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יָעַף

𐤉𐤏𐤐

yâʻaph

H3286 verb

SILEX Entry

Root יעף to tire, become weary, exhaust

Definition

To become weary, grow exhausted, or lose strength, especially from exertion, labor, or travel. Also to weaken or make weary. The primary usage is of individuals or groups becoming physically or emotionally fatigued, occasionally extending metaphorically to animals or troops. In some instances, the niphal form reflects a passive sense of being worn out or spent.

Semantic Range

to become weary, to grow faint, to be exhausted, to cause to be weary, to cause exhaustion, to be worn out (pass.), to tire (lit. and fig.), to grow weak

Root / Etymology

Root יָעַף (יעף), a verb of Semitic origin. The root conveys the notion of weariness or fatigue, often as a result of physical activity or arduous effort. The actual verb consistently means to be or become weary, not specifically to fly, despite associations of weariness with flight in poetic passages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

This verb occurs primarily in poetic or prophetic contexts (e.g., Isaiah 40:28-30), where weariness is contrasted with divine strength or the extraordinary endurance ascribed to those who rely on God. The word appears in qal (active, 'to be weary'), pi'el ('to make weary'), and niphal (passive, 'to be worn out') forms. While the Strong's gloss includes 'cause to fly,' this probably arises from context (e.g., imagery referring to birds) rather than being a primary meaning of the verb; the core semantic field concerns tiredness rather than literal flight. English translations sometimes render the term as 'faint,' 'grow weary,' or 'be exhausted.' The usage is not limited to physical exhaustion but may, in context, extend to emotional or existential weariness. Related roots include עָיֵף (ʿāyēf, 'weary'). No religious or ethnic identity is intrinsic to the term; it is applied broadly to all individuals or groups experiencing weariness, both Israelites and non-Israelites.

Translation Consistency

primary "tire" 5 occurrences

"Tire" is the most natural, versatile English verb to cover the full range of yâʻaph — intransitive (become tired, grow faint), transitive (cause to be tired), and passive senses (be tired). It matches the typical physical/exertional sense and reads naturally across contexts.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"grow weary" (2x) "weary ones" (1x) "grows weary" (1x) "flying swiftly" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to tire (as if from wearisome flight); faint, cause to fly, (be) weary (self).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יעף (y-ʿ-p̄) — to tire, become weary, exhaust

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3288 יְעָף weariness
H8443 תּוֹעָפָה like mighty-powers of

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3286-07 יִיעָֽפוּ yiafu HVqi3mp faint they will grow weary they will tire 3
H3286-04 וְ/יָעֵֽפוּ veyaefu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall be weary and they became weary and they tired 2
H3286-01 הַ/יְּעֵפִ֖ים hayeefim HTd/Aampa who are weary the weary ones the weary ones 1
H3286-03 וַ/יִּיעָֽף vayiaf HC/Vqw3ms and-he-faints and he grew weary and it grows weary 1
H3286-06 יִיעַ֖ף yiaf HVqi3ms faint he will grow weary he will grow weary 1
H3286-05 וְ/יִֽעֲפ֥וּ veyiafu HC/Vqi3mp and youths shall faint and they will grow weary and they will grow weary 1
H3286-02 מֻעָ֣ף muaf HVHsmsa being caused to fly exhausted one one flying swiftly 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3286-01 Judges 8:15 הַ/יְּעֵפִ֖ים hayeefim HTd/Aampa who are weary the weary ones the weary ones
H3286-06 Isaiah 40:28 יִיעַ֖ף yiaf HVqi3ms faint he will grow weary he will grow weary
H3286-05 Isaiah 40:30 וְ/יִֽעֲפ֥וּ veyiafu HC/Vqi3mp and youths shall faint and they will grow weary and they will grow weary
H3286-07 Isaiah 40:31 יִיעָֽפוּ yiafu HVqi3mp faint they will grow weary they will tire
H3286-03 Isaiah 44:12 וַ/יִּיעָֽף vayiaf HC/Vqw3ms and-he-faints and he grew weary and it grows weary
H3286-07 Jeremiah 2:24 יִיעָ֔פוּ yiafu HVqi3mp will weary they will grow weary they will tire
H3286-04 Jeremiah 51:58 וְ/יָעֵֽפוּ veyaefu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall be weary and they became weary and they tired
H3286-04 Jeremiah 51:64 וְ/יָעֵ֑פוּ veyaefu HC/Vqq3cp and-they-shall-be-weary and they became weary and they tired
H3286-07 Habakkuk 2:13 יִעָֽפוּ yiafu HVqi3mp grow weary they will grow weary they will tire
H3286-02 Daniel 9:21 מֻעָ֣ף muaf HVHsmsa being caused to fly exhausted one one flying swiftly
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