The Hebrew word yâraʻ, represented by H3415, properly means to be broken up with violent action, but is used figuratively to convey being grievous or experiencing fear. It appears 22 times in 22 unique verses. In scripture, it most often describes a state of being emotionally broken or disturbed, which is translated as being grieved, displeased, sad, or experiencing something that "goes ill."
In biblical narratives, H3415 expresses a range of negative emotional responses. It is used to describe God's own displeasure with sin, as when David's actions concerning Uriah and Bathsheba "displeased the LORD" 2 Samuel 11:27. It also captures deep personal sorrow, such as when the prospect of sending away his son was "very grievous in Abraham's sight" Genesis 21:11. The term can also signify the hostile vexation of enemies; for example, when Sanballat H5571 and Tobiah H2900 heard Nehemiah had come to help Israel, "it grieved them exceedingly" Nehemiah 2:10.
Several related words help define the context of H3415:
- H2734 chârâh (to be angry, burn): This term for anger is often paired with H3415. When Jonah was displeased with God's mercy on Nineveh, "it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry" Jonah 4:1. Likewise, Saul "was very wroth, and the saying displeased him" when David was praised above him 1 Samuel 18:8.
- H7451 raʻ (bad or evil): This word for badness or evil is frequently used to describe the nature or intensity of the displeasure. It is used to state that the thing David had done displeased the LORD 2 Samuel 11:27 and to show that the news of Nehemiah's arrival grieved his enemies "exceedingly" Nehemiah 2:10.
- H5869 ʻayin (eye): The feeling of displeasure is often expressed through the idiom of being evil "in the eyes of" someone. God told Abraham, "Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad" Genesis 21:12, and Israel's demand for a king "displeased Samuel" 1 Samuel 8:6.
The theological weight of H3415 is significant, revealing key aspects of God's character and his relationship with humanity.
- Divine Displeasure with Sin: The term powerfully articulates God's holy displeasure toward human sin. Actions such as David's census 1 Chronicles 21:7 and the lack of justice in the land Isaiah 59:15 directly displease God and provoke a response.
- The Experience of Righteous Grief: The word describes the appropriate sorrow felt by God's servants in response to sin or tragedy. Samuel was displeased by Israel's unfaithful demand for a king 1 Samuel 8:6, and Nehemiah's countenance was sad because Jerusalem lay in waste Nehemiah 2:3.
- A Consequence of Rebellion: In a covenantal context, H3415 can represent a state of curse or harm resulting from sin. It "went ill with Moses" because of the people's rebellion at the waters of strife Psalms 106:32. It is also listed among the curses for disobedience, where a person's eye "shall be evil" toward their own family Deuteronomy 28:54.
In summary, H3415 yâraʻ signifies far more than a simple negative feeling. It conveys a deep emotional or moral brokenness, expressed as grief, displeasure, or harm. This word is applied to God, his prophets, and even his enemies, demonstrating the profound impact of actions and circumstances. It serves to illustrate the gravity of sin, which displeases the LORD, and the nature of righteousness, which often involves being grieved by a broken world.
TRV