יָגָע (ya.ga)
ya.ga
toil
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yagaʿ refers to the tangible results or earnings produced by hard work. In biblical usage, it denotes the "gain" or "fruit" that comes from one’s labor, emphasizing the material outcome of effort rather than the act of working itself.
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 20:18. There, Zophar uses it to describe the wealth that a wicked person builds up, claiming it will ultimately be reclaimed or lost. The term highlights the temporary nature of such gains when they are not rooted in righteousness.
Its meaning is closely tied to the idea of productivity — what one reaps after sowing effort. While rare in Scripture, its singular occurrence carries significant weight, illustrating how biblical wisdom often questions the stability of wealth acquired through unjust means.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yagaʿ points to the tangible results of hard work—the gain or fruit that comes from effort. It shifts focus from the struggle of labor to what is actually produced. In Job 20:18, Zophar uses it to describe wealth built up by a wicked person, noting that such gains are ultimately reclaimed and lost.
This reminds us that true security does not come from accumulating material outcomes alone. When wealth is rooted in injustice, it lacks lasting stability. Instead, we find peace in knowing that our efforts, when aligned with righteousness, bear fruit that endures beyond temporary circumstances.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] gain1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָ֭גָע1×
Key Verses
-
Job 20:18
He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow it down. He will not rejoice according to the substance that he has gotten.
Zophar uses yagaʿ to show that ill-gotten wealth will be restored and lost, highlighting the instability of gains not rooted in righteousness.