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יָבֵשׁ

𐤉𐤁𐤔

yâbêsh

H3002 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root יבש to be dry, to wither, to become parched

Definition

Adjective describing a state lacking moisture, parched, or withered; used of land, vegetation, objects, and on rare occasions bodily parts, indicating absence of fluid or life-giving sap. Its primary sense is physical dryness or desiccation, and by extension, may refer metaphorically to lifelessness, barrenness, or impotence.

Semantic Range

dry, dried, withered, parched, lifeless (poetic or metaphorical), lacking fluid; can refer to land, vegetation, objects, body parts

Root / Etymology

From the root יבש meaning 'to be dry, wither, become parched.' The adjective יָבֵשׁ directly expresses the state resulting from the action of the root, denoting an object (land, plant, flesh, etc.) in a dried-out or withered condition.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יָבֵשׁ is most commonly used in reference to parched or dry land (e.g., Genesis 8:14, Exodus 14:16), dry vegetation or branches (Ezekiel 17:9–10, Psalms 22:16), and occasionally in anthropomorphic or metaphorical senses: describing withered body parts (1 Kings 13:4, Zechariah 11:17) or expressing the loss of vitality (Isaiah 40:7). The term may also appear in parallel with words like צָח (parched) for poetic emphasis. Ancient translations, such as the Septuagint, render it with Greek words for 'dry' (ξηρός) or 'withered.' It is distinct from אָרֵץ ('land, earth'), focusing not on land per se but its condition; also, from חָרֵב ('desolate, dry'), which can express more permanent devastation. In post-biblical Hebrew, the term continues to denote dryness in both literal and figurative senses. English translations as 'dry' or 'dried' are adequate for most contexts, but may not capture the nuance of lifelessness sometimes implied in poetic or prophetic passages. In ritual or legal contexts (e.g., Leviticus), 'dried' may signal ineligibility for cultic use due to lack of freshness or vitality. No significant semantic shift between earlier and later biblical periods is attested.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָבֵשׁ; dry; dried (away), dry.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יבש (y-b-sh) — to be dry, wither, become parched

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3001 יָבֵשׁ to dry up
H3003 יָבֵשׁ in Yabesh
H3004 יַבָּשָׁה on the dry land
H3006 יַבֶּשֶׁת parched ground
H3007 יַבֶּשֶׁת the dry land

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3002-03 יָבֵֽשׁ yavesh HAamsa dry he dried up 5
H3002-02 וִ/יבֵשִׁ֖ים viveshim HC/Aampa or dried parched ones 1
H3002-01 הַ/יְבֵשׁ֔וֹת hayeveshot HTd/Aafpa dry the parched ones 1
H3002-04 יְבֵשָׁ֖ה yeveshah HAafsa is dried up parched 1
H3002-05 יְבֵשׁ֥וֹת yeveshot HAafpa they were dry parched ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3002-02 Numbers 6:3 וִ/יבֵשִׁ֖ים viveshim HC/Aampa or dried parched ones
H3002-04 Numbers 11:6 יְבֵשָׁ֖ה yeveshah HAafsa is dried up parched
H3002-03 Isaiah 56:3 יָבֵֽשׁ yavesh HAamsa dry he dried up
H3002-03 Ezekiel 17:24 יָבֵ֑שׁ yavesh HAamsa dry he dried up
H3002-03 Ezekiel 21:3 יָבֵ֤שׁ yavesh HAamsa dry he dried up
H3002-05 Ezekiel 37:2 יְבֵשׁ֥וֹת yeveshot HAafpa they were dry parched ones
H3002-01 Ezekiel 37:4 הַ/יְבֵשׁ֔וֹת hayeveshot HTd/Aafpa dry the parched ones
H3002-03 Nahum 1:10 יָבֵ֖שׁ yavesh HAamsa dry he dried up
H3002-03 Job 13:25 יָבֵ֣שׁ yavesh HAamsa dry he dried up
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