from דָּוֶה; sickness; figuratively, loathing; languishing, sorrowful.
Transliteration:dᵉvay
Pronunciation:dev-ah'ee
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term דְּוַי (dᵉvay), transliterated as dᵉvay (Strong's H1741), is derived from the root דָּוֶה (daveh, Strong's `{{H1738}}`), which signifies "faint," "sick," or "unwell." Consequently, the core meaning of דְּוַי encompasses physical "sickness," "illness," or "disease." Beyond its literal sense, the word extends figuratively to describe a state of deep emotional or spiritual distress, manifesting as "loathing," "languishing," or being "sorrowful." It conveys a profound sense of debilitating affliction, whether corporeal or psychological, often implying a state of weakness or suffering that saps strength and vitality.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term דְּוַי (dᵉvay) appears in a limited number of significant contexts within the Hebrew Bible, consistently carrying the weight of severe affliction, often linked to divine judgment:
* In [[Deuteronomy 28:59]], as part of the curses for disobedience, it is stated: "Then the LORD will make your plagues awesome, and the plagues of your descendants, even great plagues and **sore sicknesses** (דְּוַי), and of long continuance." Here, דְּוַי refers to severe, prolonged physical illnesses, emphasizing their intensity and duration as a direct consequence of covenant violation.
* [[Isaiah 17:11]] uses the term in a prophetic warning: "In the day you planted, you hedged it in, and in the morning you made your plant to flourish; but the harvest will be a heap in the day of grief and of **desperate sorrow** (דְּוַי)." Paired with כְּאֵב (kᵉ'ev, grief/pain), דְּוַי here denotes profound emotional and spiritual anguish, the bitter fruit of a people's rejection of God's wisdom and a pursuit of their own ways.
* [[Jeremiah 30:15]] speaks of Judah's affliction: "Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy **sorrow** (דְּוַי) is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee." In this context, דְּוַי describes an incurable pain or suffering directly attributed to the nation's overwhelming sin. It is a divinely inflicted wound, highlighting the severity and justness of God's judgment.
Across these occurrences, דְּוַי consistently signifies a severe and often prolonged state of suffering, whether physical disease or deep emotional/spiritual anguish, frequently presented as a consequence of sin or disobedience.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of דְּוַי (dᵉvay) is enriched by its relationship to several other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **Etymological Root:** Its direct progenitor, דָּוֶה (daveh, Strong's `{{H1738}}`), meaning "faint" or "sick," establishes the foundational sense of physical debilitation.
* **Other Words for Sickness/Disease:** Terms like מַחֲלָה (machalah, Strong's `{{H4245}}`) and חֳלִי (choli, Strong's `{{H2483}}`) also denote illness, but דְּוַי often carries a stronger connotation of severity, incurability, or the direct consequence of divine displeasure.
* **Words for Sorrow/Pain:** דְּוַי frequently overlaps with terms for emotional distress such as כְּאֵב (kᵉ'ev, Strong's `{{H3510}}`, pain/grief) and עָנָה (anah, Strong's `{{H6031}}`, to afflict/humble). The pairing in [[Isaiah 17:11]] with כְּאֵב exemplifies this close relationship.
* **Concepts:** The occurrences of דְּוַי are inextricably linked to concepts of divine judgment, the consequences of sin, human suffering, and the lamentable state of a rebellious people. It embodies the painful reality of a broken covenant relationship.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of דְּוַי (dᵉvay) is profound, primarily serving as a potent descriptor of the devastating consequences of sin and disobedience in the biblical narrative.
1. **Divine Judgment and Retribution:** Most notably in [[Deuteronomy 28:59]] and [[Jeremiah 30:15]], דְּוַי is presented as a direct, divinely ordained punishment for national apostasy and rebellion. It underscores God's justice in bringing severe affliction upon those who forsake His covenant. The "sicknesses" and "sorrow" are not random misfortunes but purposeful visitations.
2. **Incurable Anguish:** The description of דְּוַי as "incurable" in [[Jeremiah 30:15]] highlights the depth of the people's spiritual malady and the severity of God's judgment. It implies that human remedies or political solutions are utterly insufficient to address a condition rooted in profound sin. Only divine intervention, through repentance and restoration, can ultimately heal such a deep-seated affliction.
3. **Holistic Suffering:** The semantic range of דְּוַי, encompassing both physical sickness and deep emotional/spiritual sorrow, points to a holistic understanding of suffering in the biblical worldview. Sin does not merely affect one aspect of life but can bring about comprehensive distress, impacting the body, soul, and spirit.
4. **A Call to Repentance:** While describing judgment, the use of דְּוַי implicitly serves as a warning and a call to repentance. The severity of the "sickness" or "sorrow" underscores the gravity of sin and the urgent need to return to God's ways to avoid or alleviate such debilitating consequences.
### Summary
The Hebrew word דְּוַי (dᵉvay, Strong's `{{H1741}}`) denotes a profound state of affliction, encompassing both severe physical sickness and deep emotional or spiritual sorrow. Derived from a root meaning "to be faint" or "sick," its occurrences in the Bible consistently portray it as a debilitating and often prolonged form of suffering. Theologically, דְּוַי is most frequently presented as a direct consequence of divine judgment against sin and disobedience, as seen in the curses of [[Deuteronomy 28:59]] and the incurable sorrow in [[Jeremiah 30:15]]. It highlights the holistic nature of suffering resulting from rebellion against God, affecting both body and soul. The term serves as a powerful reminder of the grave repercussions of forsaking the covenant and underscores the justice of God in His dealings with humanity.
TRV