### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun דְּאָבוֹן (dᵉʼâbôwn, `{{H1671}}`) is derived from the verbal root דָּאַב (dāʾaḇ, `{{H1672}}`), which signifies to languish, pine, or be faint. As a noun, dᵉʼâbôwn encapsulates a profound and debilitating state of distress. Its core meaning extends beyond mere sadness to describe a deep, prolonged "pining" or "sorrow" that suggests a wasting away, a soul-wearying grief that saps vitality. It implies a condition of being consumed by internal anguish, rather than a transient emotion. This is a sorrow that penetrates to the very core of one's being, leading to a profound sense of despair and an internal decay.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The noun דְּאָבוֹן (dᵉʼâbôwn, `{{H1671}}`) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, making its sole occurrence particularly poignant and significant.
* **[[Deuteronomy 28:65]]**: "And among these nations you shall find no ease, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and **pining of soul** (דְּאָבוֹן נֶפֶשׁ)."
This verse is situated within the extensive list of curses for covenant disobedience, a dire warning to Israel should they abandon the LORD their God. The phrase "דְּאָבוֹן נֶפֶשׁ" (dᵉʼâbôwn nephesh), literally "pining of soul," describes a severe and internal consequence of divine judgment. It is not merely physical discomfort or external hardship, but a deep-seated psychological and spiritual torment. The context portrays a people in exile, without rest or security, whose external displacement is mirrored by an internal state of perpetual anguish. The "pining of soul" suggests a continuous, debilitating despair that drains life and hope, a profound spiritual sickness resulting from separation from God's blessing and presence.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root from which דְּאָבוֹן (dᵉʼâbôwn, `{{H1671}}`) is derived: דָּאַב (dāʾaḇ, `{{H1672}}`). This verb occurs in several passages, each illuminating aspects of the noun's meaning:
* **[[Psalm 38:8]]**: "I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the anguish (דָּאַב) of my heart." Here, it describes intense internal pain.
* **[[Lamentations 1:22]]**: "Let all their wickedness come before You, and do to them as You have done to me for all my transgressions; for my groans are many, and my heart is faint (דָּאַב)." This highlights the physical and emotional exhaustion accompanying grief.
* **[[Ezekiel 12:19]]**: "And say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with dismay (דָּאַב), so that her land may be stripped of all that is in it, because of the violence of all those who dwell in it.’" This context emphasizes the despair and dread associated with judgment.
Other Hebrew words for sorrow or grief, such as עֶצֶב (ʿetsev, `{{H6093}}`), יָגוֹן (yagon, `{{H3015}}`), or אֵבֶל (evel, `{{H60}}`), carry similar semantic weight. However, דְּאָבוֹן (`{{H1671}}`) stands out by emphasizing a continuous, wasting away or languishing of the soul, a deep internal decay caused by prolonged distress, rather than merely an acute feeling of sadness or a period of mourning. It speaks to a state of being consumed by sorrow to the point of internal debilitation.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of דְּאָבוֹן (dᵉʼâbôwn, `{{H1671}}`) in [[Deuteronomy 28:65]] carries immense theological weight. It underscores the holistic nature of divine judgment, which extends beyond physical and material deprivation to encompass profound psychological and spiritual torment. The "pining of soul" reveals that the consequences of covenant infidelity are not merely external hardships but also an internal desolation, a loss of inner peace and hope. This condition is a stark antithesis to the "rest" and "ease" that God promises to those who walk in obedience. The absence of a "resting place" for the foot is mirrored by the absence of rest for the soul. Theologically, it serves as a powerful warning that separation from God's covenant blessings leads to a deep-seated despair that drains the very life from within, illustrating the profound spiritual sickness that accompanies rebellion. It highlights God's justice in allowing the inner state to reflect the outer condition of separation from Him, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of His covenant relationship with His people.
### Summary
דְּאָבוֹן (dᵉʼâbôwn, `{{H1671}}`) is a rare but profoundly significant Hebrew noun, derived from the root דָּאַב (dāʾaḇ, `{{H1672}}`). It denotes a deep, debilitating "pining" or "sorrow" of the soul, characterized by a sense of languishing and internal decay due to intense distress. Its sole biblical occurrence in [[Deuteronomy 28:65]] vividly portrays this "pining of soul" as a severe consequence of covenant disobedience. In this context, it describes a perpetual internal anguish that accompanies physical displacement and insecurity, highlighting the comprehensive nature of divine judgment that affects both external circumstances and the deepest recesses of the human spirit. The word thus stands as a solemn reminder of the spiritual desolation, the profound absence of peace and hope, that results from turning away from God's covenant.
TRV