a primitive root; properly, to be free; but used only causatively and reflexively, to halloo (for help, i.e. freedom from some trouble); cry (aloud, out), shout.
### 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.
TRV