דּוּב

to mope, i.e. (figuratively) pine

Definition

The Hebrew verb דּוּב (dûwb) means to pine away, languish, or waste away, often from grief, sorrow, or despair. It describes a state of deep emotional and physical decline, where one's vitality is consumed by distress. In its sole biblical occurrence in Leviticus 26:16, it is used figuratively in the context of divine judgment, depicting the consequence of covenant disobedience as a wasting away of life and spirit. The term conveys more than simple sadness; it implies a progressive deterioration due to profound inner turmoil.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 26:16, within a list of covenantal curses. It is used in a prophetic warning from God, stating that if Israel disobeys, He will appoint over them 'terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.' Here, 'cause sorrow of heart' translates דּוּב, indicating a deep, consuming sorrow that leads to wasting away. Its usage is entirely within this context of covenantal blessing and curse.

Etymology

דּוּב is a primitive root verb. It is likely related by sound and sense to the Hebrew root דָּאַב (dāʼaḇ, H1669), which also means to pine, languish, or be faint. This connection suggests a core semantic idea of fading, withering, or losing strength. The specific form דּוּב appears only in the Hiphil (causative) stem in the Bible, meaning 'to cause to pine away' or 'to cause sorrow.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it appears in a key passage on covenant faithfulness (Leviticus 26). It underscores the serious, holistic consequences of breaking covenant with God: judgment is not merely external punishment but includes internal, consuming despair that wastes away the human spirit. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of God's warnings, revealing that disobedience leads to a loss of shalom (wholeness) at the deepest level of human existence—the heart. It highlights the link between spiritual rebellion and profound personal desolation.

In ancient Israelite culture, the 'heart' (לֵב, lēḇ) represented the center of thought, emotion, and will. A sorrow that 'causes the heart to pine away' (דּוּב) would have been understood as a total collapse of a person's inner being, affecting their entire capacity for life. This condition was seen as a direct result of being under God's disfavor, a concept more integrated into their worldview than in many modern, secular understandings of emotional distress.

דָּאַב (dāʼaḇ, H1669) — A more common verb for pining, languishing, or being faint, often from grief or sickness (e.g., Psalm 38:8, Lamentations 5:17). אָבַל (ʼāḇal, H56) — To mourn or lament, focusing more on the outward expression of grief (e.g., Genesis 37:34). יָגָה (yāḡâ, H3013) — To grieve, suffer, or afflict, often implying pain or toil (e.g., Proverbs 23:29).

Word Details

Scripture References