יָעֵף
fatigued; figuratively, exhausted
Definition
The Hebrew word יָעֵף describes a state of physical and emotional exhaustion, often translated as 'weary' or 'faint.' It denotes a profound depletion of strength, as seen when Gideon's troops are described as exhausted in Judges 8:15. In a figurative sense, it extends to spiritual or mental weariness, such as the 'weary' soul in Isaiah 40:29 who receives strength from God. The word consistently portrays a condition of being utterly spent, requiring external renewal.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only four times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative and prophetic contexts. It describes physical exhaustion of soldiers (Judges 8:15) and a servant (2 Samuel 16:2). In Isaiah, it takes on a more theological usage, describing those who are spiritually weary and in need of divine strength (Isaiah 40:29) and the prophet's own need for God's sustaining word (Isaiah 50:4). The pattern moves from literal fatigue to a metaphor for human limitation met by God's power.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb יָעַף (yāʿap, H3286), meaning 'to be weary' or 'to tire.' It is a primary adjective formed directly from this root, indicating the state or quality of being weary. Cognate words in other Semitic languages also relate to exhaustion, confirming its core meaning of depleted strength.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights human frailty and God's role as the sustainer of the weak. In Isaiah 40:29, God specifically gives power to the יָעֵף, contrasting divine omnipotence with human exhaustion. This enriches the reading of passages about grace, as it underscores that divine strength is perfected in human weakness, a key theme in biblical anthropology and soteriology.
In the ancient Near East, physical exhaustion from labor, travel, or warfare was a common and immediate reality. The term would have evoked a tangible sense of being completely spent, with limited means for recovery. This makes the prophetic promises of God renewing the weary (Isaiah) particularly powerful, offering a hope that transcended normal human capacity for restoration.
עָיֵף (ʿāyēph, H5889) — A very close synonym also meaning 'weary' or 'faint,' often used in similar physical and spiritual contexts. יָגֵעַ (yāgēaʿ, H3021) — Emphasizes weariness from labor or toil. דַּל (dal, H1800) — Means 'weak' or 'poor,' focusing more on social or physical poverty rather than exhaustion from effort.
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.
Full methodology & sources →