The verb avah means to desire, covet, or long for something intensely. It can also carry the sense of marking out a boundary or defining limits. The noun forms derived from this root (avvah, tavah) describe craving, longing, or appetite — both godly desire and sinful coveting.
Human desire is central to biblical anthropology. Avah captures both the legitimate longings God places in the human heart (for righteousness, for God Himself, for justice) and the disordered desires that lead to sin. The tenth commandment's prohibition against coveting (using the related chamad) echoes this same concern: desire unchecked by God's law becomes destructive. Yet the Psalms celebrate holy longing — the soul that desires God above all things finds its deepest satisfaction.