a primitive root; to grieve; afflict, cause grief, grieve, sorrowful, vex.
Transliteration:yâgâh
Pronunciation:yaw-gaw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The root H3013 (yâgâh) fundamentally denotes the experience or causation of grief, sorrow, or affliction. As a primitive root, its meaning is foundational and visceral. It captures both the internal emotional state of being sorrowful and the external act of causing sorrow or vexation. The nuances include:
* **To grieve/be sorrowful:** This is the most direct meaning, indicating a state of deep emotional pain or distress.
* **To cause grief/afflict:** The causative sense implies an action that brings about suffering in another. This can range from deliberate oppression to the natural consequence of difficult circumstances.
* **To vex:** Suggests a persistent annoyance or troubling, leading to a state of disquiet or distress.
The word often appears in contexts of lament, judgment, or the consequences of sin, highlighting the profound impact of sorrow on human experience and divine interaction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb H3013 (yâgâh) appears relatively few times in the Hebrew Bible, but each instance carries significant weight, often emphasizing the depth of suffering or the nature of divine judgment.
* **[[1 Samuel 2:32]]**: Here, the word describes the "vexation" or "distress" that will come upon Eli's house due to their unfaithfulness. It speaks of a long-term, deep-seated sorrow and affliction as a consequence of divine judgment. The context is prophetic, detailing the downfall of a priestly line.
* **[[Isaiah 51:11]]**: In this passage, yâgâh is used in a context of restoration and joy. It states that "sorrow and sighing shall flee away." This is a powerful contrast, promising an end to the very state of grief that the word describes. It highlights God's ultimate power to reverse affliction and bring comfort. This usage is in the Niphal (passive) stem, "be sorrowful."
* **[[Lamentations 1:12]]**: Jerusalem, personified as a grieving woman, asks if any sorrow is like her sorrow, "which was inflicted upon me" (אֲשֶׁר הוּגָה לִי). The Niphal stem is again used, emphasizing the passive suffering inflicted upon the city. This verse powerfully conveys the overwhelming grief of exile and destruction, attributing the suffering to divine action, though mediated through human agency.
* **[[Lamentations 3:32-33]]**: These verses speak of God's character. While He "causes grief" (כִּי אִם הוֹגָה), He also shows compassion. The Hiphil (causative) stem is used here, directly attributing the causation of sorrow to God, but immediately balancing it with His mercy. This is a profound theological statement about God's sovereignty over suffering and His ultimate benevolent intentions. It asserts that God does not "willingly afflict or grieve the children of men." This suggests that while sorrow may come from God, it is not His ultimate desire for humanity, but rather a means to a greater end, often discipline or purification.
Across these occurrences, yâgâh consistently points to deep, often divinely ordained or permitted, sorrow and affliction, but also hints at the possibility of its cessation through divine intervention.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H3013 (yâgâh) intersects with several other Hebrew terms related to suffering, pain, and distress.
* **`{{H6031}}` (’ānav):** To be afflicted, humbled. While yâgâh focuses on the internal experience of grief, ’ānav often describes the state of being oppressed or brought low, which can certainly cause grief.
* **`{{H6045}}` (‘ātsav):** To be pained, grieved, or to cause pain. This root is very close in meaning, often used for sorrow, labor, or pain, particularly in the context of childbirth or the toil of life after the fall (e.g., [[Genesis 3:16-17]]).
* **`{{H2478}}` (châlâh):** To be sick, weak, or grieved. This word often has a physical connotation of illness but can also extend to emotional distress.
* **`{{H6031}}` (‘ānâh):** To afflict, oppress, humble. This is a broader term for causing distress or suffering, which would naturally lead to yâgâh.
* **`{{H7451}}` (ra‘):** Evil, distress, misery. This general term for badness or adversity often encompasses the conditions that lead to yâgâh.
The concept of "sorrow" or "grief" itself is a significant theme in the Bible, often tied to sin, judgment, repentance, and ultimately, redemption. The prophetic books, especially Lamentations and parts of Isaiah, frequently employ such vocabulary to describe the plight of Israel and Judah.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H3013 (yâgâh) is profound, touching upon the nature of suffering, divine justice, and God's sovereignty.
Firstly, yâgâh underscores the reality of human suffering as a consequence of sin and disobedience. In [[1 Samuel 2:32]], the "vexation" brought upon Eli's house is a direct result of their unfaithfulness, illustrating the principle that sin brings sorrow and judgment.
Secondly, the use of yâgâh in Lamentations, particularly [[Lamentations 1:12]] and [[Lamentations 3:32-33]], reveals a complex but crucial aspect of God's character: His sovereignty over affliction. While it is grievous for humanity to experience sorrow, the text explicitly states that God "causes grief" (Hiphil in [[Lamentations 3:32]]) but does not "willingly afflict" (Niphal in [[Lamentations 3:33]]). This paradox suggests that divine sorrow is not arbitrary cruelty but rather a disciplinary or redemptive act, intended for a greater purpose (e.g., repentance, purification, or justice). It implies that even in suffering, God's ultimate disposition is compassion. His allowing or causing grief is a means, not an end, and always accompanied by His steadfast love.
Finally, the promise in [[Isaiah 51:11]] that "sorrow and sighing shall flee away" offers a powerful eschatological hope. It points to a future where God will ultimately reverse all affliction and bring everlasting joy to His redeemed people. This transforms the experience of yâgâh from a perpetual state into a temporary, though often severe, condition that will one day be utterly removed by divine grace.
### Summary
H3013 (yâgâh) is a Hebrew primitive root signifying to grieve, be sorrowful, or to cause grief and affliction. Its usage in the Old Testament highlights the profound emotional and existential pain experienced by individuals and communities, often as a consequence of sin or divine judgment. Key instances include the judgment on Eli's house ([[1 Samuel 2:32]]) and the deep lament of Jerusalem ([[Lamentations 1:12]]). The word also reveals God's sovereignty over suffering, as He is depicted as one who "causes grief" but does so with ultimate compassion and not "willingly" ([[Lamentations 3:32-33]]). Crucially, yâgâh also points to a future hope, where God promises to remove all sorrow and sighing from His people ([[Isaiah 51:11]]). Thus, yâgâh encapsulates the reality of human suffering, the justice and redemptive purposes of God in allowing it, and the ultimate promise of its cessation in His glorious future.
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