יְעָף
𐤉𐤏𐤐
yᵉʻâph
H3288 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Physical or mental weariness, especially fatigue experienced after exertion or journeying. The term can also denote a state of exhaustion or faintness, often encountered in poetic or prophetic contexts to depict extreme tiredness, sometimes as a result of hardship or flight.
Semantic Range
weariness, exhaustion, fatigue, faintness (physical or mental), utter depletion
Root / Etymology
Formed from the root יָעַף (yaʻaf), meaning 'to be weary' or 'to faint.' The nominal form יְעָף derives from this root, denoting the state or result of becoming weary or exhausted. The root י-ע-ף primarily expresses the notion of weariness or faintness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יְעָף appears infrequently in biblical Hebrew, primarily in poetic or prophetic passages such as Isaiah 40:29-30, describing the exhaustion of young men in contrast to divine strength. The term serves to emphasize the limits of human endurance. Later Jewish exegetical tradition sometimes broadens its nuance to mean exhaustion from spiritual or emotional trial. The word is sometimes rendered as 'utterly exhausted' or 'faint' in English translations, though some older versions paraphrase it with more interpretive terms. While יָעַף as a verb refers to the process of becoming weary, יְעָף as a noun signifies the resultant state of exhaustion or fatigue. It is contextually distinct from terms for other forms of affliction (such as רָעָב 'hunger' or צָמָא 'thirst'), focusing specifically on weariness or faintness due to exertion or circumstances, rather than deprivation. The root does not have the broader semantic field associated with 'swift flight' as in some related roots, and the sense of 'swiftly' in some translations likely arises from contextual inference rather than core semantics. Standard translations may not always capture the full nuance of utter depletion the term conveys in Hebrew rhetoric.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָעַף; fatigue (adverb, utterly exhausted); swiftly.e
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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יעף (y-ʿ-p̄) — to be weary, to faint, to exhaust
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3288-01 |
בִּ/יעָ֔ף | biaf | HR/Ncmsa |
swiftly | weariness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3288-01 |
Daniel 9:21 | בִּ/יעָ֔ף | biaf | HR/Ncmsa |
swiftly | weariness |