יְגִיעַ
toil; hence, a work, produce, property (as the result of labor)
Definition
The Hebrew noun יְגִיעַ (yᵉgîyaʻ) fundamentally refers to the product or result of strenuous labor. It most often means 'produce' or 'property' gained through toil, such as the livestock Jacob earned through his hard work (Genesis 31:42). It can also denote the 'work' or 'labor' itself, as in the exhausting toil of a person's hands (Job 10:3). In some contexts, it refers to the 'gain' or 'earnings' that can be plundered by an enemy (Deuteronomy 28:33) or the 'produce' of the field (Psalm 78:46).
Biblical Usage
This word is used 16 times, primarily in narrative, wisdom, and poetic books. It describes the tangible results of human or animal labor. In Genesis 31:42, it refers to Jacob's hard-earned flocks. In Deuteronomy 28:33 and Nehemiah 5:13, it describes possessions or produce that can be taken by others as a curse or through oppression. The Book of Job uses it for the fruitless labor of humans (Job 10:3) and the instinctual work of animals (Job 39:11, 16). The Psalms use it for agricultural produce (Psalm 78:46) and the earnings of the wicked (Psalm 109:11).
Etymology
Derived from the root verb יָגַע (yāgaʻ, H3021), meaning 'to toil, labor, grow weary.' The noun יְגִיעַ specifically denotes the concrete outcome or product of that laboring action, shifting the focus from the process to the result.
Semantic Range
This word connects human effort to divine providence and justice. It highlights that the fruit of one's labor is a gift from God (as seen in Jacob's acknowledgment in Genesis 31:42) and a sphere where God's blessing or judgment is active. The threat of an enemy consuming one's יְגִיעַ (Deuteronomy 28:33) is a key covenant curse, showing how economic security is tied to faithfulness. Understanding this term enriches readings on work, justice, and God's provision, grounding these concepts in the tangible results of daily life.
In an agrarian and pastoral society, one's יְגִיעַ was not abstract but consisted of concrete assets: harvested crops, tended flocks, and crafted goods. This represented survival, wealth, and social standing. Its loss to invaders or creditors (Deuteronomy 28:33, Nehemiah 5:13) was a catastrophic event threatening a family's or nation's very existence, making its protection a matter of divine and social justice.
מְלָאכָה (mᵉlāʼkâ, H4399) — a broader term for work, occupation, or service, often of a skilled or official nature. עָמָל (ʿāmāl, H5999) — emphasizes trouble, sorrow, or grievous toil, often with a negative connotation of wearisome labor. פְּרִי (pᵉrî, H6529) — specifically means 'fruit' or 'produce,' often literal, but can be metaphorical; יְגִיעַ is more specifically the product of human exertion.
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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