1889. heach
Lexical Summary
heach: "Alas!" or "Ah!"

Original Word: הֶאָח
Part of Speech: Interjection
Transliteration: heach
Pronunciation: hay-ahkh
Phonetic Spelling: (heh-awkh')
KJV: ah, aha, ha
NASB: aha
Word Origin: [from H1887 (הֵא - behold) and H253 (אָח - Ah)]

1. aha!

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
ah, aha, ha

From he' and 'ach; aha! -- ah, aha, ha.

see HEBREW he'

see HEBREW 'ach

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. interj.
Definition
aha!
NASB Translation
aha (12).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
הֶאָח interjection (onomatopoetic) expressing joy, Aha! always introduced by אָמַר, Isaiah 44:16 he says, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire. Of satisfaction over the misfortune of an enemy or rival, Psalm 35:21; Psalm 35:25 let them not say in their heart הֶאָח נַפְשֵׁנוּ Aha, so would we have it ! (lit our desire !) Psalm 40:16 (= Psalm 70:4), Ezekiel 25:3; Ezekiel 26:2; Ezekiel 36:2. Metaph., of the neighing of a war horse in the battle, Job 39:25.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

The interjection appears twelve times in the Old Testament, conveying an exultant or derisive shout. It surfaces in poetry, wisdom, and prophetic oracles, consistently marking a moment when one party delights in the perceived misfortune or vulnerability of another.

Literary Distribution and Context

1. Wisdom Literature: Job 39:25 places the cry in the mouth of the war-horse, illustrating eagerness for battle rather than contempt.
2. Psalms: Psalm 35:21, 35:25; 40:15; 70:3 reveal hostile onlookers taunting David. Their repeated “Aha, aha!” dramatizes the cruelty of enemies who gloat when God’s servant staggers.
3. Prophets: Isaiah 44:16 records a self-satisfied idol-maker, while Ezekiel 25:3; 26:2; 36:2 indict foreign nations that mock Israel’s calamities.

Emotional Nuance

The shout ranges from excited anticipation (Job 39:25) to malicious ridicule (Psalms, Ezekiel) and smug self-congratulation (Isaiah 44:16). In every setting it exposes a heart rejoicing in something other than the righteousness of God—whether the thrill of war or the downfall of God’s people.

Theology of Mockery and Judgment

Scripture repeatedly warns against rejoicing over another’s distress. Proverbs 24:17-18 cautions, “Do not gloat when your enemy falls.” The prophetic occurrences show the Lord treating mockery of His covenant people as mockery of Himself; consequently, Ammon, Tyre, and the nations face retribution (Ezekiel 25:4-7; 26:3-6; 36:3-7). The cry thus becomes evidence in God’s courtroom, sealing the judgment of those who utter it.

Christological Echoes

The Psalms featuring the taunt are applied to the Messiah’s sufferings. As David’s foes jeer, so the crowds around the cross mocked Jesus Christ (Mark 15:29-30). The interjection anticipates the scorn heaped on the suffering Servant, highlighting both human enmity toward righteousness and the Savior’s patient endurance.

Ministry Application

1. Resisting the Spirit of Gloating: Believers must guard against a celebratory attitude when adversaries stumble, lest they replicate the sin condemned in Ezekiel.
2. Encouragement under Ridicule: The Psalms provide a vocabulary for prayer when facing mockery, reminding the faithful that God will ultimately vindicate His servants.
3. Preaching Judgment with Compassion: Prophetic texts teach that announcing judgment is not triumphalism but a sober call to repentance for all who rejoice in evil.

Historical Insight

In the ancient Near East, victory shouts often accompanied war campaigns and political upheavals. The prophets harness this cultural reality, turning the nations’ exclamations into self-indictments that summon the divine warrior against them.

Conclusion

Whether uttered by a war-horse, a taunting neighbor, or an arrogant nation, the cry crystallizes a posture the Lord opposes—delight in unrighteous gain or in a neighbor’s fall. Its appearances challenge God’s people to entrust vengeance to Him, renounce scorn, and find refuge in the One who hears every “Aha!” and will quiet it forever.

Forms and Transliterations
הֶ֘אָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָ֑ח הֶאָ֔ח הֶאָ֗ח הֶאָ֜ח הֶאָ֣ח הֶאָ֣ח ׀ הֶאָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָֽח׃ האח האח׃ he’āḥ he·’āḥ heAch
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Job 39:25
HEB: שֹׁפָ֨ר ׀ יֹ֘אמַ֤ר הֶאָ֗ח וּֽ֭מֵרָחוֹק יָרִ֣יחַ
NAS: [sounds] he says, 'Aha!' And he scents
KJV: the trumpets, Ha, ha;
INT: as the trumpet says Ha afar smelleth

Psalm 35:21
HEB: פִּ֫יהֶ֥ם אָ֭מְרוּ הֶאָ֣ח ׀ הֶאָ֑ח רָאֲתָ֥ה
NAS: me; They said, Aha, aha,
KJV: against me, [and] said, Aha, aha,
INT: their mouth said Aha aha have seen

Psalm 35:21
HEB: אָ֭מְרוּ הֶאָ֣ח ׀ הֶאָ֑ח רָאֲתָ֥ה עֵינֵֽינוּ׃
NAS: Aha, aha, our eyes
KJV: Aha, aha, our eye
INT: said Aha aha have seen our eyes

Psalm 35:25
HEB: יֹאמְר֣וּ בְ֭לִבָּם הֶאָ֣ח נַפְשֵׁ֑נוּ אַל־
NAS: in their heart, Aha, our desire!
KJV: in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it:
INT: say their heart Aha our desire not

Psalm 40:15
HEB: הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לִ֝֗י הֶאָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָֽח׃
NAS: Who say to me, Aha, aha!
KJV: that say unto me, Aha, aha.
INT: of their shame say Aha aha

Psalm 40:15
HEB: לִ֝֗י הֶאָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָֽח׃
NAS: Who say to me, Aha, aha!
KJV: that say unto me, Aha, aha.
INT: say Aha aha

Psalm 70:3
HEB: בָּשְׁתָּ֑ם הָ֝אֹמְרִ֗ים הֶ֘אָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָֽח׃
NAS: of their shame Who say, Aha, aha!
KJV: of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
INT: of their shame say Aha aha

Psalm 70:3
HEB: הָ֝אֹמְרִ֗ים הֶ֘אָ֥ח ׀ הֶאָֽח׃
NAS: Who say, Aha, aha!
KJV: that say, Aha, aha.
INT: say Aha aha

Isaiah 44:16
HEB: יָחֹם֙ וְיֹאמַ֣ר הֶאָ֔ח חַמּוֹתִ֖י רָאִ֥יתִי
NAS: himself and says, Aha! I am warm,
KJV: [himself], and saith, Aha, I am warm,
INT: warms and says Aha I am warm have seen

Ezekiel 25:3
HEB: יַעַן֩ אָמְרֵ֨ךְ הֶאָ֜ח אֶל־ מִקְדָּשִׁ֣י
NAS: you said, Aha!' against
KJV: Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary,
INT: Because said Aha and against my sanctuary

Ezekiel 26:2
HEB: עַל־ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ הֶאָ֔ח נִשְׁבְּרָ֛ה דַּלְת֥וֹת
NAS: Jerusalem, 'Aha, the gateway
KJV: against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken
INT: concerning Jerusalem Aha is broken the gateway

Ezekiel 36:2
HEB: הָאוֹיֵ֛ב עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם הֶאָ֑ח וּבָמ֣וֹת עוֹלָ֔ם
NAS: against you, 'Aha!' and, 'The everlasting
KJV: hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient
INT: the enemy against Aha heights the ancient

12 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1889
12 Occurrences


he·’āḥ — 12 Occ.

1888
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