love
a.ha.vah denotes attachment expressed in divine care, personal bonds, romantic longing, and the pursuit of kindness.
The attested uses most often describe attachment within a relationship, including God’s actions toward Israel and the bond between particular people. The term also occurs in romantic settings of desire and longing, and in sayings where seeking it is linked with kindness, covering an offense, or avoiding hatred.
Senses in use
-
Attachment within personal and divine relationships · dominant
Construct forms frame Jonathan’s covenant and renewed oath toward David in 1 Samuel 18:3 and 1 Samuel 20:17, where the APB renders attachment measured against one’s own life. Infinitive-construct forms occur in clauses about the LORD’s action toward Israel in Deuteronomy 7:8 and Hosea 3:1, while Isaiah 63:9 places a construct form in the clause that joins redemption with compassion.
-
Romantic attachment and longing · common
Absolute noun forms recur in Song of Songs 2:5, Song of Songs 5:8, Song of Songs 8:6, and Song of Songs 8:7, where the APB renders being sick with it, its strength beside death, and waters unable to extinguish it. In Proverbs 5:19, a construct form appears in the appeal to remain intoxicated with a wife’s affection.
-
Disposition sought in conduct toward others · occasional
In Proverbs 10:12 and Proverbs 17:9, absolute noun forms stand in sayings where it covers transgression or is sought by covering an offense, in contrast to hatred, strife, or repeating a matter. Micah 6:8 uses a construct form in the required conduct of loving kindness alongside doing justice and walking humbly.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with “love,” while infinitive-construct occurrences are rendered through verbal wording such as “loved” or “love.” These English expressions confirm the clauses’ overall presentation rather than fixing a separate rendering for every form.