What does יָגַע (yāgaʿ) mean in the Bible?
Growing weary describes the fatigue or exhausting effort of a person or activity. The surroundings identify what produces that weariness and whether the labor is commended or questioned.
Hebrew · H3021
יָגַע
Growing weary describes the fatigue or exhausting effort of a person or activity. The surroundings identify what produces that weariness and whether the labor is commended or questioned.
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יָגַעH3021
Pronunciationyāgaʿ
What does יָגַע (yāgaʿ) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for יָגַע (H3021) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3021?
The BSB source-word alignment has 26 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include I am weary (2), and weary (1), grew weary (1), grow weary (1), have we wearied Him (1).
Where does יָגַע (yāgaʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Joshua 7:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (12), Jeremiah (2), Joshua (2), Malachi (2).
What This Word Actually Means
Growing weary describes the fatigue or exhausting effort of a person or activity. The surroundings identify what produces that weariness and whether the labor is commended or questioned. Isaiah 40:28 denies weariness of the everlasting Creator, and the following verses contrast His strength with human weakness. Proverbs 23:4 warns against wearing oneself out in pursuit of riches.
Psalm 6:6 describes the worshiper's exhaustion from groaning and nighttime tears. These witnesses neither make all work futile nor diagnose every tired person as disobedient. The difference between God's unwearied power and our limited strength supports dependence rather than shame. Wisdom can challenge an exhausting ambition while lament can honestly name a burden that needs care.
The verb gives language for limits; it does not promise that trusting God removes the need for rest or makes a person physically inexhaustible.
Passage contextPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
The Creator does not weary, wealth-seeking can exhaust and a worshiper can grow tired through lament. These settings distinguish divine strength, questionable ambition and real human vulnerability.
- Isa.40.28
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.
The everlasting Creator's freedom from weariness answers Israel's fear of being overlooked; the surrounding verses promise strength to weak people without identifying them as failures.
- Prov.23.4
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
The warning addresses exhausting pursuit of riches and is followed by wealth's flight, exposing a particular ambition rather than condemning all diligent work.
- Ps.6.6
I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.
The speaker's weariness comes through groaning and tears in a plea for deliverance; the lament acknowledges distress rather than pretending prayer prevents fatigue.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItI am weary2×Psalms 6:6, Psalms 69:3
and weary1×Isaiah 40:30
grew weary1×2 Samuel 23:10
grow weary1×Isaiah 40:31
have we wearied Him1×Malachi 2:17
I am worn out1×Jeremiah 45:3
I have labored1×Isaiah 49:4
labor1×Isaiah 65:23
or weary1×Isaiah 40:28
should I labor1×Job 9:29
So the labor1×Jeremiah 51:58
that the labor1×Habakkuk 2:13
toil1×Joshua 24:13
we are weary1×Lamentations 5:5
wear out1×Joshua 7:3
wear yourself out1×Proverbs 23:4
wearied1×Isaiah 43:23
wearies him1×Ecclesiastes 10:15
You are wearied1×Isaiah 57:10
you have grown weary1×Isaiah 43:22
you have labored1×Isaiah 47:15
you have toiled1×Isaiah 62:8
You have wearied1×Malachi 2:17
you have wearied Me1×Isaiah 43:24
you have wearied yourself1×Isaiah 47:12
Show sample aligned rows
Joshua 7:3תְּיַגַּע־towear outVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularJoshua 24:13יָגַ֣עְתָּtotoilVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular2 Samuel 23:10יָגְעָ֣הtogrew wearyVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularJob 9:29אִיגָֽע׃toshould I laborVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularPsalms 6:6יָגַ֤עְתִּי׀toI am wearyVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularPsalms 69:3יָגַ֣עְתִּיtoI am wearyVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularProverbs 23:4תִּיגַ֥עtowear yourself outVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularEcclesiastes 10:15תְּיַגְּעֶ֑נּוּtowearies himVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singularIsaiah 40:28יִיגָ֑עtoor wearyVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 40:30וְיִגָ֑עוּtoand wearyConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowJoshua 7:3
Aligned rows26
Books represented11
Joshua22 Samuel1Job1Psalms2Proverbs1Ecclesiastes1Isaiah12Jeremiah2Lamentations1Habakkuk1Malachi2
Source forms
יָגַ֖עַתְּ2xyā·ḡa·‘atIsaiah 47:12, Isaiah 62:8
אִיגָֽע׃1x’î·ḡā‘Job 9:29
הוֹגָ֑עְנוּ1xhō·w·ḡā·‘ə·nūMalachi 2:17
הוֹגַעְתִּ֖יךָ1xhō·w·ḡa‘·tî·ḵāIsaiah 43:23
הוֹגַעְתֶּ֤ם1xhō·w·ḡa‘·temMalachi 2:17
הוֹגַעְתַּ֖נִי1xhō·w·ḡa‘·ta·nîIsaiah 43:24
וְיִֽגְע֨וּ1xwə·yiḡ·‘ūJeremiah 51:58
וְיִגָ֑עוּ1xwə·yi·ḡā·‘ūIsaiah 40:30
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular4xPsalms 6:6, Psalms 69:3, Isaiah 49:4, Jeremiah 45:3
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular4xIsaiah 47:12, Isaiah 47:15, Isaiah 57:10, Isaiah 62:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural3xIsaiah 40:30, Jeremiah 51:58, Habakkuk 2:13
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xIsaiah 40:31, Isaiah 65:23
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular2xJoshua 24:13, Isaiah 43:22
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common plural1xMalachi 2:17
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular1xIsaiah 43:23
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural1xMalachi 2:17
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Encourage sustainable service and needed care without treating exhaustion as a reliable test of spiritual commitment.
- Question consuming pursuit of riches while taking the fatigue of work, loss and caregiving seriously.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical exhaustion from labor that extends metaphorically to spiritual weariness and the burden of human toil
Strong'sH3021
Lexical occurrences26 versesWord forms3 forms20 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 23:4-5Source Gloss
properly, to gasp ; hence, to be exhausted , to tire , to toil
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical exhaustion from labor that extends metaphorically to spiritual weariness and the burden of human toil
properly, to gasp; hence, to be exhausted, to tire, to toil BDB: toil Usage: faint, (make to) labour, (be) weary.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms20
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense17×
PerfectIsa 47:12 · Isa 47:15 · Isa 57:10 · Isa 62:8 · Isa 49:4 · Jer 45:3 · Ps 6:7 · Ps 69:4 · Isa 43:22 · Josh 24:13 · 2Sam 23:10 · Lam 5:512×
ImperfectIsa 40:31 · Isa 65:23 · Isa 40:28 · Job 9:294×
JussiveProv 23:41×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
JussiveJosh 7:31×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action2×
PerfectMal 2:172×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
exhaustion from laboring to gain wealth through scheming
Showing 1 selected witness from 26 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
יָגַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Isaiah 40 answers a people who believe their way has been hidden from the Lord. His unwearied strength belongs to His identity as everlasting Creator, while the passage openly acknowledges that even young people become tired. The promise of renewed strength invites waiting on Him; it does not erase the distinction between Creator and creature. Proverbs 23 supplies a more targeted warning about exhausting oneself to obtain riches, and Psalm 6 gives a tired worshiper words for distress.
Teachers need all those distinctions. They can confront consuming ambition without accusing everyone who is fatigued, and encourage dependence without promising unlimited stamina. Patient prayer, care and recognition of human limits can stand together. Christian service flows from received grace rather than a demand to prove faith by never becoming tired.
Anchor passage
Isa.40.28
Doctrinal connections
- Isaiah 40:27-28 answers Israel's complaint by naming the everlasting Creator's unfailing strength and understanding.
- Isaiah 40:29-31 acknowledges youthful fatigue and promises renewed strength to those waiting on the Lord.
- Proverbs 23:4-5 connects exhaustion for riches with the instability of the desired wealth.
- Psalm 6:4-8 permits groaning, tears and weariness within a prayer that seeks deliverance.
- Joshua 24:13 reminds Israel of land and provision not obtained through its own toil, locating received gifts within covenant history.
- Matthew 11:28-30 invites the weary to Jesus and His yoke; the thematic comparison rests on His invitation rather than a Hebrew fatigue gloss.
Weariness can be predicated of a person or denied of God. Its presence does not specify a moral cause; phrases about riches, groaning or renewed strength supply the differing purposes of the statement.
From Old to New Testament
Isaiah distinguishes God's unwearied power from creaturely fatigue, while the psalm names exhaustion honestly. Matthew 11:28-30 invites weary people to Jesus and His rest. This canonical comparison directs dependence toward Christ without identifying all fatigue as sin or promising physical endurance without ordinary limits.
Passage contextCanonical parallelPastoral application