from יֶרֶק; paleness, whether of persons (from fright), or of plants (from drought); greenish, yellow.
Transliteration:yêrâqôwn
Pronunciation:yay-raw-kone'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H3420 (yêrâqôwn) is derived from the root `{{H3418}}` (yereq), which denotes "greenness," "fresh herbage," or "verdure." Consequently, yêrâqôwn signifies a deviation from this healthy, vibrant green. Its core meaning encompasses a sickly paleness or yellowish discoloration. The semantic range of yêrâqôwn extends to two primary applications:
1. **In persons:** It can describe paleness, particularly that induced by fright or fear. This suggests a visible manifestation of internal distress or a loss of vitality.
2. **In plants:** It refers to a yellowish or pale green discoloration, often attributed to adverse conditions such as drought. This usage points to a state of wilting, disease, or a general decline from healthy growth, indicating a lack of life-sustaining elements.
The overarching concept conveyed by yêrâqôwn is a visible sign of decline, distress, or a loss of essential vitality, moving away from a state of healthy flourishing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H3420 (yêrâqôwn) appears three times in the Hebrew Bible, and in each instance, its usage is consistently tied to agricultural affliction and divine judgment:
* **[[Deuteronomy 28:22]]**: This verse is part of the extensive list of curses that would befall Israel for disobedience to the covenant. yêrâqôwn is enumerated alongside other calamities such as "consumption," "fever," "inflammation," "blight" (`{{H7711}}`), and "mildew." In this context, yêrâqôwn refers to a specific type of plant disease that causes crops to turn yellow and wither, leading to agricultural failure. It is presented as a direct consequence of divine wrath, signifying the withdrawal of God's blessing from the land.
* **[[Amos 4:9]]**: Here, the prophet Amos recounts God's repeated attempts to chastise Israel through various judgments, including agricultural disasters, in order to prompt their repentance. God declares, "I struck you with blight and mildew; your many gardens and your vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees, the locust devoured them. Yet you did not return to me," declares the Lord. yêrâqôwn is again paired with "blight" (`{{H7711}}`), clearly indicating a destructive plant malady that causes crops to yellow and perish. This serves as a tangible sign of divine displeasure and a call for the nation to return to the Lord.
* **[[Haggai 2:17]]**: In this post-exilic prophetic book, God reminds the people of Judah of the hardships they faced due to their neglect of rebuilding the Temple. "I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me," declares the Lord. As in the previous occurrences, yêrâqôwn is linked with "blight" (`{{H7711}}`) and other destructive forces, emphasizing the agricultural devastation that resulted from their misplaced priorities and disobedience.
Across all biblical occurrences, yêrâqôwn is consistently used in the context of plant disease, specifically the yellowing and wilting of crops, and is presented as a divinely orchestrated judgment for covenant unfaithfulness. The aspect of "paleness of persons from fright" mentioned in the base definition, while semantically possible, is not explicitly manifested in the biblical texts where H3420 appears.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **`{{H3418}}` (yereq):** The root word, meaning "greenness" or "fresh vegetation." yêrâqôwn represents the antithesis of yereq's vitality, signifying a state of decline from healthy green to a sickly yellow.
* **`{{H7711}}` (shiddaphon):** "Blight." This word is almost invariably paired with yêrâqôwn in the biblical texts. shiddaphon typically refers to the scorching or blasting of plants, causing them to wither and dry up, often turning brown. yêrâqôwn complements this by describing the yellowing or pale greenness that precedes or accompanies the complete drying out. Together, they depict a comprehensive agricultural catastrophe.
* **Drought, Famine, Pestilence:** yêrâqôwn is a specific manifestation within these broader categories of natural and divinely ordained disasters. It signifies the failure of the land to yield its expected produce, leading to scarcity.
* **Fear and Distress:** While not directly applied to human paleness in the biblical occurrences of yêrâqôwn, the concept of "paleness from fright" in the base definition connects it to the physiological and psychological responses to the very judgments it describes. Agricultural ruin and famine would undoubtedly induce widespread fear and distress.
### Theological Significance
The consistent biblical usage of yêrâqôwn imbues it with profound theological significance:
* **Divine Judgment and Chastisement:** The most prominent theological implication of yêrâqôwn is its role as an instrument of divine judgment and chastisement. In [[Deuteronomy 28]], [[Amos 4]], and [[Haggai 2]], it is explicitly stated that God "strikes" His people with yêrâqôwn due to their disobedience. This demonstrates God's active sovereignty over the natural world and His willingness to use natural calamities to bring about consequences for human sin.
* **Consequences of Covenant Unfaithfulness:** yêrâqôwn serves as a tangible, visible sign of a broken covenant relationship. When Israel deviates from God's commands, the land itself suffers, reflecting the spiritual barrenness and decay within the nation. The vibrant green of prosperity, symbolic of God's blessing, is replaced by the pallor of decay, symbolizing the withdrawal of that blessing.
* **Call to Repentance:** In the prophetic books, the experience of yêrâqôwn and other agricultural disasters is not merely punitive but also serves as a catalyst for repentance. God inflicts these hardships with the hope that His people will "return to me" ([[Amos 4:9]]; [[Haggai 2:17]]). It underscores God's persistent desire for His people's restoration and faithfulness.
* **Human Dependence on God:** The vulnerability of crops to yêrâqôwn highlights humanity's absolute dependence on God for sustenance and well-being. When God withholds His blessing, even the most fertile land can become barren, demonstrating that prosperity is ultimately a gift from the Creator.
* **Symbol of Spiritual Decay:** Beyond its literal application to plants, yêrâqôwn can be seen as a broader symbol of spiritual or societal decay. Just as plants lose their vibrant green and turn pale, so too can a people or an individual lose their spiritual vitality, fruitfulness, and connection to the source of life when separated from God.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H3420 (yêrâqôwn) signifies a sickly paleness or yellowish discoloration, derived from the concept of healthy greenness. While its base definition includes paleness in persons due to fright, its consistent biblical usage is almost exclusively applied to plants suffering from blight or disease, causing them to wither and turn yellow. Appearing primarily in prophetic and covenantal texts ([[Deuteronomy 28:22]], [[Amos 4:9]], [[Haggai 2:17]]), yêrâqôwn functions as a potent symbol of divine judgment and chastisement. It represents the agricultural devastation that results from Israel's disobedience, often paired with `{{H7711}}` (blight). Theologically, it highlights God's sovereignty over creation, the tangible consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, and His persistent call for His people to return to Him. It serves as a stark reminder that true vitality, whether in the land or in life, is ultimately dependent on a right relationship with the Divine.
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