אֻמְלַל
sick
Definition
The Hebrew word אֻמְלַל (ʼumlal) describes a state of being sick, weak, or withered, often with a sense of being worn down or languishing. It conveys not just physical illness but a profound, debilitating weakness that affects the whole person. In its single biblical occurrence, it is used in a prayer for healing from deep distress. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to languish' or 'to be weak,' emphasizing a loss of vitality.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 6:2 (Psalm 6:3 in some English versions). The psalmist, David, cries out, 'Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am אֻמְלַל (ʼumlal); heal me, Lord, for my bones are dismayed.' Here, it is used in a poetic, lament context to express a state of being so sick and weak that it causes deep anguish, intimately connecting physical and spiritual distress in a plea for divine restoration.
Etymology
אֻמְלַל (ʼumlal) is a passive participle derived from the root אָמַל (ʼāmal, H535), which means 'to languish,' 'to be weak,' or 'to droop.' This root conveys the idea of fading vitality, like a plant withering. The passive form used here indicates a state of being made weak or having become languid. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the sense of becoming feeble or sickly.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it captures the holistic biblical view of human suffering, where physical sickness and spiritual distress are often intertwined. In Psalm 6:2, the psalmist's confession of being 'אֻמְלַל' is part of a raw, honest prayer that models bringing our complete weakness before God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how biblical laments honestly portray human frailty and total dependence on God's healing and mercy, prefiguring the hope of ultimate restoration in Christ.
In ancient Israelite culture, sickness was often perceived not merely as a physical ailment but as connected to one's spiritual state or divine discipline (e.g., Psalm 38:3). The word's imagery of withering or languishing would resonate with an agrarian society familiar with plants drying up from lack of water, making it a powerful metaphor for a person whose vitality is draining away. This differs from some modern, purely clinical views of sickness.
חָלָה (ḥālâ, H2470) — a more general term for being sick or weak. דַּוָּי (davvay, H1739) — describes being faint or ill, often from grief. יָגֵעַ (yāgēaʿ, H3021) — emphasizes being weary or exhausted from labor.
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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