Hebrew word · H158

אַ֫הַב

'ahavim

lover

A plural of 'love'. It means acts of love, lovemaking, love-delights, and also lovers or love-gifts (Hos 8:9).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) loves, amours (only in plural) ahbym

2) (TWOT) love

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Proverbs 5:19

Range of meaning

A plural of 'love'. It means acts of love, lovemaking, love-delights, and also lovers or love-gifts (Hos 8:9).

Against the English

'Loving doe' (BSB, WEB, NIV) can sound like an affectionate pet. KJV 'loving hind' is similar. YLT's 'hind of loves' is closer to the Hebrew construction.

Used elsewhere in the period

Prov 7:18 uses a closely related plural (ʾŏhāḇîm) in the adulteress's invitation: 'let us delight ourselves with loves'. Hos 8:9: Ephraim 'has hired lovers'.

Where it appears

Proverbs · 1

  1. Proverbs 5:19 אֲהָבִ֗ים loves

    A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.

    Here: A plural noun for love, especially physical lovemaking (compare 'loves' in Prov 7:18 and Hos 8:9). 'Doe of loves' means a lovely doe, a doe made for love. It is erotic, not just sentimental.

Hosea · 1

  1. Hosea 8:9 אֲהָבִֽים lovers

    For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.