Lexical Summary
abah: To be willing, to consent, to yield, to desire
Original Word:אָבָה
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:abah
Pronunciation:ah-VAH
Phonetic Spelling:(aw-baw')
KJV: consent, rest content will, be willing
NASB:willing, would, consent, obey, satisfied, want, would accept
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to breathe after
2. (figuratively) to be acquiescent
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
consent, rest content will, be willing
A primitive root; to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent -- consent, rest content will, be willing.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be willing, to consent
NASB Translationconsent (5), obey (1), refuse* (1), refused* (1), satisfied (1), unwilling* (3), want (1), willing (23), would (16), would...accept (1), yield (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (compare Assyrian
abîtu,
command, Dl
W, Ethiopic
refuse, Arabic
, id., Nejd
be willing So
De Jes 3, p. 26; LCB 1880, 817) —
(with , exceptIsaiah 1:19;Job 39:9; in Hexateuch rare & only J E D, includingLeviticus 26:21);PerfectExodus 10:27 +Judges 19:25 7t.;Isaiah 28:12 (Sta§ 31 R. 2; Kö1, 414);ImperfectDeuteronomy 29:19 2t.; 2 masculine singular jussiveProverbs 1:10 (Sta§ 143 e 1 fin; Kö1, 576 f) etc.;ParticipleEzekiel 3:7; —be willing, followed by Infinitive withExodus 10:27 29t.; withoutDeuteronomy 2:30 8t.; subjectDeuteronomy 10:10;Deuteronomy 23:6;Deuteronomy 29:19;Joshua 24:10;2 Kings 8:19;2 Kings 13:23;2 Kings 24:4; 2Chronicles 21:7; human subjectGenesis 24:5,8;Judges 19:10;2 Samuel 2:21;2 Samuel 13:25;2 Samuel 14:29 (twice in verse);2 Samuel 23:16,17 =1 Chronicles 11:18,19;1 Chronicles 19:19; in bad senseExodus 10:27;Deuteronomy 2:30;Deuteronomy 25:7;Judges 19:25;Judges 20:13;2 Samuel 13:14,16; especially of perverse IsraelLeviticus 26:21;Deuteronomy 1:26;1 Samuel 15:9;Isaiah 28:12;Isaiah 30:9;Isaiah 42:24;Ezekiel 3:7 (twice in verse);Ezekiel 20:8; subject animal,Job 39:9; absolute (no Infinitive)2 Samuel 12:17;1 Kings 20:8;1 Kings 22:50; compareProverbs 6:35, of jealous man; bad senseJudges 11:17;Isaiah 30:15; good sense1 Samuel 22:17;1 Samuel 26:23;1 Samuel 31:4 =1 Chronicles 10:4;2 Samuel 6:10;Proverbs 1:10; + finite verbIsaiah 1:19 ();consent, yield to, followed byDeuteronomy 13:9 (good sense); followed byPsalm 81:12; followed byProverbs 1:30; followed by accusativeProverbs 1:25 (all in bad sense).
Topical Lexicon
Overviewאָבָה (’ābâh) occurs roughly fifty-five times and describes the decisive posture of the will—either readiness or refusal. With or without the negative particle “not,” it frames some of Scripture’s most critical moments: covenant pledges, prophetic warnings, royal decisions, and personal crises.
Readiness and Consent
•Genesis 19:21 sets the tone for merciful concession: “Very well, I grant this request.” Divine willingness honors human intercession.
•Deuteronomy 10:10 shows grace within judgment: “The LORD was not willing to destroy you,” preserving Israel after the golden-calf rebellion.
•Isaiah 1:19 links willingness to blessing: “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.” Obedience grows out of a heart already inclined toward God.
• In interpersonal dealings the word pictures generous agreement, as when Lot’s plea is accepted (Genesis 19:21) or when David relinquishes moving the Ark out of reverent caution (2 Samuel 6:10).
Obstinate Refusal
•Deuteronomy 1:26 marks national rebellion: “You were unwilling to go up.” An entire generation forfeits the land through refusal.
•1 Samuel 8:19 exposes the same pattern centuries later: “But the people refused to listen to Samuel.” Israel’s quest for a king begins in unwillingness to let God reign.
•Psalm 81:11 laments, “Israel would not submit to Me,” a refrain echoed inJeremiah 13:10; 17:23;Zechariah 7:11. The verb becomes shorthand for covenant infidelity.
• Individual hardness is also portrayed: Jacob “refused to be comforted” (Genesis 37:35); Amnon “would not listen” to Tamar’s plea (2 Samuel 13:14);Proverbs 1:24 describes fools who spurn wisdom’s call.
• God, too, can refuse—righteously: “The LORD was not willing to forgive him” (Deuteronomy 29:20) when idolatry persisted without repentance.
Covenant Implications
Every covenant scene pairs divine willingness with human choice. Blessing depends not on bare external compliance but on a heart that is ’ābâh toward God (Isaiah 1:19). When hearts are unwilling, judgment is not arbitrary but covenantal (Jeremiah 17:23).
Prophetic Vision
Prophets plead for a shift from refusal to willingness. Their calls anticipate the new-covenant promise of Spirit-wrought obedience (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Thus the verb becomes eschatological: God will create a people who are finally willing.
Christological Fulfillment
Where Israel persistently said “We will not,” Christ said, “I desire to do Your will” (Psalm 40:8, fulfilled inHebrews 10:7-9). His perfect willingness secures the salvation of the unwilling, transforming them from rebels to joyful servants.
Ministry Reflections
1. Preaching: Press the contrast—God’s consistent willingness to save versus humanity’s habitual refusal.
2. Counseling: Grief (Genesis 37:35) and trauma often surface as a refusal of comfort; gentle patience mirrors divine persistence.
3. Leadership: Discernment is needed to know when to concede (Genesis 19:21) and when to stand firm (2 Kings 5:16).
4. Intercession: Like Moses (Deuteronomy 10:10), plead God’s willingness over a wayward people, trusting His covenant mercy.
Key References (sample)
Genesis 24:56; 37:35 "Numbers 22:13 "Deuteronomy 1:26; 10:10; 29:20 "1 Samuel 8:19; 15:26 "2 Samuel 6:10; 13:14 "2 Kings 5:16 "Job 6:7 "Psalm 77:2; 81:11 "Proverbs 1:24 "Isaiah 1:19 "Jeremiah 13:10; 17:23 "Zechariah 7:11
Summary
אָבָה traces the drama of the human will in Scripture. Blessing belongs to the willing; ruin follows the refusing. Yet the ultimate storyline is God’s unwavering willingness to redeem, culminating in Christ, who empowers His people to echoIsaiah 1:19—not merely with words, but with transformed hearts and lives.
Forms and Transliterations
אֲבִיתֶ֖ם אֲבִיתֶֽם׃ אָ֥בָה אָב֖וּ אָב֖וּא אָב֞וּ אָב֤וּ אָב֥וּ אָבִ֔יתִי אָבִ֖יתִי אָבָ֑ה אָבָ֔ה אָבָ֖ה אָבָ֗ה אָבָ֞ה אָבָ֣ה אָבָ֤ה אָבָ֥ה אָבָה֙ אָבוּ֙ אֹבִ֖ים אבה אבו אבוא אבים אביתי אביתם אביתם׃ הֲיֹ֣אבֶה היאבה וַיִּתֵּ֨ן ויתן יֹ֝אבֶ֗ה יֹאבֶ֣ה יֹאבוּ֙ יאבה יאבו תֹּאב֖וּ תֹּבֵֽא׃ תֹאב֖וּ תֹאבֶ֣ה תֹאבֶ֤ה תֹאבֶֽה׃ תאבה תאבה׃ תאבו תבא׃ ’ā·ḇāh ’ă·ḇî·ṯem ’ā·ḇî·ṯî ’ā·ḇū ’āḇāh ’ăḇîṯem ’āḇîṯî ’āḇū ’ō·ḇîm ’ōḇîm aVah aviTem aViti aVu hă·yō·ḇeh hăyōḇeh haYoeh oVim tō·ḇê ṯō·ḇeh tō·ḇū ṯō·ḇū tōḇê ṯōḇeh tōḇū ṯōḇū toVe toVeh toVu vaiyitTen way·yit·tên wayyittên yō·ḇeh yō·ḇū yōḇeh yōḇū yoVeh yoVu
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