The Hebrew word ʼalmânûwth, represented by H491, is a term for widowhood. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. The word can refer concretely to a widow or abstractly to the state of widowhood itself.
In the biblical narrative, H491 is used in several contexts. It can describe the external garments that signify a woman's status, as when Tamar puts off her widow's garments and later puts them back on (Genesis 38:14, Genesis 38:19). The term is also used to describe a state of enforced seclusion, as when David's ten concubines were shut up and lived "in widowhood" until the day of their death 2 Samuel 20:3. Figuratively, it can represent a state of shame and reproach that God promises to remove from his people, telling them they will not remember the reproach of their widowhood any more Isaiah 54:4.
Several related words expand upon the circumstances and state of widowhood:
- H4191 mûwth (to die): The state of widowhood is a direct result of death. In the case of David's concubines, they lived in this state until the day of their death 2 Samuel 20:3.
- H4931 mishmereth (charge, keep, or to be kept, office, ordinace, safeguard, ward, watch): This term is used to describe the "ward" where David's concubines were placed, linking their state of widowhood to a life of custody and being kept 2 Samuel 20:3.
- H6370 pîylegesh (a concubine): The ten women forced to live in widowhood by King David were his concubines 2 Samuel 20:3.
- H802 ʼishshâh (a woman; wife): This word provides context for widowhood. In Genesis, Tamar's situation arises because she was not given as a wife Genesis 38:14, and in 2 Samuel, the concubines are first identified as women 2 Samuel 20:3.
The theological weight of H491 is seen in its depiction of a state of vulnerability and social standing.
- A Symbol of Reproach: Widowhood is presented as a condition associated with reproach and shame, which God himself promises to remove and cause to be forgotten Isaiah 54:4.
- A State of Living Death: The term can describe a life of complete isolation. David's concubines were "shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood," indicating a condition of social death long before physical death 2 Samuel 20:3.
- An External Status: The "garments of her widowhood" mentioned in the story of Tamar demonstrate that this was a recognized and visible social status, not merely a personal circumstance Genesis 38:19.
In summary, H491 defines more than the absence of a husband; it signifies a distinct and often difficult social condition. It encompasses the tangible "garments" of a widow Genesis 38:14, the profound isolation of being "shut up" 2 Samuel 20:3, and the figurative "reproach" that can be divinely erased Isaiah 54:4. The word illustrates a state of vulnerability and social standing that carries significant weight within the biblical narrative.
TRV