עוּת (ut)
ut
to help
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ut appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Isaiah 50:4. In this specific context, it is generally understood to mean helping or succoring someone. The text describes the Lord God giving the speaker a tongue learned from Him, enabling him to sustain the weary with a word.
Lexical sources classify this as a rare and somewhat doubtful term, noting that its precise meaning remains uncertain outside of this single usage. While some translations render it simply as "help," others suggest nuances like hastening to aid. Its scarcity makes it difficult to determine if it carries a distinct theological weight or is merely a poetic variant for more common verbs of assistance.
Because it occurs in a passage often read as a prophecy of the suffering servant, ut highlights the practical nature of divine support. It suggests that helping involves not just action, but the right words spoken at the right time to restore strength to those who are tired and worn out by life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ut appears just once in the Old Testament, tucked into Isaiah 50:4. Here it describes how God equips His servant to help others. It is not about grand gestures or physical strength alone. Instead, it points to the power of a learned tongue—words spoken with care to sustain someone who is weary.
This offers a quiet comfort for your own life. When you feel too tired to speak, remember that God provides the right words at the right time. He awakens our ears to listen and gives us speech that brings rest to those around us. Helping is often as simple as being present and speaking truth gently.
May you find peace in knowing that divine support comes through practical means. Whether you are the one needing help or offering it, God’s grace is sufficient for every moment of weariness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ help1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לָ/ע֥וּת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 50:4
The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary. He awakens morning by morning, he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
This verse uses the word to describe how the Lord enables the servant to sustain the weary with learned words, highlighting the practical nature of divine support.