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כָּהָה

𐤊𐤄𐤄

kâhâh

H3543 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To become dull, faint, or dim; to lose strength, vitality, or clarity, either physically or metaphorically. The term is used for the weakening or fading of light, the dimming of vision (as in the eyes), or the lessening of energy or resolve. It can also carry a figurative sense of discouragement or loss of spirit, and in certain forms can mean to dull or weaken something or someone else (causative).

Semantic Range

to grow dim (of light or sight), to lose strength, to become faint, to lose vitality or energy, to become discouraged, to be restrained, to fade, to darken, to dull (causative), to lessen in intensity

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root כהה, which denotes the core idea of 'becoming weak or faint.' The verb itself signifies the process of losing intensity, clarity, or force, and is applied to both physical and non-physical phenomena.

Historical & Contextual Notes

כָּהָה occurs relatively infrequently in the Hebrew Bible. Its most common uses are in reference to the weakening of vision (e.g. Genesis 27:1; Deuteronomy 34:7, both regarding the dimming of Isaac's and Moses' eyesight with age), and the diminished brightness of physical light (as in Isaiah 42:4 regarding a dimly burning wick, or metaphorically for diminished resolve). In poetry and prophetic literature, the term may describe the fading of energy, status, or hope. Occasionally, it is causative (hiphil), referring to the act of weakening or dulling. כָּהָה is distinct from related terms such as עָפַל (to be dark) or חָלָשׁ (to be weak physically), in that כָּהָה focuses on the process of fading or dimming, not merely the state of weakness or darkness. Standard English translations often use 'dim,' 'faint,' or 'grow weak,' but may miss the nuance of gradual loss intrinsic to כָּהָה. In post-exilic and later biblical Hebrew, the metaphorical sense becomes more prominent, paralleling the concept of discouragement or loss of hope. The English idiom 'to fade' may sometimes capture the nuance more accurately than 'fail.'

Translation Consistency

primary "fade" 0 occurrences

“Fade” naturally covers the primary senses — light or sight growing dim, strength or energy lessening, and figurative loss of spirit — while remaining a common, idiomatic verb. It also accommodates occasional causative uses (to dull or lessen) and is more natural-sounding across the typical contexts than more formal alternatives like “diminish.”

Alternatives (8 occurrences):
"grew dim" (2x) "dulled" (1x) "grow faint" (1x) "fail" (1x) "growing dim" (1x) "grow dim" (1x) "grown dim" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be weak, i.e. (figuratively) to despond (causatively, rebuke), or (of light, the eye) to grow dull; darken, be dim, fail, faint, restrain, [idiom] utterly.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כהה (k-h-h) — weakness, faintness, dimness

Root כהה to become weak, to become faint, to become dim
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3544 כֵּהֶה he dimmed
H3545 כֵּהָה he weakened

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3543-04 תִכְהֶֽה tikheheh HVqi3fs be dimmed she will grow dim it will grow dim 1
H3543-02 כָהֲתָ֥ה khahatah HVqp3fs had-grown-dim she grew dim grew dim 1
H3543-05 וַ/תֵּ֣כַהּ vatekhah HC/Vqw3fs and-has-grown-dim and she grew faint and has grown dim 1
H3543-06 וַ/תִּכְהֶ֥יןָ vatikheheyna HC/Vqw3fp were dim they grew dim they grew dim 1
H3543-01 כָּהֹ֥ה kahoh HVqa utterly growing dim growing dim 1
H3543-08 יִכְהֶה֙ yikheheh HVqi3ms grow faint he will grow faint he will grow faint 1
H3543-07 וְ/כִהֲתָ֣ה vekhihatah HC/Vpq3fs and will fail and she dulled and will fail 1
H3543-03 כִהָ֖ה khihah HVpp3ms restrained he dulled he dulled 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3543-06 Genesis 27:1 וַ/תִּכְהֶ֥יןָ vatikheheyna HC/Vqw3fp were dim they grew dim they grew dim
H3543-02 Deuteronomy 34:7 כָהֲתָ֥ה khahatah HVqp3fs had-grown-dim she grew dim grew dim
H3543-03 1 Samuel 3:13 כִהָ֖ה khihah HVpp3ms restrained he dulled he dulled
H3543-08 Isaiah 42:4 יִכְהֶה֙ yikheheh HVqi3ms grow faint he will grow faint he will grow faint
H3543-07 Ezekiel 21:12 וְ/כִהֲתָ֣ה vekhihatah HC/Vpq3fs and will fail and she dulled and will fail
H3543-01 Zechariah 11:17 כָּהֹ֥ה kahoh HVqa utterly growing dim growing dim
H3543-04 Zechariah 11:17 תִכְהֶֽה tikheheh HVqi3fs be dimmed she will grow dim it will grow dim
H3543-05 Job 17:7 וַ/תֵּ֣כַהּ vatekhah HC/Vqw3fs and-has-grown-dim and she grew faint and has grown dim
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