The meaning of “אוֹי”
Understanding ʼôwy reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
probably from אָוָה (in the sense of crying out after) alas, woe. - lamentation - also interjectionally Oh! 1) woe! alas...
אוֹי
probably from אָוָה (in the sense of crying out after) alas, woe. - lamentation - also interjectionally Oh! 1) woe! alas! oh! 1a) passionate cry of grief or despair
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers 24:23 | “And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!” Word: אוֹי (ʼôwy) | |
| 1 Samuel 4:8 | “Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.” Word: אוֹי (ʼôwy) | |
| Proverbs 23:29 | “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?” Word: אוֹי (ʼôwy) | |
| Isaiah 6:5 | “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Word: אוֹי (ʼôwy) | |
| Jeremiah 13:27 | “I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be? ” Word: אוֹי (ʼôwy) |