רָזוֹן
thinness
Definition
The Hebrew noun רָזוֹן (râzôwn) primarily means 'thinness' or 'leanness,' describing a state of being physically emaciated or lacking substance. In its three biblical occurrences, it consistently conveys a negative condition of wasting away or insufficiency. In Psalm 106:15, it describes the physical 'leanness' God sent upon the Israelites as a judgment for their craving. In Isaiah 10:16, it metaphorically depicts the 'wasting sickness' or emaciation that God will bring upon Assyria's glory. In Micah 6:10, it refers to the 'scant measure' of an ephah, indicating a dishonest, deficient quantity that is an abomination to the Lord.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, appearing in poetic and prophetic books (Psalms, Isaiah, Micah). Its usage is consistently negative, describing a state of judgment, punishment, or moral failure. In Psalm 106:15, it is a direct divine punishment for sin (physical leanness). In Isaiah 10:16, it is a prophetic judgment against a foreign nation (metaphorical wasting). In Micah 6:10, it describes unethical commercial practice (scant measure), condemned by God. The pattern shows it applies to both physical and metaphorical deficiency resulting from corruption or divine retribution.
Etymology
רָזוֹן (râzôwn) is a noun derived from the root verb רָזָה (râzâh, H7329), which means 'to be thin,' 'lean,' or 'make lean.' This root conveys the core idea of reduction, lack, or emaciation. The noun form intensifies this concept into a state or condition of being thin. Cognate words in related Semitic languages also carry meanings associated with being slender or meager, confirming the basic sense of deficiency.
Semantic Range
רָזוֹן is theologically significant as it vividly portrays the consequences of sin and covenant unfaithfulness. It illustrates that God's judgment can manifest in physical and material deficiency (Psalm 106:15, Micah 6:10). The word connects moral failure with tangible loss and corruption, whether in one's body, a nation's strength, or marketplace integrity. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how biblical authors used the concrete image of 'thinness' or 'scantness' to symbolize the hollow, impoverished results of turning away from God's standards of holiness and justice.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, physical leanness was often associated with famine, sickness, or divine disfavor—a stark contrast to the cultural ideal of prosperity and abundance. A 'scant measure' (Micah 6:10) directly attacked the community's economic trust and violated specific covenantal laws (e.g., Leviticus 19:35-36) designed to ensure fairness. Thus, רָזוֹן described conditions that were visibly and socially recognized as signs of curse, disorder, or ethical failure.
דַּל (dal, H1800) — emphasizes being low, weak, or poor, often socio-economically. רָזוֹן focuses more on the physical state of being thin or meager. כָּחַשׁ (kâchash, H3584) — means to be lean or fail, often used of land; רָזוֹן is more specifically the noun for the condition itself. רָעָב (râʿâb, H7458) — means famine or hunger, the cause; רָזוֹן is the resulting state of leanness.
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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