### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb `{{H1669}}` (dâʼab) is a primitive root, conveying a deep and internal state of distress. Its core meaning encompasses "to pine," "to mourn," and "to sorrow," often implying a gradual wasting away or languishing due to intense emotional or psychological anguish. The semantic range of dâʼab extends beyond mere sadness to include a profound, often protracted, internal suffering that can lead to physical debilitation or a sense of one's very being dissolving under the weight of grief or anxiety. It describes a soul that is consumed by sorrow, losing its vitality and strength.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H1669}}` appears in several poignant contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible, consistently highlighting a state of deep suffering:
* In [[Deuteronomy 28:65]], dâʼab is used to describe the "pining soul" (וְדָאֲבָה נֶפֶשׁ) that will afflict the disobedient Israelites among the nations. Here, it signifies a profound, internal anguish and despair that results from divine judgment and the absence of rest or security. It speaks to a soul consumed by fear and anxiety.
* [[1 Samuel 2:33]] features dâʼab in a prophecy of judgment against Eli's house: "The man of you whom I do not cut off from my altar shall be left to pine away with grief" (לְדָאֲבָה נֶפֶשׁ). This passage portrays a slow, agonizing demise, a life consumed by sorrow and the consequences of divine displeasure, rather than a swift end.
* In [[Psalm 119:28]], the psalmist cries out, "My soul melts away from sorrow" (דָּלְפָה נַפְשִׁי מִתּוּגָה דָּאֲבָה). While some translations render this with different verbs, the root dâʼab here vividly depicts a soul so overwhelmed by grief that it feels as if it is dissolving or wasting away. It is an intense expression of personal anguish, seeking strength from God's word.
* [[Jeremiah 31:12]] uses dâʼab in a prophetic promise of future restoration: "and they shall languish no more" (וְלֹא יוֹסִיפוּ לְדַאֲבָה). This verse offers a stark contrast, portraying a future state of flourishing and joy where the previous condition of pining away due to suffering and exile will be completely absent. It points to a time of complete healing and peace.
* [[Lamentations 4:9]] employs dâʼab to describe those who "wasted away" (הַמְדֻקָּרִים מִתְּנוּבֹת שָׂדַי דָּאֲבוּ) from hunger during the siege of Jerusalem. This context directly links the word to physical emaciation and death caused by severe deprivation, illustrating the literal "pining away" of the body due to extreme suffering.
Across these occurrences, `{{H1669}}` consistently points to a deep, internal, and often prolonged state of suffering, whether emotional, psychological, or physical, frequently as a consequence of sin, divine judgment, or the harsh realities of a fallen world.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of profound sorrow and wasting away expressed by `{{H1669}}` resonates with several other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **`{{H594}}` ('ābal):** "to mourn, lament." While dâʼab emphasizes the internal pining, ābal often describes the outward expressions and rituals of mourning.
* **`{{H603}}` ('ānah):** "to be afflicted, humbled, oppressed." This term often describes external circumstances leading to suffering, which can then induce the internal state of dâʼab.
* **`{{H3014}}` (yāgon):** "sorrow, grief" (noun). This noun captures the emotional state that dâʼab describes as an action or process.
* **`{{H6045}}` ('ātsab):** "to grieve, pain, hurt." This verb can refer to both emotional and physical pain, often leading to the pining described by dâʼab.
* **`{{H4523}}` (makh'ob):** "pain, sorrow" (noun). A general term for suffering, which can be the cause or result of the dâʼab state.
* **Concepts:** Despair, anguish, lamentation, affliction, languishing, wasting away, and the physical and emotional consequences of divine judgment or severe hardship. The antonyms would include joy, peace, flourishing, and restoration (shalom).
### Theological Significance
The word `{{H1669}}` carries significant theological weight, illuminating several aspects of God's character, human experience, and redemptive history:
* **Divine Judgment and Consequences:** The frequent appearance of dâʼab in contexts of divine judgment ([[Deuteronomy 28:65]], [[1 Samuel 2:33]]) underscores the severe and internal consequences of disobedience. It reveals that God's discipline is not merely external punishment but can lead to a profound, soul-deep anguish and a gradual spiritual and physical decline. This highlights the seriousness of sin and the natural, painful separation from the source of life and blessing.
* **The Reality of Human Suffering:** dâʼab vividly portrays the depth of human suffering in a fallen world. Whether due to famine ([[Lamentations 4:9]]) or overwhelming personal grief ([[Psalm 119:28]]), the word acknowledges the profound pain and vulnerability inherent in the human condition. It validates the experience of deep sorrow and the feeling of being consumed by it.
* **Lament and Dependence on God:** The psalmist's cry in [[Psalm 119:28]] demonstrates that even in the deepest state of pining, there is an avenue for honest lament and an appeal to God for strength. This shows that the experience of dâʼab does not preclude faith but can, in fact, drive individuals to greater dependence on divine intervention and the sustaining power of God's word.
* **Eschatological Hope and Restoration:** Perhaps most powerfully, the promise in [[Jeremiah 31:12]] that God's people "shall languish no more" points directly to the eschatological hope of complete restoration. This signifies a future where sorrow, suffering, and the wasting away of the soul will be utterly abolished. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in the redemptive work of Christ, who bears our sorrows, and in the coming new heavens and new earth, where God will wipe away every tear. The absence of dâʼab is a hallmark of true shalom and eternal blessedness.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb `{{H1669}}` (dâʼab) is a potent term signifying "to pine," "to mourn," or "to sorrow," consistently conveying a deep, internal, and often prolonged state of emotional or physical wasting away. Its biblical usage, as seen in [[Deuteronomy 28:65]] and [[1 Samuel 2:33]], frequently links it to the severe consequences of divine judgment, illustrating a soul consumed by anguish due to disobedience. The word also powerfully describes intense personal grief that feels as though it is dissolving one's very being, as in [[Psalm 119:28]], or the literal physical deterioration caused by extreme hardship, as depicted in [[Lamentations 4:9]]. Theologically, dâʼab underscores the gravity of sin's effects and the profound reality of human suffering in a fallen world. Yet, it also points to the ultimate hope of redemption and restoration, as promised in [[Jeremiah 31:12]], where God's people will "languish no more," signifying a future state of complete peace and the absence of all sorrow through His sovereign grace.
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