### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word `{{H5701}}`, transcribed as *ʻâgam* (עָגַם), is a primitive root signifying a profound state of emotional distress. Its core meaning encompasses the concepts "to be sad" and "to grieve." As a primitive root, it conveys a fundamental and raw human experience of sorrow or affliction. Unlike more nuanced terms for specific kinds of sadness, `{{H5701}}` points to a deep, internal burdening or overwhelming of the spirit. It describes a condition where one's inner being is weighed down by grief, leading to a state of despondency or faintness of spirit. This is not merely fleeting sadness but a pervasive and impactful emotional state.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word `{{H5701}}` appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, but its few occurrences are significant, illustrating its intense semantic range.
* **[[Psalm 77:3]]**: "I remember God, and I groan; I meditate, and my spirit faints [or is overwhelmed]." Here, the psalmist Asaph uses *ʻâgam* to describe his own profound spiritual and emotional turmoil. The context is one of deep personal distress, where the psalmist is wrestling with God's apparent silence or absence in a time of trouble. His spirit is not merely sad but utterly overwhelmed, unable to find solace, indicating a severe internal struggle. This usage highlights the word's capacity to describe a spiritual burden that drains one's inner strength.
* **[[Isaiah 19:10]]**: "And the pillars of Egypt shall be broken in pieces; all those who work for hire shall be grieved in soul." In this prophetic oracle against Egypt, *ʻâgam* describes the deep sorrow and despair that will befall the common laborers, particularly those involved in fishing and related industries, whose livelihoods will be destroyed. This grief is a direct consequence of divine judgment and national calamity. Here, the word speaks to the profound economic and social distress that leads to widespread lamentation and a crushing of the spirit among the populace.
These two contexts reveal that while `{{H5701}}` consistently denotes deep grief, it can manifest both as an intensely personal, spiritual struggle and as a widespread, collective sorrow resulting from external judgment or disaster.
### Related Words & Concepts
To fully appreciate the meaning of `{{H5701}}`, it is helpful to consider its relationship to other Hebrew terms expressing sorrow and affliction:
* **`{{H3014}}` (yagôn)**: Often translated as "sorrow" or "grief," frequently used for the pain of loss or distress. While similar, *yagôn* can be more general, whereas *ʻâgam* often implies an overwhelming or fainting of the spirit.
* **`{{H6031}}` (ânâ)**: "To be afflicted, humbled, oppressed." This term often describes external pressure or suffering that leads to a state of lowliness, which can certainly induce grief.
* **`{{H5945}}` (atsab)**: "To grieve, pain, vex." This word can describe causing pain or being pained, often with a sense of distress or trouble.
* **`{{H2958}}` (châlal)**: In some forms, can mean "to be pained" or "wounded," often referring to physical or emotional injury.
In contrast, words like `{{H8057}}` (śimchâ, "joy") and `{{H7965}}` (shâlôm, "peace, wholeness") represent the antithesis of the state described by `{{H5701}}`. The concept of lament, a common theme in the Psalms and prophetic literature, is also closely related, as it is the verbal expression of the grief and overwhelming sorrow that `{{H5701}}` describes.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H5701}}` lies in its stark portrayal of human vulnerability and the reality of suffering within a biblical worldview.
1. **Legitimacy of Grief**: The use of *ʻâgam* in [[Psalm 77:3]] by a psalmist demonstrates that profound, even overwhelming, grief is a legitimate human experience, even for the righteous. It is not necessarily a sign of a lack of faith but a raw, honest expression of a soul in deep distress before God. It underscores the biblical affirmation of the full spectrum of human emotion, including anguish.
2. **Consequence of Judgment**: In [[Isaiah 19:10]], *ʻâgam* serves as a powerful descriptor of the devastating impact of divine judgment. It illustrates that national sin and rebellion can lead to such widespread distress that the very spirit of the people is crushed. This highlights God's sovereignty and the severe consequences of defying His will.
3. **Divine Empathy**: While the word describes human suffering, the biblical narrative consistently presents a God who is not distant from the cries of His people. The very inclusion of such terms in Scripture implies God's awareness and, often, His eventual response to the overwhelming grief experienced by humanity.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H5701}}` (*ʻâgam*) is a potent, albeit rare, term signifying a deep and overwhelming state of sadness or grief. It describes a condition where the spirit is burdened, faint, or crushed by distress. Its occurrences in the Hebrew Bible highlight two primary contexts: the intensely personal and spiritual anguish of an individual wrestling with God ([[Psalm 77:3]]) and the widespread, collective despair resulting from divine judgment and national calamity ([[Isaiah 19:10]]). The word underscores the biblical acknowledgment of profound human suffering, affirming the legitimacy of expressing such overwhelming grief, while also serving as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of sin and judgment. Its powerful imagery contributes to a rich biblical understanding of the human emotional landscape in relation to both personal experience and divine interaction.
TRV