### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **yêrâqôwn**, represented by `{{H3420}}`, describes a state of **paleness**. This term can refer to the greenish or yellow appearance of plants suffering from drought or blight, or to the paleness of a person's face from extreme fright. It appears **6 times** across **6 unique verses** in the Bible, consistently associated with affliction or distress.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical contexts, `{{H3420}}` is used to illustrate two types of calamity. Primarily, it describes an agricultural plague, often translated as **mildew**, which God sends as a form of judgment. The LORD smites the people with "blasting and with **mildew**" to destroy the labor of their hands ([[Haggai 2:17]], [[Amos 4:9]]). It is listed alongside other curses like famine, pestilence, and disease ([[1 Kings 8:37]], [[2 Chronicles 6:28]], [[Deuteronomy 28:22]]). The word is also used metaphorically to depict human terror, where the prophet sees all faces "turned into **paleness**" like a man in the agony of childbirth [[Jeremiah 30:6]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words appear alongside `{{H3420}}`, often as part of a list of divine judgments:
* `{{H7711}}` **shᵉdêphâh** (blight): This word is paired with **mildew** in five of its six occurrences, describing crop failure caused by scorching winds or drought ([[Deuteronomy 28:22]], [[Amos 4:9]]).
* `{{H1698}}` **deber** (pestilence): A destructive plague or pestilence, listed with **mildew** as a potential affliction upon the land that would warrant prayer and repentance ([[1 Kings 8:37]], [[2 Chronicles 6:28]]).
* `{{H7458}}` **râʻâb** (famine): Denoting extensive hunger or dearth, this is another curse that accompanies **mildew** in descriptions of national distress ([[1 Kings 8:37]], [[2 Chronicles 6:28]]).
* `{{H5221}}` **nâkâh** (to strike): This primitive root is the verb used by God to describe the action of bringing these curses, as in "I smote you with blasting and with **mildew**" ([[Haggai 2:17]], [[Amos 4:9]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3420}}` is tied directly to the concept of covenantal curses and divine discipline.
* **Sign of Judgment:** **Mildew** is not a random natural event but a specific tool God uses to punish disobedience and call His people to repentance [[Deuteronomy 28:22]]. The prophets Amos and Haggai explicitly state that God sent this affliction, yet the people did not return to Him ([[Amos 4:9]], [[Haggai 2:17]]).
* **Agricultural Ruin:** The term highlights God's sovereignty over the land and its produce. The health of the crops is directly linked to the spiritual health of the nation. The presence of **mildew** signifies a disruption of this relationship.
* **Embodiment of Fear:** By describing faces turning to **paleness** [[Jeremiah 30:6]], the word connects the external judgment on the land with the internal state of terror and anguish experienced by the people.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3420}}` is a powerful term for a "paleness" that signifies calamity. Whether manifesting as **mildew** that destroys crops or as the color of a face drained by fear, it functions as a tangible sign of divine judgment. Its usage consistently reminds the reader of the consequences of turning away from God and His sovereignty over both nature and human affairs.
TRV