H5800a H5800a
To leave, forsake, or abandon; ranges from covenantal betrayal and physical departure to the state of being forsaken and even helping with a burden.
The verb azav is the Bible's primary word for abandonment, and it carries enormous theological freight. When Israel forsakes the Lord (Judg 2:12-13), the word denounces covenantal betrayal; when a man leaves father and mother (Gen 2:24), it describes the natural departure that forms a new household. The Arabic araba ('to depart, be absent') shares the root sense of separation. Perhaps most surprising is the rare meaning 'to help with a burden' in Exodus 23:5, where the same verb that elsewhere means 'abandon' is redirected toward compassionate aid — a semantic reversal that has puzzled lexicographers for centuries. The passive forms describe the devastating condition of being forsaken, a state Isaiah applies both to desolate cities and to God's own people.
1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) — The dominant Qal active sense: to willfully forsake, abandon, or desert. This covers covenantal abandonment of God (Deut 29:25; Judg 2:12-13; 10:6), desertion of people, and forsaking of commandments. The Arabic hajara/taraka, Korean beorida, and Swahili kuacha all converge on deliberate relational severance. The prophets use it as a covenant-lawsuit term: Israel has 'forsaken' the Lord who redeemed them, inverting the exodus relationship. 166×
AR["تَرَكوا","تَرَكَ","تَرَكُوا","تَرَكُوهُ","هَجَرُوا"]·ben["তারা-ছেড়ে-গেছিল","তারা-ত্যাগ-করেছে","তারা-পরিত্যাগ-করেছিল","তিনি-পরিত্যাগ-করেছিলেন","ত্যাগ-করল","ত্যাগ-করলেন","ত্যাগ-করেছিল","ত্যাগ-করেছে","পরিত্যাগ-করেছিল","পরিত্যাগ-করেছে"]·DE["sie-verliess","sie-verliessen","verlassen","verliess"]·EN["forsook","he-forsook","left","they-forsook","they-have-forsaken"]·FR["abandonna","abandonner","ils-abandonna","ils-forsook"]·heb["עָזְבוּ","עזב","עזבו"]·HI["उन्होंने-छोड़-दिया","छोड़-दिया","छोड़-दी","छोड़ा","छोड़ा-उन्होंने","छोड़ा-है-उन्होंने","त्याग-दिया","त्यागा"]·ID["Mereka-telah-meninggalkan","ia-meninggalkan","meninggalkan","mereka-meninggalkan","mereka-telah-meninggalkan","mereka-tinggalkan"]·IT["abbandonare","abbandonò","essi-abbandonarono","essi-abbandono","essi-abbandonò"]·jav["Piyambakipun-sampun-nilaraken","dipun-tilar","lan-Torèt-Kawula","nilar","piyambakipun-nilar","piyambakipun-sampun-nilar","sami-nilar","sami-nilaraken","sampun-nilar"]·KO["그들이-버렸기에","그들이-버렸다","그들이-버렸도다","버렸나니","버렸다","버렸으니"]·PT["Abandonaram","abandonaram","abandonaram,","abandonou","deixaram"]·RU["излить","оставил","оставили","оставили-они"]·ES["Abandonaron","abandonaron","abandonó","dejaron","lo-dejaron"]·SW["acha","aliiacha","alimwacha","aliwaacha","waliacha","waliiacha","walimwacha","waliniacha","wameacha","wameiacha","wamemwacha","wameniacha"]·TR["bıraktılar","terk-etti","terk-ettiler"]·urd["انہوں-نے-چھوڑ-دیا","چھوڑ-دیا","چھوڑ-دیا-ہے","چھوڑ-دیے","چھوڑا","چھوڑا-اُنہوں-نے"]
Deut 29:25, Judg 2:12, Judg 2:13, Judg 10:6, Judg 10:13, 1 Kgs 9:9, 1 Kgs 12:8, 1 Kgs 12:13, 1 Kgs 19:10, 1 Kgs 19:14, 2 Kgs 2:2, 2 Kgs 2:4 (+38 more)
▼ 4 more senses below
Senses
2. leave behind, let remain (Qal) — To leave behind or let remain, without the moral weight of betrayal. In Genesis 2:24 a man 'leaves' his parents to cleave to his wife; in Genesis 39:6 Potiphar 'left' all his affairs in Joseph's hands. The Arabic taraka in its neutral sense and Korean dugo gada ('to leave behind') capture this well. The difference from sense 1 is the absence of rejection — what is left behind is not being repudiated but simply released or entrusted. 23×
AR["اتْرُكْ","تَتْرُكُ","تَتْرُكُهُمَا","تَرَكَ","تَرَكْنَا","فَ-تَرَكَ","فَأَتْرُكَ","فَيَتْرُكُكُمْ","وَ-اتْرُكُوا","وَ-تَرَكَ","وَ-تَرَكْتِ","وَتَتْرُكُ","وَتَرَكَ","يَتْرُكُ","يَتْرُكُ-"]·ben["আর-ছেড়ে-দিল","আর-ছেড়ে-দিল-সে","আর-ছেড়ে-দিলেন","আর-তুমি-ছেড়ে-দেবে","আর-পরিত্যাগ-করেছেন","এবং-তুমি-ছেড়ে-দিয়েছ","এবং-তোমরা-ছেড়ে-দেবে","এবং-রেখে-গেল","এবং-রেখে-দিল","এবং-সে-ফেলে-রেখে-গেল","ছেড়ে-দিল","ছেড়ে-দেবে","ছেড়ে-যাবে","ত্যাগ-কর","ত্যাগ-করলাম-আমরা","যেন-ত্যাগ-করতাম","রেখে-গিয়েছিলেন","রেখে-যাবে"]·DE["du-soll-verlassen","er-gelassen-hatte","links","und-er-linke","und-ließ","und-links","und-verlassen","und-verliess","und-überließ","verlassen","verliess","wird-verlassen-"]·EN["and-forsook","and-he-left","and-leave","and-left","and-will-you-leave","and-you-left","he-left","leave","left","shall-leave-","that-I-might-leave","we-have-left","will-leave","you-shall-leave"]·FR["--quitter-","abandonner","et-abandonner","et-gauche","et-il-gauche","et-quitter","et-tu-gauche","gauche","il-gauche","quitter","tu-devra-quitter"]·heb["ו-אעזבה","ו-יעזב","ו-יעזוב","ו-עזב","ו-עזבתי","ו-עזבתם","ו-תעזוב","יעזב","יעזוב","עזב","עזבה","עזבנו","תעזב"]·HI["और-छोड़-गया","और-छोड़-दिया","और-छोड़ा","और-छोड़ेगा","और-छोड़ो","और-तू-छोड़ेगा","और-मैं-छोड़ूँगा","छोड़","छोड़ा","छोड़ेगा","छोड़ेगा-","छोड़ो","छोड़ोगे","हमने-छोड़-दी-है"]·ID["akan-meninggalkan","dan-Ia-meninggalkan","dan-aku-akan-meninggalkan","dan-dia-meninggalkan","dan-engkau menyerahkan","dan-engkau-meninggalkan","dan-meninggalkan","dan-tinggalkanlah","harus-kamu-tinggalkan","kita-meninggalkan","meninggalkan","telah-ditinggalkan","tinggalkanlah"]·IT["abbandonare","e-abbandonare","e-egli-sinistra","e-lasciare","e-sinistra","e-tu-sinistra","egli-sinistra","lasciare","shall-lasciare-","sinistra","tu-dovra-lasciare"]·jav["Lan-masrahaken","Lan-nilar","badhe-nilar","kita-sami-nilar","lan-Kula-badhé-nilar","lan-masrahaken","lan-nilar","lan-nilar-panjenengan","lan-panjenengan-masrahaken","lan-piyambakipun-nilar","masrahaken","nilar","sami-tinggalna","tilar","tilarnaaning","tinggalna"]·KO["그리고-남겨두라","그리고-남겨두었다","그리고-남겼다","그리고-내가-떠나리라","그리고-네가-떠났다","그리고-네가-맡기겠느냐","그리고-맡겼다","그리고-버려두었다","그리고-버렸다","그리고-버릴-것이다","남겨두라","남겨둔","남겨둘-것이다-너는","남기고-갔다","남기리라","떠날-것이다","우리가-떠났다"]·PT["Deixa","E-deixarás","E-deixou","deixamos","deixará","deixará-","deixarás","deixou","e-abandonaste","e-abandonou","e-deixareis","e-deixaria","e-deixou","¶ E-deixou"]·RU["И-оставил","Оставь","и-оставил","и-оставил-бы-я","и-оставила-ты","и-оставит","и-оставишь","и-оставляйте","оставил","оставили-мы","оставит","оставит-","оставь"]·ES["Y-dejó","abandonamos","deja","dejará","dejará-","dejó","los-dejarás","y-dejarán","y-dejarás","y-dejaré","y-dejaste","y-dejó","y-os-abandonará"]·SW["Waache","akaacha","aliwacha","atamwacha","ili-niwache","itawaacha","na-akaacha","na-akawaacha","na-atawaacha","na-mviache","na-ukamwacha","na-utaacha","tumeiacha","utayaacha"]·TR["Ve-bıraktı","bırak","bırakacak","bırakacaksın","bırakmıştı","bıraktı","bıraktık","terk-edecek-","ve-bırakacaksınız","ve-bırakayım","ve-bıraktı","ve-bırakırsın","ve-terk-edecek","ve-terkettin"]·urd["اور-تو-نے-چھوڑا","اور-چھوڑ-دو","اور-چھوڑ-دوں","اور-چھوڑ-دیا","اور-چھوڑ-دیا-اس-نے","اور-چھوڑا","اور-چھوڑے-گا","اور-کیا-تو-چھوڑے-گا","چھوڑ","چھوڑ-دو","چھوڑا","چھوڑا-ہم-نے","چھوڑو","چھوڑے-گا"]
3. forsaken one, abandoned (participle) — The participial and adjectival use describing someone or something as 'forsaken' or 'abandoned.' Isaiah 62:4 promises Jerusalem 'you shall no more be called Azuvah (Forsaken),' while texts like 1 Kings 14:10 and 2 Kings 14:26 describe the helpless condition of those left without protector. The Arabic mahjura/matruka and Korean beoryeojin ('abandoned one') confirm the stative, descriptive quality. This sense functions as a social category: the azuvah is one whom society or God has left behind. 14×
AR["كَـ-مَهْجُورَةِ","مَتْرُوكٌ","مَتْرُوكٍ","مَتْرُوكَةٌ","مَتْرُوكَةٍ","مَهْجُورَةً","مَهْجُورَةٌ","وَ-مَتْروكًا","وَ-مَتْرُوكًا","وَالْمُطْلَقُ","وَمَتْروكاً","ٱلْمَهْجُورَاتِ"]·ben["-পরিত্যাগের-মতো","এবং-পরিত্যক্ত","পরিত্যক্ত","পরিত্যক্তা"]·DE["linke","oder-verliess","und-abandoned","und-free","verlassen","verliess"]·EN["Forsaken","abandoned","and-abandoned","and-free","forsaken","is-forsaken","left","like-forsaken-places-of","or-abandoned","the-forsaken"]·FR["abandonner","et-abandoned","et-free","gauche","ou-abandoned"]·heb["ה-נעזבות","ו-עזוב","כ-עזובת","עזוב","עזובה","עזובות"]·HI["आज़ूव","और-छोड़ा-हुआ","और-छोड़ा-हुआ।","और-छोड़े-हुए","छोड़ने-जैसे","छोड़ी-गई","छोड़ी-हुई","छोड़े-हुए","त्यागी-हुई","वआजूव"]·ID["Ditinggalkan","dan-ditinggalkan","dan-terlepas","dan-yang-bebas","ditinggalkan","seperti-yang-ditinggalkan","yang-bebas","yang-ditinggalkan"]·IT["abbandonare","e-abbandonò","e-libero","o-abandoned","sinistra"]·jav["Ditinggalaken","dipun-tilar","ditinggalaken","ing-Israel","ingkang-dipun-tilar","ingkang-dipuntilar","ingkang-dipuntilaraken","ingkang-katilar","kados-dipun-tilar","lan-ingkang-dipuntilar","lan-ingkang-kabucal","lan-tilar","suwung"]·KO["그-버림받은","그리고-버려진","그리고-버림된-자가","그리고-버림받은","그리고-버림받은-자를","버려지리니","버려진","버려진-것-같이","버려진-자","버림받았다","버림받은","버림받은-자라고","버림받은-자와"]·PT["Abandonadas","abandonada","abandonado","abandonados","as-abandonadas","como-abandono-de","e-abandonado","e-livre"]·RU["и-оставленного","как-оставленность","ни-оставленного","оставлен","оставленная","оставленного","оставленной","оставленную","оставлены","покинутые","покинутым"]·ES["Abandonada","Abandonadas","abandonada","abandonados","como-abandono-de","dejado","está-abandonada","las-abandonadas,","ni-abandonado","y-abandonado","y-dejado"]·SW["Aliyeachwa","Zimeachwa","aliyeachwa","iliyoachwa","kama-kuachwa","na-aliyeachwa","uliyeachwa","umeachwa","yaliyoachwa"]·TR["Terk-edilmis","bırakılmış","terk-edilmis","terk-edilmis-gibi","terk-edilmiş","ve-bırakılan","ve-bırakılmış","ve-serbest","ve-terk-edilmiş"]·urd["آزاد","اور-آزاد","چھوڑ-دیے-گئے","چھوڑی-جائے-گی","چھوڑی-ہوئی","چھوڑے-ہوئے","چھوڑے-ہوئے-کی-طرح"]
Deut 32:36, 1 Kgs 14:10, 1 Kgs 21:21, 2 Kgs 9:8, 2 Kgs 14:26, Isa 10:14, Isa 17:2, Isa 17:9, Isa 54:6, Isa 60:15, Isa 62:4, Jer 4:29 (+2 more)
4. be forsaken, be abandoned (Nifal/QalPassive) — The Nifal or Qal passive finite forms expressing the event or state of being forsaken. In Leviticus 26:43 the land 'shall be forsaken,' and in Isaiah 7:16 the land whose two kings Israel dreads 'will be forsaken.' The Arabic passive tutraku and Korean beoryeojida capture the grammatical passivization. Psalm 37:25 offers the famous testimony: 'I have not seen the righteous forsaken' — a theological claim about God's faithfulness framed in this passive voice. 8×
AR["تُترَكُ","تُتْرَكُ","تُهْجَرُ","مَتْروكًا","مَهْجُورَةٌ","هُجِرَ","وَمَتْرُوكٌ"]·ben["ও-পরিত্যাগ-করা","পরিত্যক্ত","পরিত্যক্ত-হবে"]·DE["und-verlassen","verlassen","verliess","wird-sein-links"]·EN["and-abandoned","forsaken","is-abandoned","they-are-left","will-be-forsaken","will-be-left"]·FR["abandonner","et-abandonner","fera-être-gauche"]·heb["ו-נעזב","ייעזבו","נעזב","נעזבה","עוזב","תיעזב","תעזב"]·HI["और-छोड़ा-हुआ","छोड़-दी-जाएगी","छोड़ा जाएगा","छोड़ा-गया","छोड़ी-गई","छोड़ी-जाएगी","छोड़े-जाएंगे","त्यागा-गया"]·ID["Akan-ditinggalkan","akan-ditinggalkan","dan-yang-diabaikan","dari-mereka","diabaikan","ditinggalkan"]·IT["abbandonare","abbandono'","e-abbandonare","fara-essere-sinistra"]·jav["Ditinggalaken","badhe-dipuntilar","badhé-dipuntilaraken","dipun-tilar","dipun-tinggal","dipuntilar","lan-dipun-bucal"]·KO["그리고-떠나마","버려지리니","버림-받음-을","버림받으리라","버림받은-것이","버림받을것이다","버림을-당했다","버림을-받겠느냐"]·PT["Serão-deixados","abandonada","desamparado","desertado","e-desertada","será-abandonada"]·RU["будут-оставлены","и-брошенное","опустеет","оставится","оставлена-будет","оставленный","оставленным","покинуто"]·ES["Abandonada","Serán-dejados","desamparada","desamparado","será-abandonada","y-dejada"]·SW["Yataachwa","ameachwa","imeachwa","itaachwa","na-kusahaulika","usioacha"]·TR["Birakilacaklar","birakilan","bırakılacak","terk-edilecek","terk-edilir","terk-edilmis","terk-edilmiş","ve-birakilmis"]·urd["اور-ٹوٹا-ہوا","چھوڑ دی جائے","چھوڑ-دی-جائے-گی","چھوڑ-دیا-گیا","چھوڑا-گیا","چھوڑا-ہوا","چھوڑی-جائے-گی","چھوڑے-جائیں-گے"]
5. help, assist with a burden (Qal) — A remarkable semantic outlier: to help or assist, specifically in relieving an animal of its burden (Exod 23:5). All three occurrences come from the same verse and its surrounding legal context. The Korean dopda ('to help') and Swahili kusaidia confirm translators consistently render this as assistance rather than abandonment. Some scholars derive this from a homonymous root; others see a semantic development from 'release, let loose' (a burden). Either way, it stands as a striking counterpoint to the word's dominant meaning. 3×
AR["تَترُكُ","تَركاً","عَن-تَركِهِ"]·ben["ত্যাগ-করতে","ত্যাগ-করবে","ত্যাগ-করে-ত্যাগ-করে"]·DE["du-soll-helfen","helping","von-helping"]·EN["from-helping","helping","you-shall-help"]·FR["de-helping","helping","tu---aider"]·heb["מ-עזוב","עזוב","תעזוב"]·HI["छोड़ना","छोड़ने-से","छोड़ो"]·ID["dari-meninggalkan","engkau harus meninggalkan","meninggalkan"]·IT["da-helping","helping","tu-shall-aiutare"]·jav["ninggalaken","panjenengan-badhé-ninggalaken","saking-ninggalaken"]·KO["너는-반드시-도우라","돕기를","돕다"]·PT["abandonar","abandonarás","de-abandonar"]·RU["от-помощи","помоги","помощью"]·ES["abandonar","abandonarás","de-abandonar"]·SW["kumsaidia","kusaidia","utasaidia"]·TR["terk-edeceksin","terk-etmekle","terk-etmekten"]·urd["چھوڑنا","چھوڑنے-سے","چھوڑو"]
Related Senses
H0776 1. land, country, territory (2323×)H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8104 1. Qal: keep, observe (law/covenant) (399×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)G3772 1. heaven, sky, heavens (278×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)G3101 1. disciple, learner (263×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)H5647 1. worship, serve (God/deity) (203×)G2889 1. world (185×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
I. עָזַב213 vb. leave, forsake, loose (NH id. (rare); Arabic عَرَبَ be remote, absent, depart, Assyrian ezêbu, leave, Shaph. ušezib, rescue, cf. Biblical Aramaic שֵׁיזֵב;—Ethiopic ማዕሰብ widowed Di 973);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. ע׳ Gn 24:27 +, sf. עֲזָבַנִי Is 49:14 ψ 38:11; 3 fs. עָזָבָ֑ה Ez 23:8; 1 s. sf. עֲזַבְתִּיךְ Is 54:7; 2 fpl. עֲזַבְתֶּן Ex 2:20, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יַעֲזֹב Is 55:7 +, יַעֲזָב־ Gn…