3970. maavay

Lexical Summary

maavay: Desire, longing

Original Word: מַאֲוַי
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ma'avay
Pronunciation: mah-ah-vah-ee
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-av-ah'ee)
KJV: desire
NASB: desires
Word Origin: [from H183 (אָוָה - desire)]

1. a desire

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

desire

From 'avah; a desire -- desire.

see HEBREW 'avah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as i
Definition
desire
NASB Translation
desires (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[מַאֲוַי] noun [masculine] desire plural construct מַאֲוַיֵּי רָשָׁע Psalm 140:9.

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Root Idea

מַאֲוַי (Strong’s 3970) conveys the concept of personal longings, cravings, or wishes springing from the inner person. It is a noun formed from the verb אָוָה (“to desire, crave”). While its single Old Testament appearance renders it rare, the word captures a universal biblical concern: the disposition of the heart and the moral direction of its yearnings.

Biblical Occurrence

Psalm 140:8: “Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not let their plans succeed, lest they exalt themselves.”

Literary and Historical Context

Psalm 140 is attributed to David and portrays him surrounded by violent schemers. The psalmist petitions God to intervene against men whose hearts are bent on evil. By choosing the uncommon term מַאֲוַי, the psalm highlights not merely external plots but their internal source—the corrupt inward passions that drive wicked action. David’s prayer recognizes that if God were to accommodate such desires, the wicked would be emboldened and covenant order would be overturned.

Theological Significance

1. Heart-Centered Ethics. Scripture consistently locates sin at the level of the heart’s desires (Genesis 6:5; Matthew 5:28). מַאֲוַי anchors this ethic in the Psalms by making the interior life a matter of petition before God.
2. Divine Restraint. The verse assumes that God both hears and intervenes, not merely by altering circumstances but by refusing to endorse evil cravings. This parallels Romans 1:24, where God’s judgment is sometimes expressed by “giving over” people to their desires; here David prays for the opposite.
3. Moral Polarities. The contrast between the “desires of the wicked” and the righteous purposes of God sets up a covenantal dichotomy echoed throughout Wisdom literature (Proverbs 11:23) and later in James 4:1–3.

Intertextual Themes

• Conflict of Desires: James 1:14–15 traces sin’s lifecycle from desire to death, matching the psalm’s concern that unchecked cravings mature into oppressive deeds.
• Prayer for Alignment: Jesus models corrective prayer—“Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10)—precisely the positive counterpart to Psalm 140:8’s negative petition.
• Vindication of the Righteous: Psalm 37:4 invites delight in the LORD so that “He will give you the desires of your heart,” showing that God does grant desire when it is reordered toward Him.

Practical and Ministry Applications

1. Spiritual Warfare. Pastoral counseling should expose destructive desires early, recognizing that the battle often begins at the level of affection before it manifests in behavior.
2. Corporate Prayer. Congregations can incorporate Psalm 140:8 into intercession for societal justice, asking God to curtail agendas springing from corrupt motives.
3. Formation of Holy Longings. Discipleship programs should emphasize cultivating godly desires rather than mere behavior management, acknowledging that the Spirit reshapes cravings (Galatians 5:16–17).
4. Self-Examination in Leadership. Leaders must watch their own מַאֲוַי, guarding against ambition that undermines God’s purposes (1 Timothy 3:1–3).

Concluding Summary

Though מַאֲוַי appears only once, it distills a major biblical motif: God’s redemptive interest in the human heart. Psalm 140:8 demonstrates that prayer rightly addresses not only external threats but also the inner drives that animate them. Recognizing and surrendering our desires to God remains central to righteous living and effective ministry.

Forms and Transliterations

מַאֲוַיֵּ֣י מאויי ma’ăwayyê ma·’ă·way·yê maavaiYei

Englishman's Concordance

Psalm 140:8
HEB: תִּתֵּ֣ן יְ֭הוָה מַאֲוַיֵּ֣י רָשָׁ֑ע זְמָמ֥וֹ
NAS: O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
KJV: not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked:
INT: grant LORD the desires of the wicked his device

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 3970
1 Occurrence

ma·’ă·way·yê — 1 Occ.