Strong's H14 · Hebrew
אָבָה
ʼâbâh · /aw-baw'/
Definition
to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent
KJV: consent, rest content will, be willing.
Root / derivation: a primitive root;
KJV usage breakdown
How the Authorized (KJV) translators rendered אָבָה across 52 verses.
Every occurrence (KJV)
52 verses use this word, grouped by book — the translated form is highlighted.
Genesis2 verses
And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
Genesis 24:8And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
Deuteronomy7 verses
Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:
Deuteronomy 2:30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
Deuteronomy 10:10And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee. first: or, former days
Deuteronomy 13:8Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:
Deuteronomy 23:5Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.
Deuteronomy 25:7And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. brother's: or, next kinsman's
Deuteronomy 29:20The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
Joshua1 verse
Judges4 verses
Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
Judges 19:10But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him. over against: Heb. to over against
Judges 19:25But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
Judges 20:13Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
1 Samuel4 verses
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. fatlings: or, second sort
1 Samuel 22:17And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. footmen: or, guard: Heb. runners
1 Samuel 26:23The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.
1 Samuel 31:4Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. abuse: or, mock me
2 Samuel9 verses
And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. armour: or, spoil
2 Samuel 6:10So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
2 Samuel 12:17And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
2 Samuel 13:14Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
2 Samuel 13:16And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
2 Samuel 13:25And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
2 Samuel 14:29Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
2 Samuel 23:16And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
2 Samuel 23:17And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
1 Kings2 verses
2 Kings3 verses
Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children. light: Heb. candle, or, lamp
2 Kings 13:23And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet. presence: Heb. face
2 Kings 24:4And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.
1 Chronicles4 verses
Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. abuse me: or, mock me
1 Chronicles 11:18And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
1 Chronicles 11:19And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest. that have: Heb. with their lives?
1 Chronicles 19:19And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.
Proverbs4 verses
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Proverbs 1:25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Proverbs 1:30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Proverbs 6:35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. He will: Heb. He will not accept the face of any ransom
Isaiah5 verses
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Isaiah 28:12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isaiah 30:9That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Isaiah 30:15For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
Isaiah 42:24Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
Ezekiel2 verses
But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. impudent: Heb. stiff of forehead, and hard of heart
Ezekiel 20:8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
Topics that use this word
Frequently asked questions
What does Strong's H14 (ʼâbâh) mean?
to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent
How many times does H14 appear in the Bible?
Strong's H14 (אָבָה) appears in 52 verses of the King James Version, most often translated “would.”
How is ʼâbâh translated in the KJV?
In the KJV, Strong's H14 is rendered as “would” (40×), “will” (6×), “willing” (4×), “consent” (3×), among other words.
Where does the Hebrew word אָבָה come from?
a primitive root;