The Hebrew word ʻâyêph, represented by H5888, is a primitive root meaning to languish or be wearied. It is a rare term, appearing only 1 time in 1 verse in the entire Bible. Its singular use provides a potent and specific depiction of a soul exhausted by overwhelming violence and distress.
The sole appearance of H5888 is in Jeremiah 4:31, where the prophet describes a sound of profound suffering. He hears a voice of "anguish" H6869 like that of a woman in the agony of bearing her first child H1069. This is the voice of the "daughter of Zion" (H1323, H6726), who bewails herself and spreads out her hands in despair. She cries out, "Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers" H2026. The word captures a state of utter depletion and life-threatening exhaustion in the face of deadly assault.
Several related words from its context in Jeremiah 4:31 illuminate the depth of this weariness:
- H2470 châlâh (to be weak, sick, afflicted): This word describes the state of a "woman in travail" and is used as a direct simile for Zion's suffering. It connects the weariness of H5888 to a state of profound physical and emotional affliction.
- H6869 tsârâh (anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble): Used in parallel with the travail of childbirth, this term defines the intense emotional trouble and adversity that gives rise to the soul's weariness.
- H188 ʼôwy (woe): This is the lamentation cried out by the daughter of Zion. It is the verbal expression of the profound suffering and despair that comes when one's soul is wearied to its limit.
- H5315 nephesh (soul): This word, representing a breathing creature or life itself, is the subject of the weariness. It is not merely the body or mind that is tired, but the very essence of life that is languishing.
The theological weight of H5888 is concentrated in its powerful, singular context.
- Personification of Suffering: The word is used to describe the "soul" of the "daughter of Zion," personifying the collective exhaustion and despair of the people of God under severe judgment and attack.
- Weariness from Sin's Consequences: The weariness is not random; it is explicitly caused "because of murderers" H2026. This links the state of languishing directly to the devastating impact of violence and wickedness in the world.
- A State of Utter Helplessness: The imagery of a soul being wearied is paired with the spreading of hands H6566, a gesture of desperation and appeal. It portrays a moment when all strength is gone, leaving only the ability to express profound woe.
In summary, while appearing only once, H5888 offers a deeply evocative picture of exhaustion. It is not a word for common tiredness but for a soul languishing under the weight of mortal anguish and violence. Its use in Jeremiah 4:31 encapsulates the profound despair of the daughter of Zion, whose very life force is depleted by the horrific reality of sin and its consequences, creating a powerful image of communal and spiritual collapse.
TRV