Hebrew word · H342

אֵיבָה

'eivah

enmity

Hostility or enmity: a settled, active opposition between parties. It comes from the root ʾyb, which also gives ʾôyēb, 'enemy', one of the Bible's most common words for a personal or national foe.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

enmity, hatred

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 Genesis 3:15

Range of meaning

Hostility or enmity: a settled, active opposition between parties. It comes from the root ʾyb, which also gives ʾôyēb, 'enemy', one of the Bible's most common words for a personal or national foe.

Against the English

'Enmity' (KJV, BSB, ESV) and 'hostility' (WEB, NLT) are both accurate. The English words are a little abstract. The Hebrew implies people who are enemies to each other, with intent behind it.

Used elsewhere in the period

The noun occurs only five times. In Numbers 35:21–22 it marks the difference between murder and accidental killing: striking someone 'in enmity' makes the killer a murderer. In Ezekiel 25:15 and 35:5 it describes the 'everlasting enmity' of Philistia and Edom towards Israel. Every use outside Genesis describes hostility between moral agents (people or nations who choose what they do), and it often ends in killing.

From the study of Ezekiel 25:15

Range of meaning

Enmity, hostility: an ongoing state of being an enemy (ʾoyev, 'enemy', is from the same root).

Against the English

KJV 'hatred', BSB 'hostility', WEB/NASB 'enmity'. All are fair. 'Hatred' makes it sound like a feeling. The Hebrew is more a lasting relationship of hostility that shapes how someone acts.

Used elsewhere in the period

Genesis 3:15 ('I will put enmity between you and the woman'). Numbers 35:21–22: killing 'in enmity' is murder, while killing 'without enmity' is accidental manslaughter. Ezekiel 35:5 uses exactly 'eternal enmity' (ʾeivat ʿolam) of Edom.

From the study of Ezekiel 35:5

Range of meaning

Enmity, hostility: a lasting, active stance of being someone's enemy. It comes from the same root as ʾôyēb, 'enemy'. The word describes a relationship and a posture, not just a private feeling.

Against the English

KJV and BSB say 'hatred', WEB 'hostility', and ESV, NASB and YLT 'enmity'. 'Hatred' to modern ears is an emotion inside a person. ʾêbâ is closer to 'being at war with someone': an ongoing hostile relationship that produces hostile acts.

Used elsewhere in the period

A rare word in the Hebrew Bible, found only in Gen 3:15 ('I will put enmity between you and the woman'), Num 35:21–22, Ezek 25:15 and Ezek 35:5. In Numbers 35 it is the legal dividing line: a killing done 'in enmity' is murder and carries the death penalty, while one done 'without enmity' is accidental, and the killer may flee to a city of refuge. Ezek 25:15 accuses the Philistines of the same thing in almost the same words ('with ʾêbat ʿôlām').

Where it appears

Genesis · 1

  1. Genesis 3:15 וְאֵיבָ֣ה׀ and enmity

    And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

    Here: Placed first in the sentence for emphasis: 'Enmity' is the first word of the sentence. Elsewhere in the Bible it means lasting, personal hostility, often deadly. It is not a vague dislike.

Numbers · 2

  1. Numbers 35:21 בְאֵיבָ֞ה in enmity

    or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.

  2. Numbers 35:22 אֵיבָ֖ה enmity

    But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally,

Ezekiel · 2

  1. Ezekiel 25:15 אֵיבַ֥ת enmity of

    This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance, taking vengeance with malice of soul to destroy Judah with ancient hostility,

    Here: Settled hostility. In Israel's law this was the motive that turned a killing into murder (Numbers 35:21–22). Here it is the driving force behind the destruction.

  2. Ezekiel 35:5 אֵיבַ֣ת enmity of

    Because you harbored an ancient hatred and delivered the Israelites over to the sword in the time of their disaster at the final stage of their punishment,

    Here: 'Enmity of…': a settled hostile stance toward someone, not a passing mood. This rare word also appears in the homicide law (Num 35:21–22), where it is what turns a killing into murder.

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