🔼The name Avva: Summary
- Meaning
- Ruining, Overturning
- Etymology
- From the verb עוה ('awa), to bend or twist.
🔼The name Avva in the Bible
The name Avva occurs just one time in the Bible. It's a city in the realm of the Assyrian king during the time of the exile. Since the Israelites were deported, the land was empty and the king of Assyria brought in men from Babylon and Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sephar-vaim to live in the cities of Samaria (2 Kings 17:24).
Some scholars (BDB Theological Dictionary) believe that Avva (עוא) is the same city as Ivvah (עוה). The townsfolk of Avva, the Avvites, are reported to have constructed their own gods, named Nibhaz and Tartak (2 Kings 17:31)
🔼Etymology of the name Avva
The name Avva comes from the verb עוה ('awa), meaning to distort:
עוה
The verb עוה ('awa) means to bend or twist, usually with a bottom line or ruin or perversion. Noun עון ('awon) means iniquity or guilt. Verb עוה ('awa) means to commit iniquity of do wrong. Nouns עוה ('awwa), עי ('i) and מעי (me'i) mean distortion or ruin. Plural noun עועים ('iw'im) means a distorting or warping.
🔼Avva meaning
For a meaning of the name Avva Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Overturning. NOBSE Study Bible Name List doesn't interpret this name. BDB Theological Dictionary doesn't translate this name but does confirm that it comes from the verb עוה ('awa).