### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yârâq**, represented by `{{H3419}}`, properly means **green** and is used concretely to refer to a **vegetable** or **herbs**. It is a specific term that appears **5 times** across **5 unique verses** in the Bible. It generally denotes cultivated garden plants used for food or serves as a descriptor for green, living foliage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H3419}}` appears in both literal and figurative contexts. Literally, it describes a cultivated plot, as when Ahab desires Naboth's vineyard to make a "garden of **herbs**" [[1 Kings 21:2]]. Similarly, the land of Egypt is described as a place watered by foot like a "garden of **herbs**" [[Deuteronomy 11:10]]. Figuratively, it is used to depict human weakness and fragility; the inhabitants of a besieged city are described as being like "the **green** herb" ([[2 Kings 19:26]], [[Isaiah 37:27]]). In Proverbs, a "dinner of **herbs**" symbolizes a simple, humble meal that is better with love than a feast with hatred [[Proverbs 15:17]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the botanical world of the Old Testament:
* `{{H1588}}` **gan** (garden): This word for a fenced garden provides the setting for `{{H3419}}` in passages like [[Deuteronomy 11:10]] and [[1 Kings 21:2]]. It often represents a place of blessing and divine presence, such as the "garden of the LORD" [[Isaiah 51:3]].
* `{{H1877}}` **desheʼ** ((tender) herb): This term is used in conjunction with `{{H3419}}` in the parallel accounts of [[2 Kings 19:26]] and [[Isaiah 37:27]], which speak of the "green **herb**". It is also mentioned in the creation account when the earth brings forth grass [[Genesis 1:11]].
* `{{H2682}}` **châtsîyr** (grass, hay, herb, leek): This word for grass appears in the same similes as `{{H3419}}`, often illustrating the fleeting nature of life, which is cut down like grass [[Psalms 37:2]] or withers away [[Isaiah 40:8]].
* `{{H6212}}` **ʻeseb** (grass, herb): Also appearing alongside `{{H3419}}` in [[2 Kings 19:26]] and [[Isaiah 37:27]], this word refers to herbs or grass given by God for food for both humanity [[Genesis 1:29]] and animals [[Psalms 104:14]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3419}}` is seen in its symbolic applications.
* **Humility and Contentment:** The contrast between a "dinner of **herbs**" and a stalled ox in [[Proverbs 15:17]] elevates love and peace over material wealth, using the simple vegetable meal as a symbol of true prosperity.
* **Human Frailty:** In both [[2 Kings 19:26]] and [[Isaiah 37:27]], the "green herb" is a metaphor for the finite and vulnerable nature of humanity. The inhabitants of the cities are described as having "small power," as easily withered as a plant.
* **Divine Provision:** The "garden of **herbs**" in [[Deuteronomy 11:10]], representing the arduous agriculture of Egypt, is contrasted with the rain-fed Promised Land, highlighting God's superior provision for His people.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3419}}` is a focused term that signifies more than just a plant. While it literally refers to garden vegetables cultivated for food, it also serves as a potent biblical symbol. It illustrates the value of humility in a simple life, the reality of human transience in the face of divine power, and the contrast between human effort and God's abundant provision.
TRV