Lexical Summary shavah: To level, equalize, resemble, compare, make plain Original Word: שַׁוְעָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance crying Feminine of sheva'; a hallooing -- crying. see HEBREW sheva' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shava Definition a cry for help NASB Translation cry (6), cry for help (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שַׁוְעָה] noun feminine cry for help; — construct שַׁוְעַת 1 Samuel 5:12; Jeremiah 8:19; suffix שַׁוְעָתִי 2 Samuel 22:7 = Psalm 18:7; Psalm 39:13; Psalm 40:2; Psalm 102:2; Lamentations 3:56 (gloss on רוחתי Ew and others); שַׁוְעָתָם Exodus 2:23 (P), Psalm 34:16; Psalm 145:19. I. שׁוֺעַ, I. II. שׁוּעַ, שׁוּעָא see above. Topical Lexicon Overview Shavʿah conveys the intense “cry for help” that rises from affliction toward the covenant God who alone can save. The term appears eleven times, spanning Israel’s national bondage, David’s personal deliverance, exilic anguish, and the eschatological hope voiced in corporate worship. Each occurrence underscores the relational dynamic between human helplessness and divine responsiveness, reinforcing a central biblical motif: “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). Canonical Distribution and Contexts • National Oppression: Exodus 2:23 introduces the word as Israel’s cry under Pharaoh’s tyranny, initiating the drama of redemption. Cry for Help and Covenant Faithfulness Exodus elevates shavʿah from mere human desperation to covenant catalyst: “God heard their groaning… and remembered His covenant with Abraham” (Exodus 2:24). The same pattern recurs in David’s testimony: “In my distress I called upon the LORD… He heard my cry” (2 Samuel 22:7). The noun thus anchors the doctrine that divine faithfulness is energized by petition, not merited by it. Divine Sensitivity and Response Psalm 34:15 encapsulates the theological thrust: “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.” Shavʿah assumes a God who is perceptive, compassionate, and intervening. The Psalter repeatedly couples the noun with verbs of hearing, delivering, and saving, underscoring a reciprocal rhythm—supplication elicits salvation. Liturgical and Pastoral Function In congregational worship, shavʿah teaches believers to voice need without self-censorship. Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry,” invites corporate remembrance of past rescues as fuel for present confidence. For pastoral care, the term legitimizes lament, assuring sufferers that articulate grief is neither faithless nor futile. Judgment and Mercy in the Prophets Jeremiah 8:19 presents a haunting inversion: the people cry from exile, yet judgment lingers because repentance is absent. Still, Lamentations 3:56 affirms hope: “You heard my plea, ‘Do not ignore my cry for relief.’” Even amid discipline, the covenant Lord remains attentive, highlighting both His justice and His enduring mercy. Christological Resonance While shavʿah is confined to the Hebrew canon, its theology prefigures the New Testament portrayal of Jesus, who “offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7). The term’s trajectory thus culminates in the Cross, where the ultimate cry secures eternal redemption and models perfect trust. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Encourage unvarnished prayer; God’s ear is tuned to raw need. Eschatological Outlook Psalm 145:19 assures, “He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.” The word therefore anticipates the day when every heartfelt plea finds final answer in the consummated kingdom, where “there shall be no more mourning, crying, or pain” (Revelation 21:4). Until that hour, shavʿah remains the pilgrim’s confident cry. Forms and Transliterations וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י וְשַׁוְעָתִ֖י וְשַׁוְעָתִ֨י ׀ ושועתי לְשַׁוְעָתִֽי׃ לשועתי׃ שַֽׁוְעַ֣ת שַֽׁוְעַ֥ת שַׁוְעָתִֽי׃ שַׁוְעָתָ֛ם שַׁוְעָתָ֥ם שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃ שועת שועתי׃ שועתם שועתם׃ lə·šaw·‘ā·ṯî ləšaw‘āṯî leshavaTi šaw‘aṯ šaw‘āṯām šaw‘āṯî šaw·‘ā·ṯām šaw·‘ā·ṯî šaw·‘aṯ shavAt shavaTam shavaTi veshavaTi wə·šaw·‘ā·ṯî wəšaw‘āṯîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 2:23 HEB: וַיִּזְעָ֑קוּ וַתַּ֧עַל שַׁוְעָתָ֛ם אֶל־ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים NAS: and they cried out; and their cry for help because KJV: and they cried, and their cry came up INT: cried rose and their cry to God 1 Samuel 5:12 2 Samuel 22:7 Psalm 18:6 Psalm 34:15 Psalm 39:12 Psalm 40:1 Psalm 102:1 Psalm 145:19 Jeremiah 8:19 Lamentations 3:56 11 Occurrences |
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