The Hebrew word eybah denotes deep, persistent hostility or enmity between parties. It is rooted in the verb ayab (to be hostile), and captures not merely a feeling but an active, ongoing state of opposition.
The most theologically pivotal use of eybah appears in Genesis 3:15 — the protoevangelium — where God declares permanent enmity between the serpent and the woman, and between their respective seeds. This foundational passage establishes the cosmic conflict between good and evil that runs throughout Scripture, ultimately resolved in Christ's victory over Satan at the cross. The term is used sparingly (only five times in the OT), each time marking serious relational rupture: between Israel and surrounding nations in Numbers and Ezekiel, underscoring the gravity of God's original pronouncement.