דּוּב (duv)
duv
to pine
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb duv describes the physical wasting away that results from deep sorrow or longing. It is a rare word, appearing only once in the entire Old Testament in Leviticus 23:40. In this context, it characterizes the emotional state of the people during the Feast of Tabernacles, who are instructed to rejoice before the Lord with full hearts.
While its primary sense is to pine away or languish, the Hiphil stem can imply causing someone else to waste away through grief. The single biblical usage connects this feeling of hollow longing to a specific ritual act: gathering branches from goodly trees and palm fronds. The text suggests that true joy in worship requires an inner vitality that counters the spirit of despondency.
Translators typically render duv as "rejoice" or "be glad" in Leviticus 23:40, choosing a positive command over the literal negative image of pining. This translation choice highlights the theological intent: the ritual is designed to fill the void of sorrow with communal celebration. The word thus serves as a poignant reminder that worship addresses the human condition of longing by providing a tangible outlet for joy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word duv captures a profound sense of inner wasting, where deep sorrow or longing drains one’s vitality. It describes a physical and emotional hollowness that leaves a person feeling spent and despondent. This rare term appears in the Old Testament to highlight the human condition when joy is absent, leaving only a lingering ache for what is missing.
In Leviticus 26:16, this concept illustrates the devastating effects of turning away from God, where terror and illness cause the soul to pine away. Yet, the broader biblical narrative shows that true worship offers a remedy for this emptiness. By gathering in community and celebrating God’s provision, believers can counteract the spirit of despondency with tangible joy.
This word reminds us that our feelings of longing are real and seen by God. Worship is not just a ritual but a means to fill those hollow spaces with hope and communal strength. When we feel drained, we are invited to seek the Lord’s presence, allowing His joy to restore what sorrow has taken.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [which] make pine away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מְדִיבֹ֣ת1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 26:16
I also will do this to you: I will appoint terror over you, even consumption and fever, that shall consume the eyes, and make the soul to pine away. You will sow your seed in vain, for your enemies will eat it.
This verse uses duv to describe the soul pining away under the weight of terror and consumption, illustrating the physical toll of spiritual separation.