שָׁוַע
sha.va
to cry
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word שָׁוַע (sha.va) is primarily defined as "to cry." As a verb, its occurrences in the Bible (21 times) reveal a range of usage, from expressing grief, sorrow, and pain (e.g., Psalm 38:8) to depicting intense emotions such as fear and anxiety (e.g., Job 30:16). Its significance lies in its capacity to convey deep emotional experiences, illustrating the complexity of human emotions in the biblical narrative. By examining the contexts in which שָׁוַע is used, we can better understand the emotional landscapes of biblical individuals. Its occurrence in various books and genres, such as laments, wisdom literature, and narratives, suggests that expressing and managing emotions is a universal aspect of human experience.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
21 total occurrences across the text
“Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard. I cry for help, but there is no justice.
Job 24:12From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet God doesn’t regard the folly.
Job 29:12Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had no one to help him,
Job 30:20I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me.
Job 30:28I go mourning without the sun. I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
Job 35:9“By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.
Job 36:13“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
Job 38:41Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
Psalms 18:6In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears.
Psalms 18:41They cried, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
Psalms 22:24For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.
Psalms 28:2Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
Psalms 30:2Yahweh my God, I cried to you, and you have healed me.
Psalms 31:22As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.
Psalms 72:12For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.
Psalms 88:13But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
Psalms 119:147I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words.
Isaiah 58:9Then you will call, and Yahweh will answer. You will cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away from among you the yoke, finger pointing, and speaking wickedly;
Lamentations 3:8Yes, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer.
Jonah 2:2He said, “I called because of my affliction to Yahweh. He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried. You heard my voice.
Habakkuk 1:2Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save?