Bible Word Study
יְהַב
yᵉhab · null
יְהַב
Definition
יְהַב is an Aramaic noun meaning 'to give, deliver, pay, or yield.' It denotes the act of transferring something—whether an object, payment, or authority—from one party to another. In Ezra, it is used for the Persian kings 'giving' or 'delivering' commands and resources for the Jerusalem temple's reconstruction (Ezra 6:8-9). It also appears in contexts of 'paying' tribute or 'yielding' obedience, as in the people being 'given' into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar (Ezra 5:12).
Biblical Usage
This word occurs exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, primarily in the book of Ezra (28 times). It is used in official documents and decrees, often involving royal edicts, financial provisions, or historical accounts of divine judgment. For example, King Darius 'gives' orders for temple funding (Ezra 6:8), and God 'gave' the Israelites into exile (Ezra 5:12). The usage consistently reflects formal, transactional, or sovereign acts of transfer.
Etymology
יְהַב is the Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew verb יָהַב (yahab, H3051), both meaning 'to give.' It derives from a common Semitic root conveying the basic idea of giving or placing. In Aramaic, it became the standard term for giving, adapted into the imperial administrative language of the Persian period, as seen in the biblical texts.
Semantic Range
יְהַב highlights God's sovereignty in human affairs, especially in the context of exile and restoration. It shows how God 'gives' kingdoms into the hands of rulers (like Nebuchadnezzar in Ezra 5:12) and also moves kings' hearts to 'give' resources for His purposes (Ezra 6:8-9). Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the study of divine providence, emphasizing that even pagan decrees can fulfill God's plans for His people. In its original setting, יְהַב was part of the official Aramaic lingua franca used in the Persian Empire for legal and administrative documents. Its use in Ezra reflects real historical correspondence, where 'giving' often involved royal grants, taxes, or commands. This contrasts with modern casual giving, as it carried formal, binding authority, akin to issuing a decree or subsidy. יָהַב (yahab, H3051) — The Hebrew equivalent, used more broadly in non-Aramaic biblical texts. נָתַן (nathan, H5414) — The common Hebrew verb for 'give,' with a wider semantic range including placing or setting.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]