לָאָה

lâʼâh /law-aw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto tire; (figuratively) to be (or make) disgusted
KJV usagefaint, grieve, lothe, (be, make) weary (selves).
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word lâʼâh, represented by H3811, primarily means to tire or to be weary. It appears 19 times across 18 unique verses, illustrating a state of exhaustion that can be physical, emotional, or spiritual. Its meaning extends beyond simple tiredness to include being figuratively disgusted, to faint, to grieve, or to lothe an action or situation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H3811 is used to describe various forms of exhaustion. It can depict physical fatigue, as when Jeremiah is asked, "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?" Jeremiah 12:5. The word also portrays a state of loathing, such as when the Egyptians shall lothe to drink from the river Exodus 7:18. It describes the weariness of futile effort, as when the men of Sodom wearied themselves to find the door after being struck with blindness Genesis 19:11. Critically, it is even applied to God, who declares, "I am weary with repenting" in response to persistent disobedience Jeremiah 15:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the causes of the exhaustion expressed by H3811:

  • H5375 nâsâʼ (to lift, bear): Weariness can result from carrying a heavy load. God describes Israel's religious feasts as a burden he is weary to bear, connecting the feeling of exhaustion to the act of endurance Isaiah 1:14.
  • H5162 nâcham (to repent, console): The term is used to express God's emotional exhaustion. He declares He is weary with repenting from judgment due to Israel's unfaithfulness, showing a deep divine grief Jeremiah 15:6.
  • H6102 ʻâtsêl (slothful, sluggard): In a contrasting sense, weariness can be self-inflicted through inaction. For the slothful man, even the simple act of bringing his hand to his mouth grieveth him, illustrating a weariness born of laziness Proverbs 26:15.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3811 is significant, revealing insights into the nature of God, sin, and human struggle.

  • The Weariness of God: Scripture uses this human emotion to describe God's response to sin. He becomes weary of empty religious observances Isaiah 1:14 and of the people's unending rebellion, to the point of being weary with repenting Jeremiah 15:6. This language conveys God's deep frustration and grief over sin.
  • The Futility of Sin: Pursuing iniquity is portrayed as an exhausting endeavor. The people of Jerusalem weary themselves to commit iniquity Jeremiah 9:5, and the men of Sodom wearied themselves in a futile attempt to find Lot's door Genesis 19:11. This suggests that a life of sin is ultimately a draining and fruitless pursuit.
  • The Burden of the Prophetic Call: The prophets themselves experience this exhaustion. Jeremiah feels so weary with forbearing God's word that he cannot hold it in Jeremiah 20:9, and he is filled with the Lord's fury to the point of being weary with holding it in Jeremiah 6:11.

Summary

In summary, H3811 is a multifaceted term that expresses more than just physical tiredness. It encompasses the emotional exhaustion of grief, the disgust of loathing, and the spiritual weariness caused by sin and futility. It is applied to humans in their suffering, their sin, and their service to God, as seen in the experiences of Job and Jeremiah. Most profoundly, it is used to describe God's own exhaustion with empty ritual and persistent rebellion, making lâʼâh a powerful word that conveys the draining cost of iniquity on both God and humanity.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 19 occurrences, inflected in 16 grammatical forms.

  • Niphal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 3×
  • Niphal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Hiphil Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Imperfect 2nd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Consecutive Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Niphal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×
  • Niphal Participle Singular Feminine Absolute 1×
  • Niphal Perfect 2nd Singular Feminine 1×

+ 4 rarer forms

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 18 verses across 9 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (5 verses).

1
Genesis
1
Exodus
3
Job
1
Psalms
1
Proverbs
4
Isaiah
5
Jeremiah
1
Ezekiel
1
Micah

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