רָזוֹן (ra.zon)
ra.zon
leanness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun rāzôn describes a state of physical emaciation or wasting away, often resulting from disease or severe malnutrition. It conveys more than simple thinness; it implies a hollowed-out condition where the body has lost its substance and strength. The word appears in contexts that highlight vulnerability, such as when nations are stripped of their resources or people suffer from illness.
Its usage extends beyond physical health to include scarcity. In some passages, it describes a lack of provisions or a shortage of food, linking bodily weakness directly to external deprivation. For instance, Isaiah uses the term to depict the desolation that follows judgment, where the land itself seems to wither and lose its vitality (Isaiah 3:1). This connection between physical wasting and material scarcity underscores how deeply intertwined health and provision were in the ancient worldview.
Translators typically render rāzôn as "leanness" or "wasting," though these English words can feel clinical. The Hebrew carries a heavier emotional weight, evoking pity and alarm. It serves as a stark reminder of human fragility when stripped of sustenance and strength, appearing in Psalms to express the psalmist’s own suffering or the nation’s collective plight (Psalm 109:18).
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word rāzôn describes a deep physical wasting, where the body loses its substance and strength. It goes beyond simple thinness to show a hollowed-out condition caused by severe lack or disease. In ancient times, this term highlighted how vulnerable people become when stripped of their resources and vitality.
This word reminds us that our well-being is tied to God’s provision. When the land withers or food runs out, it reflects a deeper spiritual reality. The psalmist used it to express both personal suffering and national crisis, showing how closely health and sustenance are connected in Scripture.
Even in times of scarcity, we can find hope. God sees our fragility and cares for those who trust Him. This word invites us to rely on His faithfulness rather than our own strength, knowing that He provides what we truly need.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- scantness1×
- leanness1×
- a wasting disease1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רָז֣וֹן1×
- רָז֖וֹן1×
- רָז֑וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 106:15
He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
This verse shows how God allowed leanness into the soul as a consequence of Israel's greed, linking physical wasting to spiritual rebellion.
-
Isaiah 10:16
Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire.
Here, leanness is sent among the proud leaders of Assyria, demonstrating that God humbles those who rely on their own power and wealth.
-
Micah 6:10
Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed?
The prophet uses leanness to describe the suffering caused by dishonest weights and wickedness, showing how injustice leads to communal wasting.