דָּאֵב (da.av)
da.av
to languish
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb da’av describes a state of becoming faint or languishing, capturing the physical and emotional exhaustion that follows prolonged distress. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times within the book of Jeremiah, where it paints a vivid picture of a people worn down by their circumstances.
In Jeremiah 14:7, the word is used to describe the nation’s guilt as something that has made them "faint" or weak. This usage suggests that their spiritual failure has resulted in a tangible depletion of strength, leaving them unable to stand firm. The term conveys more than simple tiredness; it implies a weakening of spirit and body due to sustained pressure.
The rarity of this word highlights its specific emotional weight. By choosing da’av, the biblical author emphasizes the depth of the community’s despair, showing how sin can drain vitality and leave individuals or nations feeling hollow and exhausted. This linguistic choice underscores the serious consequences of turning away from faith, portraying it not just as a moral error but as a source of profound weakness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word da’av captures a deep sense of languishing or fainting under pressure. It describes more than simple tiredness; it points to a state where spirit and body weaken from sustained distress. In Jeremiah, this term highlights how prolonged hardship can drain vitality, leaving people feeling hollow and unable to stand firm.
When life feels heavy and your strength is fading, this word reminds you that such exhaustion is real and seen. It acknowledges the weight of sin or suffering without offering quick fixes. Instead, it points toward a God who notices when we are worn down and offers restoration for those who feel depleted.
Even in moments of deep weariness, there is hope. The same God who sees our languishing also promises to satisfy the weary soul. You do not have to carry this burden alone, as divine grace meets us in our weakest moments with renewal and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ languish1×
- [who] it has become faint1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/דַאֲבָ֖ה1×
- דָּאֲבָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 31:25
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”
This verse explicitly links the concept of being weary or faint to God's action of satiating and replenishing the soul, showing that divine satisfaction is the remedy for spiritual languishing.
-
Jeremiah 31:12
They will come and sing in the height of Zion, and will flow to the goodness of Yahweh, to the grain, to the new wine, to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd. Their soul will be as a watered garden. They will not sorrow any more at all.
While this verse describes the result of restoration rather than the languishing itself, it contrasts the previous state of sorrow with the joy of a soul like a watered garden, illustrating the fullness that replaces emptiness.