זָרַב

זָרַב

to flow away

Definition

The Hebrew verb זָרַב (zârab) means 'to flow away' or 'to be dried up.' In its single biblical occurrence in Job 6:17, it describes how streams of water vanish or disappear when the weather becomes hot. The imagery is of water sources that fail precisely when they are most needed. The KJV's translation 'wax warm' reflects an older understanding of the root, but modern lexicons and translations (like ESV, NIV) consistently render it as 'dry up,' 'vanish,' or 'cease' in this context, emphasizing the concept of disappearance or failure.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in the poetic book of Job. It appears in Job 6:17 within a powerful metaphor. Job, lamenting his suffering and the unreliability of his friends, compares them to seasonal streams that 'vanish' (זָרַב) when the heat comes and are of no use to thirsty travelers. The usage is entirely metaphorical, describing the failure of expected support or sustenance.

Etymology

זָרַב is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to drying up or vanishing. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Arabic 'zariba' (to dry up), support this sense. The older KJV translation 'wax warm' likely connected it to a different, though phonetically similar, root idea of heat causing the evaporation or disappearance.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, זָרַב carries significant theological weight in its context. It vividly illustrates the theme of unreliable human comfort in the face of profound suffering, a central issue in the Book of Job. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Job 6:14-21 by sharpening the contrast between God's reliable sustenance and the fleeting, disappointing nature of even well-intentioned human help that fails in a crisis. In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, seasonal wadis (streams) were critical water sources. They would flow with snowmelt in spring but completely dry up (זָרַב) in the summer heat. A traveler relying on such a stream for survival would face disaster. This concrete, life-or-death experience makes Job's metaphor immediately powerful to the original audience, contrasting starkly with a modern reader's more abstract understanding of 'unreliability.' יָבֵשׁ (yâbêsh, H3001) — means to be dry, withered, or dried up, often used for land or plants; more general than זָרַב, which implies a flowing thing ceasing. חָרַב (chârab, H2717) — means to be waste, desolate, or dried up; often used for land or cities, carrying a stronger sense of ruin.

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