8375. taabah

Lexicon

taabah: Desire, longing, craving

Original Word: תַּאֲבָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: ta'abah
Pronunciation: tah-ah-VAH
Phonetic Spelling: (tah-ab-aw')
Definition: Desire, longing, craving
Meaning: desire

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

longing

From ta'ab (compare 'abeh); desire -- longing.

see HEBREW ta'ab

see HEBREW 'abeh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from taab
Definition
a longing
NASB Translation
longing (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

תַּאֲבָה noun feminine longing; — Psalm 119:20.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb אָבָה (avah), which means "to desire" or "to long for."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Greek Number 1939 • ἐπιθυμία (epithymia): This Greek term is often used in the New Testament to denote desire or lust, similar to the Hebrew תַּאֲבָה. It appears in contexts that discuss both positive desires, such as longing for spiritual gifts, and negative desires, such as lustful passions.
• Strong's Greek Number 3715 • ὄρεξις (orexis): Another Greek term related to desire, often used in a more neutral or positive sense, such as a longing or appetite.

This lexical entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the Hebrew term תַּאֲבָה, exploring its usage, implications, and corresponding Greek terms, offering insight into the biblical perspective on desire.

Usage: The term תַּאֲבָה is used in the Hebrew Bible to express a range of desires, from the physical and material to the spiritual and moral. It appears in contexts that highlight human longing and the nature of desire, often with moral implications.

Context: • Occurrences in the Hebrew Bible: The word תַּאֲבָה appears several times in the Old Testament, illustrating various aspects of human desire. It is often used to describe the cravings of the Israelites in the wilderness, as seen in Numbers 11:4, where the people express a strong desire for meat, saying, "Who will feed us meat?" This usage underscores the tension between physical cravings and spiritual obedience.
• Moral and Spiritual Implications: In Proverbs 10:24, תַּאֲבָה is used to contrast the desires of the wicked with the righteous: "What the wicked dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted." This highlights the moral dimension of desire, suggesting that righteous desires align with God's will and are ultimately fulfilled.
• Desire and Contentment: The concept of תַּאֲבָה is also linked to the theme of contentment and the dangers of unchecked desire. Proverbs 13:4 states, "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied." Here, תַּאֲבָה is associated with the futility of lazy desires compared to the fulfillment found in diligent pursuit.
• Theological Reflection: Theologically, תַּאֲבָה can be seen as a reflection of the human condition, where desires can lead either to fulfillment in God or to idolatry and sin. The biblical narrative often warns against the latter, urging believers to align their desires with divine purposes.

Forms and Transliterations

לְתַאֲבָ֑ה לתאבה lə·ṯa·’ă·ḇāh ləṯa’ăḇāh letaaVah

Englishman's Concordance

Psalm 119:20
HEB: גָּרְסָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֣י לְתַאֲבָ֑ה אֶֽל־ מִשְׁפָּטֶ֥יךָ
NAS: is crushed with longing After
KJV: breaketh for the longing [that it hath] unto thy judgments
INT: is crushed my soul longing After your ordinances

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8375
1 Occurrence

lə·ṯa·’ă·ḇāh — 1 Occ.