The Hebrew word dâveh, represented by H1739, is used to describe a state of being sick or faint. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. The word's usage points to conditions of physical ailment, particularly menstruation, as well as ritual impurity and profound emotional or spiritual weakness.
In the biblical narrative, H1739 is used in both literal and figurative ways. In Leviticus, it specifically refers to the physical state of a woman "having her sickness" during menstruation, establishing rules of ritual purity Leviticus 20:18 and identifying "her that is sick of her flowers" Leviticus 15:33. Figuratively, the word conveys extreme repulsion and defilement, as when Isaiah commands the people to cast away their idols like a "menstruous cloth" Isaiah 30:22. It also describes a state of profound weakness and suffering, where Jerusalem personified is made "faint all the day" Lamentations 1:13 and the people's "heart is faint" from grief Lamentations 5:17.
Several related words clarify the meaning of H1739 by appearing in parallel or similar contexts:
- H2931 ṭâmêʼ (foul in a religious sense; defiled, polluted, unclean): This word is explicitly linked to H1739 in contexts of ritual law. In Leviticus, the one who lies with "her that is sick" H1739 also lies with "her that is unclean" H2931 Leviticus 15:33.
- H8074 shâmêm (to stun... devastate... make desolate): This term is paired with H1739 to describe the totality of Jerusalem's suffering. The city is made both "desolate" H8074 and "faint" H1739, combining the ideas of ruin and physical weakness Lamentations 1:13.
- H2821 châshak (to be dark... darken, be dim, hide): This word illustrates the physical effect of the despair described by H1739. In Lamentations, a heart that is "faint" H1739 results in eyes that are "dim" H2821 Lamentations 5:17.
The theological weight of H1739 is tied to concepts of purity, defilement, and the consequences of sin.
- Ritual Uncleanness: In Leviticus, the word is central to laws defining states of being that are ritually unacceptable. "Having her sickness" H1739 denotes a temporary condition requiring separation, highlighting the biblical emphasis on holiness and the distinction between the clean and the unclean Leviticus 20:18.
- Spiritual Defilement: The term is used metaphorically to express absolute revulsion toward sin. By describing idols as a "menstruous cloth" H1739, Isaiah frames idolatry not just as a mistake, but as a profound spiritual contamination that must be utterly rejected Isaiah 30:22.
- The Effects of Judgment: In Lamentations, being "faint" H1739 is the direct result of divine judgment. It portrays the debilitating physical and emotional state of a people suffering under the weight of their disobedience, with a heart made weak and sick by grief (Lamentations 1:13, Lamentations 5:17).
In summary, H1739 moves beyond a simple definition of sickness to describe conditions of profound separation and weakness. From its literal use in Levitical law to define ritual uncleanness Leviticus 15:33 to its powerful metaphorical use for spiritual defilement in Isaiah Isaiah 30:22, the word carries significant weight. It ultimately illustrates the debilitating physical and emotional state of being faint from suffering and judgment, as poignantly expressed in Lamentations Lamentations 1:13.
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