כֵּהָה
𐤊𐤄𐤄
kêhâh
H3545 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State of being faint, weak, or diminished in strength, intensity, or effect; in concrete contexts, refers to a lessening or softening of pain or affliction, and so can denote relief or healing. While in some cases it can refer directly to physical recovery or easing of distress, more commonly it describes a general reduction in vigor, sharpness, or severity, whether applied to physical, emotional, or moral conditions.
Semantic Range
weakness, faintness, dimness, reduction of pain, relief, alleviation, healing, lessening of severity
Root / Etymology
From the root כהה, which means 'to be faint, dim, to become weak or dull.' כֵּהָה is the feminine form, used as a noun meaning 'weakness' or 'relief' depending on context. Root meaning focuses on the quality of being lessened or diminished.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, כֵּהָה appears rarely and typically in poetic or semi-poetic contexts to indicate the easing of suffering or a weakening of some negative force. Its sense ranges from literal physical weakening or relief (as in Job 16:6, where it refers to an alleviation of pain or grief) to metaphorical use for diminished intensity. In later periods, the core sense of weakness or alleviation persists, though its application to medical healing is relatively rare and reflects a more general notion of recovery or palliative relief than precise medicinal healing. The translation 'healing' in some English versions reflects the term's function in context but may narrow its semantic range, as the Hebrew also covers partial or temporary lessening rather than total cure. The word is closely related to כֵּהֶה (kehéh), the masculine form, used more commonly as an adjective ('dim,' 'weak,' 'faint').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of כֵּהֶה; properly, a weakening; figuratively, alleviation, i.e. cure; healing.
Bantu Hebrew
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כהה (k-h-h) — to be weak, to be faint, to be dim, to be dull
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3545-01 |
כֵּהָ֣ה | kehah | HNcfsa |
healing | he weakened | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3545-01 |
Nahum 3:19 | כֵּהָ֣ה | kehah | HNcfsa |
healing | he weakened |