עָוַת
to wrest
Definition
The Hebrew verb עָוַת (ʻâvath) fundamentally means to bend, twist, or distort something from its proper state or course. It describes the act of making something crooked, whether physically, morally, or judicially. In a physical sense, it can refer to the bending of objects (Ecclesiastes 1:15, 12:3). More significantly, it often denotes perverting justice, as seen when Job's friends are accused of 'wresting' judgment (Job 8:3), or twisting the truth, as in falsifying a matter (Job 19:6). The word powerfully conveys the idea of corrupting what is right and straight.
Biblical Usage
This verb appears 10 times, primarily in the poetic and wisdom literature of Job, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes. Its usage consistently involves the concept of distortion. It describes perverting justice (Job 8:3, 34:12), falsifying a legal case (Job 19:6), and the Lord's care for those who are oppressed or 'bowed down' (Psalm 146:9). In Ecclesiastes, it is used literally for what cannot be made straight (Ecclesiastes 1:15, 7:13) and metaphorically for the physical bending of age (Ecclesiastes 12:3).
Etymology
עָוַת is a primitive root. It is related to the noun עָוֶל (ʻāvel, H5766), meaning 'injustice' or 'wrong,' and the adjective עִוֵּל (ʻiwwēl, H5767), meaning 'unjust.' The core concept is a deviation from a straight, upright, or just standard, linking physical crookedness with moral and legal perversion.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's character in contrast to human corruption. It describes a fundamental human sin: twisting God's truth and justice. Passages like Job 34:12 assert that God Himself does not 'pervert' justice, establishing His absolute righteousness. Understanding עָוַת enriches reading by showing that biblical concepts of sin are not just about breaking rules but actively distorting the good, straight order God intends. It also underscores God's compassion, as He upholds those who are 'bowed down' (Psalm 146:9) by such injustice.
In ancient Israel's context, where society relied heavily on oral testimony and communal judges at the gate, the idea of 'wresting' judgment or falsifying a case (Job 19:6) was a direct attack on social stability. To pervert justice was to undermine the covenant community itself. The physical imagery of bending what is straight would be immediately understood in an agrarian society familiar with crooked furrows or damaged tools.
עָוָה (ʻāvâ, H5753) — to bend or twist, often used for iniquity as a moral bending. פָּתַל (pāthal, H6617) — to twist or be crooked, used for deceitful speech. סָגַר (sāgar, H5462) — to turn aside or depart, often from a path or command.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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