יָעֵף (ya.aph)

ya.aph

to faint

H3286 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 9 verses

H:V

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 9 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:V

Word Overview

The Hebrew verb ya’eph describes a profound physical and spiritual exhaustion that leads to fainting or collapse. Occurring nine times in the Old Testament, it captures the moment when human strength is completely depleted. The sources indicate it is used primarily in the Qal stem to describe the active process of growing weary, though the Hophal form appears as a participle describing one who is already wearied.

This word carries significant weight in the prophetic literature, particularly in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk. It often depicts the desperation of people or nations facing overwhelming circumstances, where their resources are exhausted and they can no longer stand. The imagery is not merely of tiredness, but of a collapse under pressure, highlighting the limits of human endurance.

Translators typically render ya’eph as "faint" or "grow weary," preserving the sense of physical weakness that accompanies spiritual distress. Its usage in these books underscores a recurring biblical theme: when human strength fails, the need for divine intervention becomes acute. The word serves as a stark reminder of human fragility before the sovereignty of God.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

There are moments when we feel completely drained, not just in body but in spirit. The Hebrew word ya’eph captures this deep exhaustion, describing a state where human strength simply runs out. It is the feeling of collapse under pressure, acknowledging that we cannot sustain ourselves forever. Recognizing this limit is not a sign of weakness; it is an honest admission of our need for God.

In Isaiah 40:31, we are promised that those who wait on the Lord will not faint. This renewal does not come from pushing harder but from resting in His strength. When you feel like you have nothing left to give, remember that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. He offers rest and restoration when our own resources are gone.

This word reminds us that endurance comes from Him alone. Instead of striving to maintain our own energy, we can look to the Creator who never faints. In your seasons of fatigue, find comfort in knowing that His understanding is unsearchable and His care is constant. You do not have to carry the weight of the world by yourself.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.

they will grow weary2×
wearied1×
they grow weary1×
he grows weary1×
and/ they will grow weary1×
and/ they may grow weary1×
and/ they grow weary1×
and/ he grew weary1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

מֻעָ֣ף1×
יִעָֽפוּ\׃1×
יִיעָֽפוּ\׃\ \פ1×
יִיעָ֔פוּ1×
יִיעַ֖ף1×
וַ/יִּיעָֽף\׃1×
וְ/יָעֵֽפוּ\׃\ \ס1×
וְ/יָעֵ֑פוּ1×
וְ/יִֽעֲפ֥וּ1×

Key Verses

Isaiah 40:31
but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.

This verse contrasts human fainting with divine renewal, offering hope that waiting on God restores strength.
Isaiah 40:28
Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t faint. He isn’t weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

It establishes the foundation for human weakness by declaring that the Creator of the ends of the earth never faints.
Isaiah 44:12
The blacksmith takes an ax, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint.

This occurrence illustrates physical exhaustion through the image of a blacksmith whose strength fails from hunger and labor.
Habakkuk 2:13
Behold, isn’t it from Yahweh of Armies that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?

It highlights the futility of human effort when nations weary themselves building empires that ultimately serve no lasting purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word ya’eph mean?

Ya’eph means to faint, grow weary, or collapse due to exhaustion. It describes a profound depletion of strength, both physical and spiritual, where one can no longer continue under pressure.

How is ya’eph different from other words for tiredness?

While other Hebrew words might describe simple fatigue, ya’eph implies a more severe state of collapse or fainting. It suggests that human resources are completely spent and further effort is impossible without divine intervention.

Where does this word appear most often?

It appears nine times in the Old Testament, primarily in the prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk. These passages often use it to contrast human weakness with God’s enduring strength.

What is the spiritual significance of fainting in these verses?

The imagery of fainting serves as a reminder of human fragility and the need for reliance on God. It points to the truth that true endurance comes not from our own power but from waiting on the Lord.

Every Occurrence (9 verses across 4 books)

Isaiah 4 verses

Isaiah 40:28

Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t faint.…

Isaiah 40:30

Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall;

Isaiah 40:31

but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and…

Isaiah 44:12

The blacksmith takes an ax, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is…

Jeremiah 3 verses

Daniel 1 verse

Habakkuk 1 verse