יָגִיעַ
tired
Definition
The Hebrew noun יָגִיעַ (yâgîyaʻ) primarily means 'tired' or 'weary,' describing a state of physical or mental exhaustion from labor or hardship. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Job 3:17, where it refers to the 'weary' who find rest in death. The word is derived from the verb יָגַע (yāgaʿ), meaning 'to toil' or 'to labor,' so its sense of weariness is intrinsically linked to the expenditure of effort. While its single occurrence limits a range of distinct senses, its meaning is consistent with the broader semantic field of its root, encompassing fatigue from strenuous work or life's burdens.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job. In Job 3:17, the suffering Job describes the grave as a place where 'the weary are at rest.' Here, it is used in a context of extreme despair, contrasting the turmoil of life with the peace of death. The usage is metaphorical, applying physical weariness to the existential fatigue of a person enduring profound suffering. Its solitary appearance in a wisdom literature context highlights a thematic focus on human limitation and the desire for relief from toil.
Etymology
יָגִיעַ (yâgîyaʻ) is a noun directly derived from the root verb יָגַע (yāgaʿ, H3021), which means 'to labor, toil, grow weary.' This root is common in Biblical Hebrew, appearing in various forms (nouns, verbs) to convey work, trouble, and the resulting exhaustion. The noun form specifically denotes the state or product of that labor—weariness. Cognate words exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic and Aramaic, with similar meanings related to toiling and fatigue, indicating a shared ancient understanding of labor's draining effect.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the profound theological exploration of suffering and rest in the book of Job. It gives voice to the human experience of exhaustion under divine providence that feels inscrutable. The concept connects to broader biblical themes: the curse of toil following the Fall (Genesis 3:17-19), the Sabbath as God's provision for rest from labor, and the ultimate promise of rest in God (e.g., Matthew 11:28). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by grounding Job's cry in the tangible reality of weariness, making his longing for rest a deeply relatable and theologically significant yearning.
In the ancient Near East, physical labor—farming, herding, construction—was relentless and physically demanding. Weariness was a common, daily reality, not merely a metaphor. The concept of rest, therefore, was a precious commodity and a divine ideal (as seen in the Sabbath). Job's use of the word would resonate with an audience intimately familiar with exhaustion from survival-level work. His poetic application of this physical state to emotional and spiritual despair bridges the concrete cultural experience of toil with universal human suffering.
עָיֵף (ʿāyēph, H5889) — more common general term for weary or faint, often from journeying (e.g., Judges 8:4). יָגַע (yāgaʿ, H3021) — the root verb meaning to labor or grow weary, focusing on the action rather than the state. לָאָה (lāʾâ, H3811) — to be weary or impatient, often with a nuance of being grieved or vexed (e.g., Isaiah 7:13).
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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