עַוָּה
overthrow
Definition
The Hebrew noun עַוָּה (ʻavvâh) means 'overthrow' or 'overturning,' conveying a sense of complete and violent destruction or subversion. It describes a radical, often divinely initiated, reversal of a state or order, such as the toppling of a kingdom or the ruin of a city. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 21:27 (Hebrew 21:32), it is used in a prophetic oracle against Jerusalem, depicting its imminent and total ruin. The term implies not just a physical collapse but a judicial overturning of established authority or condition.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 21:27. It is used in a prophetic context of judgment, specifically in an oracle against Jerusalem, declaring its coming destruction. The usage is dramatic and absolute, fitting Ezekiel's themes of divine judgment on Judah for its rebellion. The context is a pronouncement of a complete end to the current royal line and societal order.
Etymology
The noun עַוָּה (ʻavvâh) is an intensive or abstract form derived from the root עָוָה (ʻāvâh, H5753), which means 'to bend,' 'to twist,' or 'to make crooked.' This root conveys the idea of distortion or perversion. The noun form intensifies this to signify a state of being overthrown or utterly subverted—a complete twisting or bending out of its proper shape or order. It is a relatively rare derivation, highlighting a catastrophic outcome.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the concept of divine judgment as a complete and decisive overturning. In Ezekiel 21:27, it underscores God's sovereign action in ending the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem as a consequence of covenant unfaithfulness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of prophecy by emphasizing the totality and judicial nature of God's interventions in history, where human structures are not merely damaged but fundamentally reversed by His decree.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the 'overthrow' of a city or kingdom was a catastrophic event involving military conquest, slaughter, and exile. For Israel, such an event was not merely a political misfortune but was understood through the lens of covenant theology—a direct act of God's judgment. The term's singularity in Ezekiel would have resonated with the profound cultural trauma of Jerusalem's impending fall to Babylon.
הָפַךְ (hāphak, H2015) — a more common verb meaning 'to overturn' or 'to overthrow,' used for cities like Sodom (Genesis 19:21, 25). מַהְפֵּכָה (mahpēkâh, H4114) — a noun meaning 'overthrow' or 'catastrophe,' often used for Sodom's destruction (Deuteronomy 29:23, Isaiah 13:19).
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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