'Âbâh (אָבָה, Strong's #14), “to will, be willing, consent.” Common throughout the history of the Hebrew language, this word occurs in the Hebrew Bible just over 50 times. It is found for the first time in Gen. 24:5, where Abraham’s servant who is about to be sent to find a wife for Isaac says: “Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land …?”

It is to be noted that in all but 2 instances of its use in the Old Testament (Job 39:9; Isa. 1:19), the word is used with a negation, to indicate lack of willingness or consent. Even in these two positive uses, there seems to be a negative aspect or expectation implied. Job asks: “Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee …?” (Job 39:9); and Isaiah seems almost hopeless as he says to Judah: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land” (Isa. 1:19).