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שָׁוְא H7723
H7723 is the Hebrew word שָׁוְא, transliterated shâvᵉʼ and said shawv. The King James Version most often renders it vanity.
What it means
evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain).
Where it comes from
or שַׁו; from the same as H7722 (שׁוֹא) in the sense of desolating.
How the King James Version translates it
Across 48 tagged occurrences, counted from this edition's word index.
Strong's own list of renderings: false(-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.
Verses using שָׁוְא
The first 40 of 46 verses, quoted in full.
Exodus 20:7 · KJV
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exodus 23:1 · KJV
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Deuteronomy 5:11 · KJV
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Deuteronomy 5:20 · KJV
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Job 7:3 · KJV
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
Job 11:11 · KJV
For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
Job 15:31 · KJV
Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
Job 31:5 · KJV
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
Job 35:13 · KJV
Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
Psalm 12:2 · KJV
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Psalm 24:4 · KJV
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Psalm 26:4 · KJV
I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
Psalm 31:6 · KJV
I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
Psalm 41:6 · KJV
And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
Psalm 60:11 · KJV
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
Psalm 108:12 · KJV
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
Psalm 119:37 · KJV
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Psalm 127:1 · KJV
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psalm 127:2 · KJV
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Psalm 144:8 · KJV
Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Psalm 144:11 · KJV
Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
Proverbs 30:8 · KJV
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
Isaiah 1:13 · KJV
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Isaiah 5:18 · KJV
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
Isaiah 30:28 · KJV
And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
Isaiah 59:4 · KJV
None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Jeremiah 2:30 · KJV
In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Jeremiah 4:30 · KJV
And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
Jeremiah 6:29 · KJV
The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
Jeremiah 18:15 · KJV
Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;
Jeremiah 46:11 · KJV
Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.
Lamentations 2:14 · KJV
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.
Ezekiel 12:24 · KJV
For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 13:6 · KJV
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
Ezekiel 13:7 · KJV
Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
Ezekiel 13:8 · KJV
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 13:9 · KJV
And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 13:23 · KJV
Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 21:23 · KJV
And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
Ezekiel 21:29 · KJV
Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
Common questions
What does Strong's H7723 mean?
H7723 is the Hebrew word שָׁוְא (shâvᵉʼ), meaning evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain).
How is H7723 translated in the King James Version?
The King James translators rendered it vanity (20 times), vain (16 times), false (5 times), lying (2 times), lies (1 time), among others.
How many times does H7723 appear in the Bible?
שָׁוְא (shâvᵉʼ) is tagged in 46 verses of the King James Version in this edition's word index.
Where does H7723 come from?
Strong's gives its derivation as: or שַׁו; from the same as H7722 (שׁוֹא) in the sense of desolating.
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