הֶ֫גֶה (he.geh)
he.geh
moaning
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun hegeh describes a low, guttural sound such as a rumble, growl, or moan. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, each time capturing a moment of intense physical or emotional distress. In Job 41:20, it refers to the terrifying roar of Leviathan’s nostrils, evoking a primal, animalistic power that shakes the air around the creature.
In Psalm 39:3, the word takes on a deeply human dimension. The psalmist speaks of his heart heating up until he begins to hegeh—a moan or sigh that escapes before he can speak. This usage highlights how unexpressed grief or anger can build internally until it forces its way out as an involuntary sound.
Unlike words for loud cries or prayers, hegeh suggests something suppressed and heavy. It is the sound of pressure seeking release, whether from a mythical beast or a restrained human heart. Translators often render it as "moaning" or "growling," depending on whether the context emphasizes fear or sorrow.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hegeh describes a low, guttural sound, like a moan or a heavy sigh that escapes when words fail us. It appears in Psalm 90:9, where the psalmist reflects on how our days pass away in God's wrath and end as a sigh. This captures the exhaustion of life under pressure, where grief or anger builds internally until it forces its way out as an involuntary sound.
When you feel overwhelmed by circumstances, this word reminds you that your pain is seen. You do not need to compose perfect prayers when you are weary. Sometimes, a simple sigh before God is enough. He hears the heavy sounds of your heart even when you cannot find the right words to speak.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] rumbling1×
- a sigh1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ֝/הֶ֗גֶה1×
- הֶֽגֶה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 90:9
For all our days have passed away in your wrath. We bring our years to an end as a sigh.
This verse uses hegeh to describe how human life ends as a sigh, highlighting the weight of mortality and divine judgment.