The meaning of “הוֹי”
Understanding hôwy reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
a prolonged form of הוֹ (akin to אוֹי) ah, alas, ho, O, woe. - oh! 1) ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!
הוֹי
a prolonged form of הוֹ (akin to אוֹי) ah, alas, ho, O, woe. - oh! 1) ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!, woe!
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Ruth 4:1 | “Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.” Word: הוֹי (hôwy) | |
| Isaiah 17:12 | “Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!” Word: הוֹי (hôwy) | |
| Ezekiel 13:18 | “And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?” Word: הוֹי (hôwy) | |
| Micah 2:1 | “Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.” Word: הוֹי (hôwy) | |
| Habakkuk 2:12 | “Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!” Word: הוֹי (hôwy) |