a primitive root meaning properly, to burn, i.e. (by implication); to be rabid (figuratively, insane); also (from the exhaustion of frenzy) to languish; faint, mad.
Transliteration:lâhahh
Pronunciation:law-hah'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew primitive root `{{H3856}}` (lâhahh) carries a fascinating and somewhat dualistic semantic range, stemming from its foundational meaning "to burn." This core sense of intense heat or fervor extends metaphorically to describe states of extreme mental and physical agitation. Primarily, it denotes a state of "madness" or "insanity," suggesting a mind that is feverish, deranged, or rabid, much like a burning fever consumes the body. This implies a loss of rational thought and control, an intense and often destructive mental state.
However, the semantic range also encompasses the *consequence* of such intense frenzy or burning. From the exhaustion that follows a period of extreme agitation, `{{H3856}}` can also mean "to languish," "to faint," or "to be weary." This secondary meaning reflects the depletion of strength, a state of enervation that results from an overwhelming experience. Thus, `{{H3856}}` encapsulates a spectrum from intense, uncontrolled fervor to the profound weakness and collapse that such intensity can induce.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H3856}}` appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, yet each occurrence is highly significant, illustrating its nuanced semantic range:
* **[[Deuteronomy 28:28]]**: "The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of mind." Here, `{{H3856}}` is translated as "madness" (מְשֻׁגָּעוֹן). It is presented as a divine curse, a consequence of disobedience to God's covenant. The "madness" described is a state of mental derangement, a loss of sound judgment and clarity, indicating a severe form of divine judgment that affects the very faculty of reason. This context highlights God's sovereign power to afflict the mind as a form of discipline or punishment.
* **[[Psalm 38:10]]**: "My heart throbs; my strength fails me; and the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me." In this lament Psalm, `{{H3856}}` is rendered "throbs" or "languishes" (לָהַהּ). The psalmist describes a state of profound physical and emotional exhaustion, possibly brought on by severe illness, sin, or affliction. The "throbbing" of the heart suggests a weakening, a fading of vitality, moving towards collapse. This usage underscores the "languishing" aspect of the word's semantic range, depicting the physical and mental weariness that can accompany deep suffering.
* **[[Zechariah 12:4]]**: "In that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But on the house of Judah I will open my eyes, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness." Similar to Deuteronomy, `{{H3856}}` (בַּלָּהָה) here signifies "madness" or "frenzy," specifically afflicting the riders in battle. This is a divinely orchestrated confusion and derangement, designed to incapacitate the enemies of Judah. The context is eschatological and military, portraying God's intervention to cause disarray and panic among opposing forces, leading to their defeat.
These occurrences demonstrate that `{{H3856}}` primarily describes a state of mental or physical deterioration, often divinely inflicted as judgment or experienced as a consequence of profound distress. The "burning" root manifests as either a feverish, destructive mental state or the utter exhaustion that results from such intensity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of mental and physical affliction in the Bible is rich, and `{{H3856}}` stands alongside several related terms:
* **Madness/Insanity**:
* `{{H7696}}` (shiga'on): Directly translates to "madness" or "insanity," often appearing in contexts of divine judgment, similar to `{{H3856}}` in Deuteronomy.
* `{{H1984}}` (halal): While often meaning "to praise," in its Hithpael stem it can mean "to act madly" or "to rave," indicating a state of irrational behavior.
* `{{H3900}}` (la'ag): To mock, stammer, or speak unintelligibly, sometimes associated with a deranged state.
* **Weakness/Fainting/Languishing**:
* `{{H3988}}` (ma'al): To be weary, exhausted, or to fail, often used for physical fatigue.
* `{{H5356}}` (nakah): To strike, but in passive forms, can mean to be smitten or afflicted, leading to weakness.
* `{{H5181}}` (namal): To wither, fade, or languish, typically applied to plants but metaphorically to people.
* `{{H3021}}` (yegia'): Weariness, toil, or exhaustion.
* **Burning/Fever**:
* `{{H2734}}` (charar): To burn, be hot, or be inflamed, which provides the conceptual foundation for the "feverish" aspect of `{{H3856}}`.
* `{{H6703}}` (tsarav): To burn or scorch.
The connection between these terms highlights a biblical understanding that mental and physical states are intricately linked, and both can be profoundly affected by divine action or human experience of suffering. `{{H3856}}` uniquely bridges the gap between intense mental derangement and the resulting physical exhaustion.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H3856}}` is profound, touching upon divine sovereignty, the consequences of sin, and the reality of human suffering.
1. **Divine Sovereignty over Human Faculties**: In both [[Deuteronomy 28:28]] and [[Zechariah 12:4]], `{{H3856}}` describes a state of madness divinely inflicted. This demonstrates God's ultimate control not only over physical circumstances but also over the very minds and hearts of individuals and nations. He can bring about confusion, panic, and derangement as a means of judgment against disobedience or as a strategic act in redemptive history. This underscores that true wisdom and sound judgment are ultimately gifts from God, and their withdrawal can be a severe form of divine discipline.
2. **Consequence of Disobedience**: The curse in Deuteronomy explicitly links "madness" to a departure from God's covenant. This teaches that spiritual rebellion can have tangible, even psychological, consequences. A mind alienated from God's truth can descend into chaos and irrationality, reflecting the spiritual disarray caused by sin.
3. **The Reality of Human Suffering**: The usage in [[Psalm 38:10]] reveals the human experience of profound weakness and languishing. While not explicitly stated as divine judgment in this context, the psalmist's distress is real and debilitating. This shows that the "languishing" aspect of `{{H3856}}` speaks to the deep physical and emotional toll that suffering, affliction, or even the burden of sin can take on the human person. It highlights human vulnerability and dependence on God for strength and healing.
4. **The Paradox of Intensity and Collapse**: The root meaning of "burning" beautifully illustrates a theological paradox. While God's presence can be a consuming fire (e.g., `{{H3988}}` for "devour"), bringing purification and judgment, human "burning" (frenzy, madness) leads to collapse. This contrasts divine power that sustains even in fire with human weakness that is consumed by its own uncontrolled intensity.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H3856}}` (lâhahh) is a potent term, rooted in the concept of "burning," which extends to signify both a state of intense, feverish madness and the subsequent exhaustion or languishing. Its few but impactful occurrences in the biblical text reveal its theological depth. In contexts such as [[Deuteronomy 28:28]] and [[Zechariah 12:4]], it describes a divinely inflicted mental derangement, underscoring God's sovereign power to bring judgment or achieve His purposes by affecting human reason. Conversely, in [[Psalm 38:10]], it portrays the profound physical and emotional weakness that accompanies intense suffering. Thus, `{{H3856}}` serves as a vivid descriptor for the extreme ends of mental and physical states, from destructive frenzy to debilitating weariness, often highlighting the consequences of human rebellion or the reality of human frailty before a sovereign God.
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