a.vah expresses readiness or refusal to act, listen, consent, or accept what is proposed.

The verb expresses a person's disposition toward a proposed course: readiness to do, hear, follow, or accept something, and—far more often in these verses—refusal to do so. Its object may be an action such as going, drinking, or letting someone pass, or a response such as listening to a voice, instruction, counsel, or an oath.

1. Readiness or refusal toward an action or response · dominant

   The term occurs where a person either accepts or declines a specified action or response. In 2 Samuel 23:16 the Qal perfect stands in the clause about David declining to drink the water brought to him; in Deuteronomy 2:30 it concerns letting Israel pass through, and in Ezekiel 3:7 it concerns listening. Isaiah 1:19 shows the affirmative side in the conditional clause that the APB renders, "If you are willing and you hear."

   2 Samuel 23:16Deuteronomy 2:30Ezekiel 3:7Isaiah 1:19Genesis 24:5Proverbs 1:25

In the Anselm Paraphrase: The APB presents the verb with varied English wording, including "would not," "refused," "not willing," "do not consent," and "willing." Because the paraphrase is not word-aligned, these renderings confirm the clauses' overall contrast between acceptance and refusal rather than supplying separate meanings.