עָיֵף
𐤏𐤉𐤐
ʻâyêph
H5888 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be weary, exhausted, or faint due to exertion, hunger, thirst, or distress. Used both of physical weariness (from travel, battle, or lack of sustenance) and figurative exhaustion (mental or spiritual lack of strength).
Semantic Range
physically exhausted, faint from hunger or thirst, worn out from journeying, depleted from distress or hardship, spiritually or emotionally spent
Root / Etymology
From the root עיף, which conveys the sense of being faint, tired, or exhausted. This root formation denotes a state of depletion, whether physical or metaphorical. The word עָיֵף is primarily adjectival, describing one who is worn out or weak.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term עָיֵף appears in descriptions of individuals weakened by hunger, thirst, or arduous journeys (e.g., Genesis 25:29; Judges 8:15), as well as those worn down by oppressive circumstances. Its use is predominantly in Hebrew poetry and narrative, connoteing exhaustion from prolonged activity or deprivation. While sometimes translated simply as 'faint' or 'weary,' the Hebrew concept includes a broader sense of depletion and need, often anticipating the need for rest, food, or water. In prophetic or poetic contexts (e.g., Isaiah 28:12), עָיֵף may denote those spiritually or emotionally spent. Unlike related terms such as יָגֵעַ (yāgēa‘, 'toil-weary') which can stress weariness from labor, עָיֵף highlights the state of lacking strength as a result of hardship, deprivation, or distress rather than toil alone. Later translations sometimes render the term as 'weary' or 'faint,' but the underlying Hebrew nuance often has a more visceral and encompassing sense of exhaustion.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to languish; be wearied.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עיף (ʿ-y-p̄) — weariness, exhaustion, faintness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5889 | עָיֵף | weary one |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5888-01 |
עָיְפָ֥ה | ayefah | HVqp3fs |
fainteth | weary | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5888-01 |
Jeremiah 4:31 | עָיְפָ֥ה | ayefah | HVqp3fs |
fainteth | weary |