used in its plural form, **Avites**, to identify a specific group of people.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its sole biblical appearance, `{{H5757}}` identifies the **Avites** as a people who engaged in idolatry. The verse lists them as one of the groups who **made** idols named Nibhaz and Tartak [[2 Kings 17:31]]. This act is recorded in the context of other peoples, like the Sepharvites, who were also participating in idolatrous practices condemned in scripture.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from the passage provide context for the Avites' actions:
* `{{H6213}}` **ʻâsâh** (to do or make): This word describes the specific action of the Avites; they **made** their own objects of worship [[2 Kings 17:31]]. This verb is used throughout scripture to describe both human and divine creation.
* `{{H8313}}` **sâraph** (to be...on fire; burn): While not an act of the Avites, this verb describes what their neighbors, the Sepharvites, did. They **burnt** their children in the fire to their gods, highlighting the extreme nature of the idolatry occurring in the region [[2 Kings 17:31]].
* `{{H430}}` **ʼĕlôhîym** (gods...of the supreme God): This term clarifies the nature of the idols being worshipped. The Sepharvites were sacrificing to their **gods**, providing the framework to understand that the idols made by the Avites were also false deities.
### Theological Significance
The single reference to `{{H5757}}` carries significant theological weight by illustrating key themes:
* **Idolatrous Creation:** The Avites' act of **making** `{{H6213}}` their own gods stands in stark contrast to worshipping the one true God `{{H430}}`, who is the maker of heaven and earth [[Jeremiah 32:17]].
* **Grave Transgression:** The Avites are mentioned in a context that includes the horrific practice of burning `{{H8313}}` children as offerings, an act explicitly condemned by God elsewhere in scripture [[Jeremiah 19:5]].
* **Rejection of God:** The actions of the Avites exemplify a turning away from the true God in favor of false **gods** `{{H430}}`. This choice stands in direct opposition to the call to know and serve the Lord with a perfect heart [[1 Chronicles 28:9]].
### Summary
In summary, **ʻAvvîy** `{{H5757}}` serves as a specific identifier for the **Avites**, a people mentioned only once in scripture. Their sole appearance casts them as idol makers, a role that places them in direct opposition to the worship of the God of Israel. The term, therefore, functions as a historical and theological marker, representing one of the many groups whose idolatrous practices are recorded as a warning and a contrast to faithfulness.
TRV