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מוּעָף

𐤌𐤅𐤏𐤐

mûwʻâph

H4155 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עוף to fly, to cover over, to envelop

Definition

Obscurity or darkness, particularly associated with partial blindness or the impairment of vision; the state of being in dim light or shadow, with an emphasis on impaired sight such as that caused by disease. The term also metaphoricly refers to affliction or distress through the experience of darkness, especially of the eyes.

Semantic Range

dimness, obscurity, gloom, darkness (of eyes), distress, affliction, covered-over condition

Root / Etymology

Root: עוּף (עוף), meaning 'to fly' or 'to cover over' (contextually related to darkness enveloping). The form מוּעָף is likely derived from the root's nominal or passive sense, indicating 'that which is covered over' or 'the condition of being overshadowed.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

מוּעָף occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Isaiah 8:22 and 9:1 (English 8:23), where it describes the condition of distress, gloom, or dimness affecting those who have suffered judgment or hardship. The nuance is closely linked to the idea of darkness in both literal (dimness of sight due to disease or age) and metaphorical (distress, oppression) contexts. English translations often use 'dimness,' 'gloom,' or 'distress,' but these may not fully encompass the layered sense of both impaired visibility—physical or metaphorical—and the sense of heaviness or covered-over light. Distinct from other Hebrew terms for darkness (חֹשֶׁךְ, 'chōshekh'), מוּעָף highlights especially the experience or result (such as blindness or despair from figurative darkness) rather than the mere presence of an absence of light. In post-biblical usage, its root meanings recede, and related forms may bear broader metaphorical references to affliction.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עוּף; properly, covered, i.e. dark; abstractly, obscurity, i.e. distress; dimness.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עוף (ʿ-w-p̄) — to fly, to cover over, to envelop

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3287 יָעֵף the exhausted one
H4588 מָעוּף shadowed gloom of
H5774 עוּף he flew
H5775 עוֹף flying creature
H5776 עוֹף flying creature

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4155-01 מוּעָף֮ muaf HNcmsa gloom covered-over dimness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4155-01 Isaiah 8:23 מוּעָף֮ muaf HNcmsa gloom covered-over dimness
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