נוּשׁ
to be sick, i.e. (figuratively) distressed
Definition
The Hebrew verb נוּשׁ (nûwsh) primarily means 'to be sick' or 'to be weak,' but in its sole biblical occurrence, it is used figuratively to describe a state of deep emotional or spiritual distress. It conveys the idea of being so burdened by sorrow that one feels physically ill or incapacitated. This figurative sense emphasizes the profound connection between emotional anguish and physical well-being in Hebrew thought. The word appears only in Psalm 69:20, where the psalmist laments, 'Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness' (KJV), with 'full of heaviness' translating this verb.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 69:20. It appears in the context of a lament psalm, where the psalmist describes intense personal suffering, betrayal, and isolation. The usage is poetic and metaphorical, equating emotional brokenness and reproach with a sickness of the soul. There are no other occurrences to establish broader patterns, making this a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once).
Etymology
נוּשׁ (nûwsh) is considered a primitive root in Hebrew. It is related to the concept of being sick, weak, or failing. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Arabic and Aramaic, support meanings related to being weak, tired, or in despair. Its development from a physical sense ('to be sick') to a figurative one ('to be distressed') is a common semantic shift in biblical Hebrew, where inner states are often described with physical metaphors.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it vividly portrays the depth of human suffering before God. It captures the experience of the righteous sufferer, a key theme in the Psalms and wisdom literature, pointing to the reality of spiritual anguish. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Psalm 69 by highlighting the psalmist's total emotional and physical depletion, which finds its ultimate answer in messianic suffering (cf. the New Testament application of Psalm 69 to Christ) and God's eventual deliverance.
In ancient Israelite culture, health was understood holistically; there was no strict separation between emotional, spiritual, and physical sickness. Distress, shame, and grief were often experienced and described as physical ailments. The use of נוּשׁ to mean 'full of heaviness' reflects this integrated worldview, where a broken heart could manifest as a sickness unto death. This contrasts with some modern perspectives that might compartmentalize emotional and physical health.
חָלָה (chalah, H2470) — more commonly used for physical sickness, but also for grief. דָּאַב (da'av, H1669) — to pine away, be sad, often with a sense of languishing. יָגָה (yagah, H3013) — to grieve, suffer, with a focus on the pain itself.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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