Lexical Summary
shav: Vanity, emptiness, falsehood, worthlessness
Original Word:שָׁוְא
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:shav'
Pronunciation:shahv
Phonetic Spelling:(shawv)
KJV: false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity
NASB:vain, false , falsehood, false visions, worthless, vanity, deceit
Word Origin:[from the same asH7722 (שׁוֹא שׁוֹאָה שׁוֹאָה - ravages) in the sense of desolating]
1. evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile)
2. figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective
3. also adverbially, in vain)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
falsely, lie, lying, vain, vanity
Or shav {shav}; from the same asshow' in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain) -- false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.
see HEBREWshow'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionemptiness, vanity
NASB Translationdeceit (2), deceitful (1), deception (1), emptiness (2), empty (1), false (9), false visions (4), falsehood (7), lies (1), vain (18), vanity (3), worthless (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; — absolute
Exodus 23:1 51t.,
Job 15:31 (Kt); —
emptiness, nothingness, vanity:Psalm 60:13vain (is)man's deliverance, =Psalm 108:13;Psalm 127:2 it isvain (useless)for you;Psalm 89:48for ()what nothingness hast thou created man ? compareJob 7:3;Psalm 31:7 (idols) =Jonah 2:9, compareJeremiah 18:15 +Hosea 5:11 (for );Isaiah 1:13 of ineffective offering to ; ()Exodus 20:7 (twice in verse)take up name of Godin vain (to no good purpose) =Deuteronomy 5:11 (twice in verse), comparePsalm 24:4;Psalm 139:20 [lifted up in vain arethy foes, but read for , compare (
); al. , see II. ];Hosea 12:12become nothing (We , and so
);Psalm 119:37;adverbin vainJeremiah 2:30;Jeremiah 4:30;Jeremiah 6:29;Jeremiah 46:11;Psalm 127:1 (twice in verse);Malachi 3:14.
emptiness of speech, ""lying,Proverbs 30:8;Psalm 12:3;Psalm 41:7;Psalm 144:8;Psalm 144:11;Isaiah 59:4;Ezekiel 13:8;Hosea 10:4 +Hosea 12:2 We and others (for );Job 31:5 ("" );Deuteronomy 5:17 (=Exodus 20:16); compareExodus 23:1 (E); of false (empty) prophecyEzekiel 12:24,Lamentations 2:14; see alsoEzekiel 13:6,7,9,23;Ezekiel 21:34;Ezekiel 22:28;Job 35:13 (orempty complaining, below );Ezekiel 21:28;Zechariah 10:2.
,worthlessness (Buhl below
);worthless menPsalm 26:4;Job 11:11;worthless motives (in figurative)Isaiah 5:18;Isaiah 30:28 (i.e. sifting out the worthless; al.sieve of (bringing)disappointment); play on meanings inJob 15:31 (twice in verse), compare DrJob, Psalt. 464.
II. (√ of following; probably "" form of ).
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Nuancesשָׁוְא (shav) gathers the ideas of emptiness, futility, deception, lying, and worthlessness. In context it can denote (1) speech that distorts reality, (2) worship that lacks truth, (3) pursuits that prove fruitless, or (4) testimony that destroys justice.
Occurrence and Distribution
Approximately fifty-two occurrences span Torah, Writings, and Prophets. The word clusters in Exodus, Deuteronomy, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and minor prophets such as Zechariah. Its presence in every major section of the canon underscores a timeless divine concern for truth and substance.
Covenant and Law
1. Third Commandment—Exodus 20:7;Deuteronomy 5:11
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.”
Using God’s name שָׁוְא profanes His character, turning the covenant relationship into empty formality.
2. Ninth Commandment—Exodus 23:1;Deuteronomy 19:16–20
“You must not spread a false report.” Bearing witness שָׁוְא subverts the judicial process that protects covenant community life. The severity of prescribed penalties (Deuteronomy 19:19) reveals how seriously God defends truth.
Worship and Idolatry
Psalms 24:4 links clean hands with “a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully [shav].” Empty-hearted ritual (Isaiah 1:13) and trust in “worthless idols” (Psalm 31:6) expose worshippers to divine rebuke. Jonah’s confession, “Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion” (Jonah 2:8), sets שָׁוְא opposite covenant grace (חֶסֶד, 2617).
Prophetic Denunciations
Isaiah 58:9; 59:4;Jeremiah 18:15;Ezekiel 13:6–8;Lamentations 2:14;Zechariah 10:2 employ שָׁוְא for empty visions and false divination. Prophets charge leaders with offering comfort that cannot deliver, exchanging living words for vacancy.
Wisdom Literature
Job repeatedly exposes the futility of human counsel:
“Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?” (Job 15:3).
Proverbs warns, “Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me” (Proverbs 30:8). Vanity in speech leads to vanity in life, climaxing inProverbs 31:30 where external charm proves “vain.”
Psalms of Devotion and Trust
Psalm 127 uses שָׁוְא three times: “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain….” Human effort detached from divine favor is hollow toil.Psalm 119 highlights the discipling power of the Word: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things” (verse 37); “I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law” (verse 113).
National Security and Warfare
Military alliances and human strategies can be שָׁוְא. “Give us aid against the foe, for the help of man is worthless” (Psalm 108:12; cf. 60:11). Victory belongs to the LORD; self-reliance is strategic vanity.
Eschatological Resonance
Isaiah 41:29 condemns idols as “nothing; their images are empty wind.” The ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom will expose every human counterfeit as shav. Revelation’s picture of Babylon’s fall echoes the Old Testament theme: earthly glory built on deception collapses under divine judgment.
Pastoral and Ministry Applications
• Guard the name: preach and pray with reverence so that divine titles are never reduced to clichés.
• Guard the witness: cultivate integrity in personal and congregational testimony; resist gossip and half-truths.
• Guard the heart: reject hollow liturgy and consumer-driven worship; elevate Word-centered, Spirit-empowered service.
• Guard the mission: labor, plan, and build only in dependence on the Lord, lest ministry become energetic vanity.
Christological Fulfillment
Jesus Christ embodies the opposite of שָׁוְא—He is “the truth” (John 14:6). His sinless use of the Father’s name, His flawless witness before courts, and His effectual atonement ground the believer’s deliverance from emptiness. Union with Him replaces vanity with “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Key References (representative)
Exodus 20:7; 23:1
Deuteronomy 5:11; 19:16
Job 15:3; 31:5
Psalm 24:4; 31:6; 127:1-2; 144:8
Proverbs 30:8
Isaiah 1:13; 59:4
Jeremiah 18:15
Lamentations 2:14
Ezekiel 13:6
Jonah 2:8
Zechariah 10:2
Forms and Transliterations
בַּשָּׁ֣יו בשיו הַשָּׁ֑וְא הַשָּׁ֣וא השוא וְ֝שָׁ֗וְא וא ושוא לַשָּֽׁוְא׃ לַשָּׁ֑וְא לַשָּׁ֖וְא לַשָּׁ֣וְא לַשָּׁוְא֙ לשוא לשוא׃ שָּׁ֝֗וְא שָֽׁוְא׃ שָׁ֑וְא שָׁ֔וְא שָׁ֖וְא שָׁ֚וְא שָׁ֝֗וְא שָׁ֣וְא שָׁ֤וְא שָׁ֤וְא ׀ שָׁ֭וְא שָׁוְא֙ שָׁוְא֮ שוא שוא׃ baš·šāw bashShav baššāw haš·šā·w haš·šāw hashShav haššāw laš·šāw lashShav laššāw šāw Shav v veShav w wə·šāw wəšāw
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