יְהָב

properly, what is given (by Providence), i.e. a lot

Definition

The Hebrew noun יְהָב (yᵉhâb) fundamentally means 'what is given' or 'that which is bestowed.' It carries the nuance of something provided or allotted, often by a higher power or through the circumstances of life. In its single biblical occurrence in Psalm 55:22, it is poetically paralleled with 'burden' (יְהָבְךָ, 'your burden'), suggesting a divinely permitted load or lot that one must carry. The word implies that life's challenges are not random but are part of a providential distribution.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 55:22 (verse 23 in some English versions). The context is a psalm of lament where David urges the faithful to 'cast your burden (יְהָבְךָ) on the LORD.' Here, it is used metaphorically for a personal, troubling weight—such as anxiety, persecution, or distress—that one can transfer to God's care. Its solitary use in Wisdom literature highlights a personal, devotional application rather than a legal or historical one.

Etymology

יְהָב is a noun derived from the root יָהַב (yāhab, H3051), a verb meaning 'to give,' 'to grant,' or 'to ascribe.' This root is also seen in names like יְהוֹיָכִין (Jehoiachin, 'Yahweh establishes'). The noun form יְהָב essentially means 'a giving' or 'that which is given,' concretizing the action of the verb into a received object or portion.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it frames human suffering within the context of divine sovereignty and care. In Psalm 55:22, the 'burden' is not dismissed but is recognized as something 'given' or permitted within God's providence. The command to cast it upon the LORD teaches that believers are to actively entrust their divinely allotted struggles to God, who sustains them. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this famous verse by emphasizing that our burdens are part of a purposeful relationship with a God who carries them with us.

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the concept of a 'lot' or 'portion' was deeply tied to ideas of fate and divine apportionment. While other cultures might view one's lot as fixed by impersonal forces, Israel's worldview held that Yahweh personally distributed circumstances. The use of יְהָב for 'burden' poetically reframes hardship not as mere misfortune, but as part of one's God-given experience, which can be surrendered back to Him.

מַשָּׂא (maśśā', H4853) — A more common term for 'burden,' often a literal load or a prophetic oracle of judgment. יְהָב is more personal and implies a bestowed portion. חֵלֶק (ḥēleq, H2506) — 'Portion' or 'share,' often of land or inheritance; יְהָב is the more abstract 'that which is given' as a situation. עֹל (ʿōl, H5923) — 'Yoke,' a symbol of submission or burden, often imposed; יְהָב focuses on the act of giving/receiving.

Word Details

Scripture References