Word Study · Strong's H7723 · Hebrew
שָׁוְא
shave
shawv
Strong's 1890 spelling: shâvᵉʼ
“evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile)”
Strong's Dictionary · 1890 · public domain
evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain)
Rendered in the KJV as
false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.
- 53occurrencesin the Old Testament
- 13 of 39Old Testament bookswhere the word stands
- 23inflected formsdistinct spellings
Across 53 occurrences
The word itself
Inflected forms · 23
- שָׁ֑וְא11
- שָׁ֔וְא5
- שָׁ֖וְא4
- שָׁ֤וְא׀4
- לַשָּׁ֣וְא3
- לַשָּׁוְא֙3
- שָׁוְא֙3
- וְ֝שָׁ֗וְא2
- לַשָּׁ֑וְא2
- שָׁ֤וְא2
- שָׁ֣וְא2
- בַּשָּׁ֣יו1
and 11 more spellings in the ledger below.
How it is rendered · 14
- worthlessness15
- falsehood14
- for the emptiness4
- for the vanity4
- to the falsehood3
- vanity3
- and [is] worthlessness2
- emptiness2
- [is] futility1
- deceitfulness1
- in the worthlessness1
- nothingness1
The sense the word carries at each spot — how the translators read it there, not a fixed translation.
How it parses · 4
- noun · masculine singular37
- preposition with the article + noun · masculine singular12
- conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular2
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular2
Show the grammar codes as tagged
- HNcmsa · 37
- HRd/Ncmsa · 12
- HC/Ncmsa · 2
- HTd/Ncmsa · 2
All 53, in canonical order
The ledger of occurrences
Where this word lives
Psalms carries the most and opens below; every other book is one click.
Exodus3 occurrences
- Exodus 20:7לַשָּׁ֑וְאlashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularYou 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.here: for the emptiness
- Exodus 20:7לַשָּֽׁוְא׃ פlashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularYou 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.here: for the emptiness
- Exodus 23:1שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singular“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.here: falsehood
Deuteronomy3 occurrences
- Deuteronomy 5:11לַשָּׁ֑וְאlashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularYou 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.here: for the emptiness
- Deuteronomy 5:11לַשָּֽׁוְא׃ סlashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularYou 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.here: for the emptiness
- Deuteronomy 5:20שָֽׁוְא׃ סshav'noun · masculine singularYou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.here: falsehood
Job6 occurrences
- Job 7:3שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singularSo I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed me.here: worthlessness
- Job 11:11שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singularSurely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?here: falsehood
- Job 15:31בַּשָּׁ֣יוbashovpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singularLet him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.here: in the worthlessness
- Job 15:31שָׁ֝֗וְאshav'noun · masculine singularLet him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.here: worthlessness
- Job 31:5שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singularIf I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,here: falsehood
- Job 35:13שָׁ֭וְאshav'noun · masculine singularSurely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it.here: emptiness
Psalms15 occurrences
- Psalms 12:2שָׁ֤וְא׀shav'noun · masculine singularThey lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.here: falsehood
- Psalms 24:4לַשָּׁ֣וְאlashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularHe who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.here: to the falsehood
- Psalms 26:4שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singularI do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites.here: falsehood
- Psalms 31:6שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singularI hate those who cling to worthless idols, but in the LORD I trust.here: falsehood
- Psalms 41:6שָׁ֤וְאshav'noun · masculine singularMy visitor speaks falsehood; he gathers slander in his heart; he goes out and spreads it abroad.here: falsehood
- Psalms 60:11וְ֝שָׁ֗וְאveshav'conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singularGive us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.here: and [is] worthlessness
- Psalms 89:47שָּׁ֝֗וְאshav'noun · masculine singularRemember the briefness of my lifespan! For what futility You have created all men!here: emptiness
- Psalms 108:12וְ֝שָׁ֗וְאveshav'conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singularGive us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.here: and [is] worthlessness
- Psalms 119:37שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singularTurn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.here: worthlessness
- Psalms 127:1שָׁ֤וְא׀shav'noun · masculine singularUnless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.here: vanity
- Psalms 127:1שָׁ֤וְא׀shav'noun · masculine singularUnless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.here: vanity
- Psalms 127:2שָׁ֤וְאshav'noun · masculine singularIn vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.here: vanity
- Psalms 139:20לַשָּׁ֣וְאlashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularwho speak of You deceitfully; Your enemies take Your name in vain.here: to the falsehood
- Psalms 144:8שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singularwhose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful.here: falsehood
- Psalms 144:11שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singularSet me free and rescue me from the grasp of foreigners, whose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful.here: falsehood
Isaiah4 occurrences
- Isaiah 1:13שָׁ֔וְאshav'noun · masculine singularBring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me— your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations. I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly.here: worthlessness
- Isaiah 5:18הַשָּׁ֑וְאhashav'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singularWoe to those who draw iniquity with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes,here: the emptiness
- Isaiah 30:28שָׁ֑וְאshav'noun · masculine singularHis breath is like a rushing torrent that rises to the neck. He comes to sift the nations in a sieve of destruction; He bridles the jaws of the peoples to lead them astray.here: worthlessness
- Isaiah 59:4שָׁ֔וְאshav'noun · masculine singularNo one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.here: worthlessness
Jeremiah5 occurrences
- Jeremiah 2:30לַשָּׁוְא֙lashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singular“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”here: for the vanity
- Jeremiah 4:30לַשָּׁ֖וְאlashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularAnd you, O devastated one, what will you do, though you dress yourself in scarlet, though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, though you enlarge your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain; your lovers despise you; they want to take your life.here: for the vanity
- Jeremiah 6:29לַשָּׁוְא֙lashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularThe bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged.here: for the vanity
- Jeremiah 18:15לַשָּׁ֣וְאlashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularYet My people have forgotten Me. They burn incense to worthless idols that make them stumble in their ways, leaving the ancient roads to walk on rutted bypaths instead of on the highway.here: to the falsehood
- Jeremiah 46:11לַשָּׁוְא֙lashav'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singularGo up to Gilead for balm, O Virgin Daughter of Egypt! In vain you try many remedies, but for you there is no healing.here: for the vanity
Lamentations2 occurrences
- Lamentations 2:14שָׁ֣וְאshav'noun · masculine singularThe visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.here: worthlessness
- Lamentations 2:14שָׁ֖וְאshav'noun · masculine singularThe visions of your prophets were empty and deceptive; they did not expose your guilt to ward off your captivity. The burdens they envisioned for you were empty and misleading.here: worthlessness
Ezekiel9 occurrences
- Ezekiel 12:24שָׁ֖וְאshav'noun · masculine singularFor there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations within the house of Israel,here: worthlessness
- Ezekiel 13:6שָׁוְא֙shav'noun · masculine singularThey see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.here: worthlessness
- Ezekiel 13:7שָׁוְא֙shav'noun · masculine singularHaven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?here: worthlessness
- Ezekiel 13:8שָׁ֔וְאshav'noun · masculine singularTherefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.here: worthlessness
- Ezekiel 13:9שָׁוְא֮shav'noun · masculine singularMy hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.here: worthlessness
- Ezekiel 13:23שָׁ֚וְאshavnoun · masculine singulartherefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”here: worthlessness
- Ezekiel 21:23שָׁוְא֙shav'noun · masculine singularIt will seem like a false omen to the eyes of those who have sworn allegiance to him, but it will draw attention to their guilt and take them captive.here: falsehood
- Ezekiel 21:29שָׁ֔וְאshav'noun · masculine singularwhile they offer false visions for you and lying divinations about you— to be placed on the necks of the wicked who are slain, whose day has come, the time of their final punishment.here: falsehood
- Ezekiel 22:28שָׁ֔וְאshav'noun · masculine singularHer prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken.here: falsehood
Hosea2 occurrences
- Hosea 10:4שָׁ֖וְאshav'noun · masculine singularThey speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.here: falsehood
- Hosea 12:11שָׁ֣וְאshav'noun · masculine singularIs there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.here: worthlessness