### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H3719}}` (כָּפַן, *kâphan*) is a primitive root, carrying the fundamental meaning "to bend" or "to be bent." This core physical action of bending extends semantically to describe a state of severe physical deprivation, specifically hunger. The imagery evoked is that of a body "bent over" or "shrunk" due to starvation or extreme weakness caused by lack of food. Thus, while its most basic sense is a physical posture, its primary application in biblical Hebrew points to the condition of being hungry, famished, or even fainting from hunger. It describes not merely a desire for food, but a profound physical impact of its absence, leading to a diminished or weakened state.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root `{{H3719}}` occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in [[Job 5:5]]. In this verse, Eliphaz the Temanite, in his discourse with Job, states regarding the wicked: "Whose harvest the hungry eat up, and take it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance." Here, the word "hungry" (כָּפַן, *kâphan*) describes those who consume the harvest of the wicked. The context is one of divine retribution and the consequences faced by those who oppose God's ways. The "hungry" are depicted as agents, or perhaps beneficiaries, of this judgment, consuming what the wicked have amassed. The choice of `{{H3719}}` here, rather than a more common word for hunger like `{{H7456}}` (רָעֵב, *ra'eb*), might subtly emphasize the extreme state of those who are so desperate for food that they would glean even from thorns, or the severity of the judgment that leaves the wicked's produce vulnerable to such ravenous consumption. It speaks to a profound lack and the resulting physical manifestation of that lack.
### Related Words & Concepts
While `{{H3719}}` is unique in its singular occurrence and specific nuance, it relates to a broader semantic field concerning hunger, famine, and deprivation. Other Hebrew words for "hungry" include `{{H7456}}` (רָעֵב, *ra'eb*), which is far more common and generally refers to the state of being hungry or famished. Concepts like "famine" (e.g., רָעָב, *ra'av*, from the same root as `{{H7456}}`), "lack," "poverty," and "weakness" are all conceptually linked. The "bending" aspect of `{{H3719}}` also connects it to physical postures of submission, weakness, or distress (e.g., קָדַד, *qadad*, `{{H6915}}`, "to bow down"), though its primary association remains with hunger. The distinctiveness of `{{H3719}}` lies in its emphasis on the physical manifestation of hunger, a body "bent" or "shrunk" by the severe absence of sustenance, perhaps implying a more profound and debilitating form of hunger than `{{H7456}}` alone might convey.
### Theological Significance
Despite its rarity, the single use of `{{H3719}}` in [[Job 5:5]] carries theological weight within the book's overarching themes. Eliphaz's use of the word places the "hungry" (כָּפַן) as instruments or beneficiaries of divine justice against the wicked. This highlights God's sovereignty over sustenance and deprivation, indicating that even the most basic human needs are subject to His providential ordering. The image of the "bent" or "famished" consuming the wicked's harvest serves as a stark reminder of the transient nature of worldly wealth and the potential for divine intervention to reverse fortunes. It underscores the biblical principle that justice, though sometimes delayed, will ultimately prevail, often through unexpected means. Furthermore, the suffering implied by `{{H3719}}` (extreme hunger) aligns with the broader biblical concern for the vulnerable and the poor, even when they are depicted as agents of judgment. It implicitly points to the severity of the consequences for those who neglect God's ways.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H3719}}` (כָּפַן, *kâphan*) is a rare but potent term derived from the primitive root meaning "to bend." Semantically, it extends to describe a state of profound hunger or being famished, evoking the image of a body physically "bent" or weakened by severe lack of food. Its sole biblical occurrence in [[Job 5:5]] depicts the "hungry" as those who consume the harvest of the wicked, serving as a vivid illustration of divine judgment and the reversal of fortunes. Though unique, `{{H3719}}` contributes to the biblical understanding of God's sovereignty over sustenance, the consequences of wickedness, and the often severe physical manifestations of deprivation. It is a word that, despite its brevity in the text, powerfully conveys the debilitating impact of hunger and its role within the divine ordering of justice.
TRV