1929. hah

Lexical Summary

hah: Aha!

Original Word: הָהּ
Part of Speech: Interjection
Transliteration: hahh
Pronunciation: hah
Phonetic Spelling: (haw)
KJV: woe worth
NASB: alas
Word Origin: [a shortened form of H162 (אֲהָהּ - alas)]

1. ah! expressing grief

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Expressing grief

A shortened form of 'ahahh; ah! Expressing grief -- woe worth.

see HEBREW 'ahahh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a 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.
• Audience: Judean exiles tempted to trust Egyptian power for deliverance from Babylon.
• Background: Pharaoh Hophra’s Egypt posed a diplomatic alternative to Babylon (compare Jeremiah 37:5-10). Ezekiel’s lament undermines that hope by announcing Egypt’s downfall; the single cry of “Alas” signals that even the mightiest earthly kingdoms succumb to divine judgment.

Literary and Rhetorical Function

1. Prophetic Alarm: The interjection arrests attention, functioning like a trumpet blast of grief.
2. Covenant Reminder: It reminds Israel that reliance on foreign powers violates trust in the LORD (Deuteronomy 17:16; Isaiah 30:1-5).
3. Transition Marker: In Ezekiel 30 the lament transitions from oracle introduction (verses 2-3) to detailed pronouncement (verses 4-19).

Theological Significance

• Divine Sovereignty: The momentary outcry encapsulates God’s authority over nations (Daniel 4:35).
• Moral Accountability: It exposes sin’s consequences; Egypt’s pride and idolatry culminate in lament (Ezekiel 30:13).
• Eschatological Echo: “Alas” prefigures New Testament cries over Babylon the Great (Revelation 18:10, 16, 19), demonstrating continuity in God’s dealings with oppressive powers.

Related Expressions of Lament in Scripture

Although unique, the particle stands alongside other Hebrew cries:
• הוֹי “Woe” (Isaiah 5:8-23)
• אוֹי “Oh!” or “Woe” (Jeremiah 4:31)
• אֲהָהּ “Ah!” (Jeremiah 1:6)

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).
2. Prophetic Preaching: Like Ezekiel, contemporary proclaimers warn against misplaced trust—whether political, economic, or spiritual idols (Psalm 20:7).
3. Intercession: “Alas” models intercessory anguish that identifies with those under judgment while pleading for mercy (Exodus 32:11-13; Romans 9:1-3).

Practical Application

• Personal Devotion: Meditate on Ezekiel 30 and pray for a heart sensitive to God’s holiness.
• Corporate Worship: Include songs or prayers of confession that acknowledge national and personal sin.
• Pastoral Care: When tragedy strikes, biblical lament legitimizes sorrow while anchoring hope in God’s ultimate justice and restoration (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

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 hāh

Englishman'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

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1929
1 Occurrence

hāh — 1 Occ.