יָגָה (ya.gah)
ya.gah
to suffer
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb yāgâ describes a deep, internal state of affliction or grief. It is not merely surface-level sadness but conveys the weight of suffering that presses upon the soul. In Scripture, it appears in eight verses, most frequently in Lamentations and Job, where characters articulate profound pain.
Its usage spans several grammatical forms. The Niphal stem often describes someone who is grieving or afflicted, while the Hiphil indicates causing sorrow to another. This range allows the word to capture both the experience of personal distress and the act of inflicting it, reflecting the complex nature of human suffering in the biblical narrative.
Translators typically render yāgâ as "to suffer," "to grieve," or "to be afflicted." Its presence in books like Zephaniah highlights its theological weight, connecting personal pain with divine judgment. The word invites readers to understand grief not as a fleeting emotion but as a significant condition of the heart.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels heavy, it is easy to believe that your pain is invisible or meaningless. The Hebrew word yāgâ names this deep, internal weight of suffering. It describes a grief that presses on the soul, not just a surface-level sadness. In the Bible, characters like Job and the writers of Lamentations used this word to describe their profound distress. They did not hide their pain; they brought it before God.
This word reminds us that our suffering is seen. It appears in verses where people feel crushed by words or circumstances. Yet, even in these dark moments, the text shows that God hears the cry of the afflicted. You do not have to carry this weight alone. Your pain matters to Him, and He invites you to bring your honest feelings to Him.
There is hope in this truth. The same God who allows for seasons of grief also promises compassion. Lamentations 3:32 tells us that while He may cause grief, He acts with loving kindness. This means your suffering is not the final word. You are held by a God who understands pain and offers mercy. Let this bring you peace as you walk through difficult times.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he has caused grief2×
- will you torment/ !1×
- he has caused grief/ to her1×
- and/ he has grieved1×
- [those] grieved1×
- [those who] torment/ you1×
- [are] grieving1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תּוֹגְי֣וּ/ן1×
- נוּגֵ֧י1×
- נּוּג֖וֹת1×
- מוֹגַ֔יִ/ךְ1×
- וַ/יַּגֶּ֖ה1×
- הוֹגָ֣ה1×
- הוֹגָ֖/הּ1×
- הוֹגָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Lamentations 3:32
For though he causes grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
This verse clarifies that divine affliction is never permanent, as God's compassion follows grief according to His steadfast love.
-
Job 19:2
“How long will you torment me, and crush me with words?
Here the word describes the intense personal torment Job feels from his friends' harsh words, showing how yāgâ captures deep emotional pain.
-
Lamentations 3:33
For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
This occurrence emphasizes that God does not afflict people willingly or take pleasure in the sorrow of humanity.