שָׁוַע

shâvaʻ /shaw-vah'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root · properly, to be free
Meaningbut used only causatively and reflexively, to halloo (for help, i.e. freedom from some trouble)
KJV usagecry (aloud, out), shout.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word שָׁוַע (shâvaʻ), represented by H7768, is a primitive root used to describe a cry for help. Its definition is to halloo for freedom from trouble, to cry out, or to shout. The word appears 21 times across 21 unique verses, indicating its specific and significant use in scripture.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H7768 almost always signifies a desperate cry directed to God for deliverance. The psalmist uses it to describe calling upon the LORD (H3068) in distress, a cry which is then heard (H8085) by God (H430) Psalms 18:6. This cry is often the voice of the vulnerable, such as the needy (H34) and the poor (H6041) who have no other helper (H5826) Psalms 72:12. While the cry often results in God hearing and healing (H7495) Psalms 30:2, some passages express the deep anguish of crying aloud (H7768) and not being heard (H6030) or receiving judgment (Job 19:7, Habakkuk 1:2). God promises in Isaiah that when His people call (H7121) and cry (H7768), He will answer (H6030) Isaiah 58:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of this type of desperate communication:

  • H2199 zâʻaq: a primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger). This term often appears alongside H7768 and signifies an intense cry born of deep distress, such as when the oppressed cry out because of the arm of the mighty Job 35:9 or when a cry is shut out Lamentations 3:8.
  • H7775 shavʻâh: feminine of שֶׁוַע; a hallooing; crying. This is the noun form of the cry itself. It is this cry that comes before God and into His ears, as described in the psalmist's deliverance Psalms 18:6.
  • H8469 tachănûwn: earnest prayer; intreaty, supplication. This word describes the character of the plea accompanying the cry. It is the "voice of my supplications" that God hears when one cries (H7768) to Him (Psalms 31:22, Psalms 28:2).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7768 is significant, highlighting key aspects of the human-divine relationship.

  • A Cry for Divine Intervention: To cry (H7768) is an act of faith and dependence, an acknowledgment that deliverance from distress (H6862) or affliction must come from God. It is seen in Jonah's cry from the belly of hell Jonah 2:2 and the psalmist's cry for healing Psalms 30:2.
  • God's Concern for the Helpless: The act of crying out is frequently tied to the plight of society's most vulnerable. God is portrayed as the one who delivers (H4422) the poor (H6041) and the fatherless (H3490) specifically "that cried" Job 29:12, showing His particular attention to the appeals of the oppressed.
  • The Catalyst for Divine Response: The cry often precedes God's action. God's character is revealed in His response: He does not despise (H959) nor abhor (H8262) the affliction (H6039) of the afflicted, but when he cried (H7768) unto him, he heard (H8085) Psalms 22:24. Conversely, when a cry goes unanswered, it frames a moment of profound theological tension and lament (Psalms 18:41, Job 30:20).

Summary

In summary, shâvaʻ H7768 is more than a simple shout; it is a profound expression of desperation and dependence directed toward God. It is the specific vocabulary for the cry that seeks freedom and salvation from overwhelming trouble. Whether it is heard and answered or seemingly ignored, this act of crying out is a central element of biblical lament and prayer, defining the raw and honest relationship between humanity in its suffering and the God who is called upon to save.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and a noun across 23 occurrences, inflected in 11 grammatical forms.

  • Piel Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 4×
  • Piel Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 4×
  • Piel Perfect 1st Singular common gender 4×
  • Piel Infinitive Construct 3×
  • Piel Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 2×
  • Piel Conjunction+Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Piel Consecutive Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Piel Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Singular Masculine Construct 1×
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").
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".
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.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Conjunction+Imperfect
Imperfect joined by a simple "and".
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 21 verses across 6 books. Most frequent in Psalms (9 verses).

8
Job
9
Psalms
1
Isaiah
1
Lamentations
1
Jonah
1
Habakkuk

Verse Explorer

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