### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yâgêaʻ**, represented by `{{H3023}}`, describes a state of being **tired**, **tiresome**, **full of labour**, or **weary**. It appears **3 times** in **3 unique verses**, highlighting its specific application to physical exhaustion and existential toil.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H3023}}` is used to convey both physical and existential exhaustion. In a strategic context, it describes a state of vulnerability, as when Ahithophel advised attacking David while he was **weary** and weak handed [[2 Samuel 17:2]]. It is also used to describe the Israelites who, being faint and **weary**, were attacked by the Amalekites [[Deuteronomy 25:18]]. On a more philosophical level, it characterizes the nature of existence itself, where "All things are full of **labour**" to the point that man cannot fully express it [[Ecclesiastes 1:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify and expand upon the state of being weary:
* `{{H7504}}` **râpheh** (weak): Often paired with weariness, this term signifies being slack in body or mind. It is used alongside `{{H3023}}` to describe David's vulnerable state as "weak handed" [[2 Samuel 17:2]].
* `{{H5889}}` **ʻâyêph** (faint, weary): This word describes a state of being languid or thirsty. It appears with `{{H3023}}` to emphasize the exhaustion of the Israelites in the wilderness when they were "faint and **weary**" [[Deuteronomy 25:18]].
* `{{H2826}}` **châshal** (feeble): Meaning to be unsteady or weak, this word describes those who were attacked from behind in the wilderness because they were **feeble** [[Deuteronomy 25:18]].
* `{{H1697}}` **dâbâr** (word, matter, thing): This versatile term is used in Ecclesiastes to frame the universal nature of weariness, stating that "All **things** are full of labour" [[Ecclesiastes 1:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3023}}` is tied to its depiction of human vulnerability and the nature of earthly toil.
* **A Mark of Vulnerability:** Being **weary** is presented as a condition that invites attack. The Amalekites' assault on the faint and **weary** Israelites is condemned as an act of those who "feared not God" [[Deuteronomy 25:18]]. Similarly, Ahithophel's plot against David targets him in a state of weariness [[2 Samuel 17:2]].
* **The Toil of Existence:** In Ecclesiastes, the word moves beyond physical exhaustion to describe a universal state. The declaration that "All things are full of **labour**" frames weariness as an inherent part of a world where human effort is endless and unsatisfying [[Ecclesiastes 1:8]].
* **Moral Condition:** The act of striking the **weary** is portrayed as a significant moral and spiritual failing. The account in Deuteronomy contrasts the vulnerability of the people with the godlessness of their attackers, setting the stage for divine judgment [[Deuteronomy 25:18]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3023}}` **yâgêaʻ** is more than a simple descriptor for being tired. It is a potent term that conveys a state of profound weariness, marking individuals as physically vulnerable to attack and symbolizing the endless, tiresome labor inherent in the human condition. Its few appearances in scripture are significant, highlighting moments of strategic weakness and deep philosophical reflection.
TRV