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יָגַע

𐤉𐤂𐤏

yâgaʻ

H3021 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To labor diligently or strive, often to the point of weariness or exhaustion; to work hard, exert oneself strenuously. The semantic range covers both the physical act of toiling or laboring, and the resultant state of becoming weary or exhausted from sustained effort. At times, it can connote psychological or emotional fatigue resulting from persistent striving or struggle.

Semantic Range

to labor, to toil, to work with effort or struggle, to grow weary, to become exhausted, to make weary, to tire out, to be or become fatigued (physically, emotionally, or spiritually); can also carry sense of striving or struggling

Root / Etymology

Root: יגע (y-g-ʻ). The core meaning relates to physical effort or exertion. The verb יָגַע derives from this root and primarily denotes the act of working or striving laboriously, with a frequent focus on the resulting fatigue. The root is rare, with few derivative nouns (e.g., יְגִיעַ, 'labor, what is gained by labor').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, יָגַע occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible, most frequently in poetic and prophetic texts. It describes both literal toil (such as agricultural work or other forms of manual labor) and metaphorical exertion (striving for wisdom, struggling against adversity, or the futility of unending effort). The word is used to characterize the burdensome nature of life in Ecclesiastes, the difficult labor of exiles or the oppressed in prophetic or historical narratives, and the diligence expected of the righteous in wisdom literature. English translations often use 'weary,' 'labor,' or 'toil,' but these may not always capture the sense of exhaustion or struggle implied. Unlike עָמַל (ʻamal), which emphasizes the hardship or pain associated with work, יָגַע accentuates the exhausting outcome, whether from labor, travel, or emotional striving. In later Hebrew, the root continues to denote intense effort or laborious pursuit, but the emotional sense of fatigue also becomes more prominent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to gasp; hence, to be exhausted, to tire, to toil; faint, (make to) labour, (be) weary.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

יגע (yᵉgîyaʻ) — to toil, labor, become weary

Root יגע to labor, to exert, to become weary, to grow tired
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3018 יְגִיעַ and from his toil-product
H3019 יָגִיעַ toil-wearied ones of
H3022 יָגָע toil-gain
H3023 יָגֵעַ and toil-wearied
H3024 יְגִעָה weariness of

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3021-11 יָגַ֖עַתְּ yagaate HVqp2fs you have labored you labored hard you labored hard 4
H3021-14 יָגַ֔עְתִּי yagaeti HVqp1cs I am weary I have toiled hard I am weary 4
H3021-10 וְ/יִֽיגְע֤וּ veyigeu HC/Vqi3mp and labor and they will toil and they will toil 2
H3021-13 יָגַ֥עְתָּ yagaeta HVqp2ms you have been weary you have labored strenuously you have become weary 2
H3021-01 הוֹגָ֑עְנוּ hogaenu HVhp1cp have we wearied we have made weary we have made weary 1
H3021-02 הוֹגַעְתַּ֖/נִי hogaetani HVhp2ms/Sp1cs you wearied me you have wearied me you have wearied me 1
H3021-03 הוֹגַעְתֶּ֤ם hogaetem HVhp2mp you have wearied you have made weary you have made weary 1
H3021-04 הוֹגַעְתִּ֖י/ךָ hogaetikha HVhp1cs/Sp2ms I-wearied/you I have wearied you I have wearied you 1
H3021-05 אִיגָֽע iga HVqi1cs do I labor I toil do I labor 1
H3021-06 תְּיַגַּע teyaga HVpj2ms weary may you weary you weary 1

Occurrences in Scripture

26 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3021-06 Joshua 7:3 תְּיַגַּע teyaga HVpj2ms weary may you weary you weary
H3021-13 Joshua 24:13 יָגַ֣עְתָּ yagaeta HVqp2ms you labored you have labored strenuously you labored strenuously
H3021-15 2 Samuel 23:10 יָגְעָ֣ה yageah HVqp3fs was-weary she labored to exhaustion she labored to exhaustion
H3021-16 Isaiah 40:28 יִיגָ֑ע yiga HVqi3ms weary he touches it will grow faint
H3021-09 Isaiah 40:30 וְ/יִגָ֑עוּ veyigau HC/Vqi3mp and be weary and they will toil and they will become weary
H3021-17 Isaiah 40:31 יִיגָ֔עוּ yigau HVqi3mp be weary they will grow weary they will grow weary
H3021-13 Isaiah 43:22 יָגַ֥עְתָּ yagaeta HVqp2ms you have been weary you have labored strenuously you have become weary
H3021-04 Isaiah 43:23 הוֹגַעְתִּ֖י/ךָ hogaetikha HVhp1cs/Sp2ms I-wearied/you I have wearied you I have wearied you
H3021-02 Isaiah 43:24 הוֹגַעְתַּ֖/נִי hogaetani HVhp2ms/Sp1cs you wearied me you have wearied me you have wearied me
H3021-11 Isaiah 47:12 יָגַ֖עַתְּ yagaate HVqp2fs you have labored you labored hard you have labored
H3021-11 Isaiah 47:15 יָגָ֑עַתְּ yagaate HVqp2fs you-labored you labored hard you labored hard
H3021-14 Isaiah 49:4 יָגַ֔עְתִּי yagaeti HVqp1cs I have labored I have toiled hard I have toiled hard
H3021-11 Isaiah 57:10 יָגַ֔עַתְּ yagaate HVqp2fs you were wearied you labored hard you were wearied
H3021-11 Isaiah 62:8 יָגַ֖עַתְּ yagaate HVqp2fs you have labored you labored hard you labored hard
H3021-18 Isaiah 65:23 יִֽיגְעוּ֙ yigeu HVqi3mp they shall labor they will toil they will toil
H3021-14 Jeremiah 45:3 יָגַ֨עְתִּי֙ yagaeti HVqp1cs I am weary I have toiled hard I have toiled hard
H3021-10 Jeremiah 51:58 וְ/יִֽגְע֨וּ veyigeu HC/Vqi3mp and shall labor and they will toil and they will toil
H3021-10 Habakkuk 2:13 וְ/יִֽיגְע֤וּ veyigeu HC/Vqi3mp and labor and they will toil and they will toil
H3021-03 Malachi 2:17 הוֹגַעְתֶּ֤ם hogaetem HVhp2mp you have wearied you have made weary you have made weary
H3021-01 Malachi 2:17 הוֹגָ֑עְנוּ hogaenu HVhp1cp have we wearied we have made weary we have made weary
H3021-14 Psalms 6:7 יָגַ֤עְתִּי yagaeti HVqp1cs I am weary I have toiled hard I am weary
H3021-14 Psalms 69:4 יָגַ֣עְתִּי yagaeti HVqp1cs I am weary I have toiled hard I am weary
H3021-08 Proverbs 23:4 תִּיגַ֥ע tiga HVqj2ms weary yourself she touches weary yourself
H3021-05 Job 9:29 אִיגָֽע iga HVqi1cs do I labor I toil do I labor
H3021-12 Lamentations 5:5 יָגַ֖עְנוּ yagaenu HVqp1cp we are weary we have labored to weariness we have labored to weariness
H3021-07 Ecclesiastes 10:15 תְּיַגְּעֶ֑/נּוּ teyageenu HVpi3fs/Sp3ms wearies-him she will wear him out it will wear him out
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