תּוּגָה (tu.gah)
tu.gah
grief
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tugah describes a state of deep grief or heaviness, often carrying a poetic weight in the biblical text. It appears only four times in Scripture, primarily within the wisdom literature of Proverbs and the lamentations of Psalms. The term captures an internal sense of sorrow that presses upon the spirit, suggesting a burden that weighs down the heart rather than just an outward display of crying.
Its usage highlights the physical sensation of emotional pain. In Proverbs 15:13, for instance, joy is linked to a glad heart, while tugah is associated with a broken spirit, illustrating how sorrow can fracture one’s inner stability. Similarly, in Psalm 77:2, the psalmist speaks of his soul refusing to be comforted during times of intense tugah, showing this word as a descriptor for prolonged, heavy-hearted distress that resists easy relief.
Translators typically render tugah as "grief," "heaviness," or "sorrow" depending on the context. The distinction lies in its focus on the internal pressure of sadness. Unlike words that might describe temporary shock, tugah implies a lingering weight. This lexical choice helps readers understand the biblical view of sorrow not merely as an emotion, but as a tangible force that affects the whole person.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tugah describes a heavy, internal pressure of sorrow that settles deep within the spirit. It is not merely a fleeting feeling of sadness, but a tangible weight that can make even laughter feel hollow and joy difficult to sustain. This term appears in Scripture to acknowledge that grief is a real, physical burden that affects our whole being.
When you encounter this heaviness, you are in good company with the biblical writers. The psalmist and the wise men of old did not hide their pain; they brought it before God. Recognizing tugah helps us understand that sorrow is not a sign of weak faith, but a human reality that invites us to lean on divine strength rather than trying to carry the load alone.
This perspective offers comfort because it validates your experience. You do not need to pretend everything is fine when your heart feels fractured. Instead, you can bring this specific weight to God, trusting that He sees the depth of your distress and is close to those who are burdened.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ grief1×
- from/ grief1×
- [may be] grief1×
- [is] [the] grief of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תוּגָֽה\׃1×
- תּוּגַ֥ת1×
- מִ/תּוּגָ֑ה1×
- לְ/ת֣וּגָה1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:28
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
The psalmist explicitly asks for strength because this specific grief has made his soul weary, linking the weight of sorrow directly to a need for divine support.
-
Proverbs 14:13
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
This verse highlights the deceptive nature of tugah by showing how it can linger as heaviness even when outward mirth is present, revealing the internal reality of the heart.
-
Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Here the word illustrates the deep relational pain and burden that foolish behavior places on a parent, showing how grief can stem from family dynamics.