Lexical Summary hah: Aha! Original Word: הָהּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Expressing griefA shortened form of 'ahahh; ah! Expressing grief -- woe worth. see HEBREW 'ahahh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. interj. Definition alas! NASB Translation alas (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs הָהּ interjection expressing woe, alas! Ezekiel 30:2 howl ye הָהּ לַיּוֺם alas for the day! AV woe worth the day! (compare אֲהָהּ לַיּוֺם Joel 1:15.) Topical Lexicon Overview The particle occurring once in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 30:2) functions as an exclamatory lament. It conveys sudden grief, dread, and urgent concern, setting the emotional tone for prophetic judgment or personal calamity. Biblical Usage Ezekiel 30:2: “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD declares: Wail, “Alas for the day!”’ ” Here the word introduces a dirge announcing the “day of the LORD” against Egypt and her allies (Ezekiel 30:3-9). By appearing at the head of the oracle, the cry personalizes the suffering to come, urging hearers to recognize its inevitability and to respond with appropriate sorrow. Historical Context of Ezekiel 30 • Date: Early in the sixth century BC, during the Babylonian era of domination. Literary and Rhetorical Function 1. Prophetic Alarm: The interjection arrests attention, functioning like a trumpet blast of grief. Theological Significance • Divine Sovereignty: The momentary outcry encapsulates God’s authority over nations (Daniel 4:35). Related Expressions of Lament in Scripture Although unique, the particle stands alongside other Hebrew cries: Together they form a biblical vocabulary of godly sorrow, prophetic indignation, and pastoral empathy. Implications for Ministry and Worship 1. Cultivating Lament: The church benefits from public and private expressions of grief over sin and brokenness (James 4:9). Practical Application • Personal Devotion: Meditate on Ezekiel 30 and pray for a heart sensitive to God’s holiness. Summary The solitary cry in Ezekiel 30:2 is more than an archaic interjection; it is a Spirit-inspired summons to sober reflection, heartfelt lament, and renewed trust in the LORD who judges nations and redeems His people. Forms and Transliterations הָ֥הּ הה hah hāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 30:2 HEB: יְהוִ֑ה הֵילִ֖ילוּ הָ֥הּ לַיּֽוֹם׃ NAS: GOD, Wail, 'Alas for the day!' KJV: GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day! INT: GOD Wail Alas the day |