יְגִיעַ (ye.gi.a)
ye.gi.a
toil
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yeqi‘a describes the physical and mental effort of labor, often carrying the nuance of weariness or toil. It appears fourteen times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic books like Psalms and Job, as well as in Jeremiah. Rather than simply meaning "work" in a neutral sense, it frequently highlights the strain and exhaustion that accompany human industry.
A key distinction lies in its dual usage: it can refer to the act of labor itself or, by extension, the product acquired through that effort. This range allows translators to render it variously as "toil," "labor," or "gain." The word often appears in contexts where the value of such work is questioned, suggesting that the fruits of one's sweat may be fleeting or uncertain.
Its theological weight emerges in passages that contrast human striving with divine provision. For instance, in Psalm 127:2, the text notes that it is vain to rise early and stay up late for "toil" if God does not provide. This usage underscores a central biblical theme: while work is inherent to human life, its ultimate security and meaning depend on God rather than on the intensity of one's own efforts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When you look at the Hebrew word yeqi‘a, you are looking at a term that captures the heavy reality of toil. It is not just neutral work; it carries the weight of exhaustion and the strain of effort. The Bible does not shy away from this truth. In places like Job and Psalms, we see how labor can feel futile or worn down by hardship. This honesty in Scripture validates your own feelings when work feels overwhelming or unrewarding.
Yet this word also points to a deeper hope. Psalm 128:2 offers a gentle reminder that you will eat the fruit of your hands and find well-being. The text suggests that while our efforts are real, their ultimate security comes from God’s blessing rather than just our own strength. This shifts the focus from striving for control to trusting in divine provision.
Ultimately, yeqi‘a invites us to examine what we value. Is our labor a source of anxiety or a gift to be received with gratitude? By acknowledging the weariness of toil, we can find peace in knowing that our worth is not tied to our productivity. God sees your effort and cares for the weary worker.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] toil of3×
- [the] product of2×
- toil/ your1×
- property/ its1×
- property/ his1×
- labor/ its1×
- and/ toil/ your1×
- and/ from/ property/ his1×
- and/ [the] result of toil/ their1×
- [the] result of toil/ your1×
- [the] produce of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְגִ֥יעַ2×
- יְגִ֣יעַ2×
- יְגִיעֽ/וֹ\׃1×
- יְגִיעָ֣/הּ1×
- יְגִיעָ֖/הּ1×
- יְגִיעֶֽ/ךָ\׃1×
- יְגִ֨יעַ1×
- יְגִ֧יַע1×
- יְגִ֣יעֲ/ךָ֔1×
- וּ/מִ֣/יגִיע֔/וֹ1×
- וִֽ֝/יגִיעָ֗/ם1×
- וִ/יגִיעֲ/כֶ֖ם1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 128:2
For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you.
This verse connects the labor of your hands directly to personal well-being, offering a rare positive affirmation of toil as a source of blessing.
-
Job 39:11
Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?
Here the word highlights the transfer of trust from human strength to divine capability, questioning whether we can rely on our own labor alone.
-
Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in richness.
The text uses this term to contrast futile striving with the satisfaction found in God’s provision, urging a shift in where we seek fulfillment.
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Genesis 31:42
Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.”
Jacob references this toil as evidence of his faithful service, showing how labor can serve as a witness to God’s presence and justice.