The Hebrew word yithrâh, represented by H3502, denotes excellence, wealth, abundance, or riches. It is a rare term, appearing only 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible. In both instances, it refers to accumulated material wealth that is subject to loss.
The use of H3502 is confined to prophetic judgments. In Isaiah 15:7, it is translated as abundance, describing possessions that "they have gotten" which are being carried away. Similarly, in Jeremiah 48:36, it appears as riches that have "perished," a loss which causes the prophet's heart to "sound for Moab like pipes." In both passages, the word signifies material wealth that is ultimately fleeting and swept away in a time of calamity.
Several related words clarify the context of H3502:
- H6213 ʻâsâh (to do or make): This verb, meaning to get or acquire, appears in both verses where H3502 is found, describing how the abundance Isaiah 15:7 and riches Jeremiah 48:36 were obtained.
- H6 ʼâbad (to perish): This word is used directly with H3502 in Jeremiah 48:36, stating that the riches "are perished." It underscores the theme of the complete loss of this wealth.
- H6486 pᵉquddâh (that which...laid up): In Isaiah 15:7, this word is used alongside "abundance," referring to "that which they have laid up." This pairing emphasizes the idea of stored or hoarded wealth that is now being confiscated.
The theological weight of H3502 is tied to the impermanence of earthly wealth.
- The Futility of Acquired Wealth: Both occurrences of H3502 are in the context of judgment where the accumulated riches and abundance are lost. The wealth that was "gotten" H6213 ultimately "perished" H6 or was carried away.
- A Source of Sorrow: The loss of these riches is a cause for deep mourning. In Jeremiah 48:36, the heart makes a mournful sound like pipes specifically "because the riches that he hath gotten are perished."
- Wealth in the Face of Judgment: The word appears within prophecies of doom, highlighting that material abundance offers no security against divine judgment.
In summary, H3502 yithrâh provides a very specific and focused meaning of riches or abundance. Rather than being a term of blessing, its two biblical uses exclusively portray wealth that is transient and subject to being lost or destroyed. Found within prophetic judgments in Isaiah 15:7 and Jeremiah 48:36, it serves as a powerful reminder of the temporary nature of material possessions in the face of divine reckoning.
TRV