English · KJV
H5889

עָיֵף

ʻâyêph /aw-yafe'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom עָיֵף
Meaninglanguid
KJV usagefaint, thirsty, weary.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻâyêph — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻâyêph, represented by H5889, describes a state of being languid, faint, thirsty, or weary. It appears 17 times in 17 unique verses, consistently depicting a condition of deep exhaustion or longing, whether physical or spiritual.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H5889 is used to illustrate profound human need. It describes the physical exhaustion of Esau after returning from the field Genesis 25:29 and the state of Gideon's men, who were "faint, yet pursuing" their enemies Judges 8:4. The term is also used metaphorically to express spiritual desperation, as when the psalmist's soul longs for God like a "thirsty land" Psalms 143:6. Furthermore, it signifies a state of vulnerability, as when the Amalekites attacked the Israelites when they were "faint and weary" Deuteronomy 25:18. God's provision is often contrasted with this state, as He promises to be a refuge in a "weary land" Isaiah 32:2 and to satiate the "weary soul" Jeremiah 31:25.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of being weary and the relief from it:

  • H7457 râʻêb (hungry): Often paired with H5889 to depict a state of complete physical depletion. David's followers were described as hungry, "weary," and thirsty 2 Samuel 17:29.
  • H6771 tsâmêʼ (thirsty): This term is frequently associated with H5889 to express intense need. The people with David in the wilderness were described as hungry, "weary," and "thirsty" 2 Samuel 17:29.
  • H3023 yâgêaʻ (full of labour, weary): This word appears alongside H5889 to emphasize a state of extreme fatigue, as seen in the description of the Israelites in the wilderness being "faint and weary" Deuteronomy 25:18.
  • H3782 kâshal (to totter or waver... faint or fall): In a prophecy about God's powerful army, it is said that none among them shall be "weary" nor "stumble" Isaiah 5:27, connecting weariness with the potential for failure.
  • H5314 nâphash (to be refreshed): This word serves as a direct contrast. After King David and his people arrived "weary," they "refreshed" themselves, showing the resolution to their exhaustion 2 Samuel 16:14.

Theological Significance

The concept of H5889 carries significant weight, highlighting the human condition and the need for divine intervention.

  • Physical and Spiritual Need: The word bridges the gap between physical exhaustion and spiritual longing. It can describe a person who is physically "faint" Genesis 25:29 as well as a soul that is "thirsty" for God Proverbs 25:25.
  • Promise of Divine Rest: Scripture repeatedly presents God as the one who provides relief to the weary. He offers "rest" to the "weary" Isaiah 28:12 and promises that his presence will bring refreshment.
  • A State of Vulnerability: Being weary is shown as a moment of weakness. It is in this state that Israel is attacked Deuteronomy 25:18, and it is the "weary" beast that is burdened by man-made idols Isaiah 46:1.

Summary

In summary, H5889 is a potent descriptor that goes beyond simple tiredness. It captures a profound state of physical exhaustion, spiritual longing, and vulnerability. The word effectively illustrates the human condition of need and sets the stage for the biblical theme of God providing rest, refreshment, and refuge to those who are faint and weary.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as an adjective across 17 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • עָיֵף
  • עֲיֵפָה
  • עֲיֵפִים

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7457 רָעֵב from רָעֵב; hungry (more or less intensely); hunger bitten, hungry. H6771 צָמֵא from צָמֵא; thirsty (literally or figuratively); (that) thirst(-eth, -y). H3023 יָגֵעַ from יָגַע; tired; hence (transitive) tiresome; full of labour, weary. H3782 כָּשַׁל a primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, st H5314 נָפַשׁ a primitive root; to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon , i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air)

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 17 verses across 9 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (5 verses); never once in the other 30.

2
Genesis
1
Deuteronomy
2
Judges
2
2 Samuel
1
Job
2
Psalms
1
Proverbs
5
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.