{Word Study} Satisfy
WORD STUDY – SATISFY
Jeremiah 31:25: “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the
faint.”
SATISFY – Hebrew: mala – satisfy, fill, to insert into or fill
as the setting of precious stones into a bracelet, necklace,
or crown.
Jeremiah is speaking of the future restoration of Judah after
going through captivity.
He talks of refreshing the weary
but then he will satisfy or fill the faint.
The word
“refresh” in the Hebrew is “ravah” which is very hard to
define. You really need to experience “ravah” to understand
the word.
The English word “refresh” is probably the best we
can do but “ravah” means much more than that.
The word
“weary” is “aphah” which could mean weary or could mean
thirsty.
Considering the picture that is being drawn and the
fact that the word “aphah” is a direct object of the word
“ravah” I would be incline to render this as “thirsty.” The
picture being drawn is that of one who has wandered in a
desert without water and is taking his first sip of water.
The next words are curious. He will “satisfy the faint.”
What satisfaction does a fainting person need?
The word
“satisfy” in the Hebrew if “mala’” which is commonly used to
express the idea of filling.
The word “faint” is “da’avah”
which means to flow away. It is also used to express anxiety
or distress. However, to stay with the picture of wandering
in a desert, we would best render this as faint.
The picture
is one who has wandered in the desert until he has reached the
point of collapse. He has fallen to the ground overcome with
thirst and weariness to the point of fainting. God then rides
up on His camel loaded with bags of water where the weary
travel can drink his fill and God puts him on the camel to
carry him to his journey’s end.
What I find a little curious is the use of the word “da’avah”
(faint) as the direct object of “mala (fill, satisfy).” How
do you fill someone that is faint. A person becomes faint
because they lack something, either water or air. Hence, God
is not just reviving someone who is faint, He is filling them
with whatever is lacking that is causing them to faint or be
weary.
Many times I am thirsting after something but I am not sure
what it is. I soon find myself growing wearing in that quest
to satisfy this unnamed thirst.
God has promised to quench
that thirst and to not just revive me when I have grown weary,
but to supply whatever it is that lack that is causing me to
be weary or grow faint.
There is one word that is in the Hebrew text and not found in
the English translation used above. It is the word “nephesh”
or “soul.”
God will satisfy the weary “soul” and fill the
soul that is fainting.
Here it makes sense to use the word
“mala” for fill. The word itself tells us what God will fill
our souls with. The word is spelled “Mem – Revealed knowledge
of God. Lamed – learning, and Aleph – God.”
Our weary souls
are revived when we fill it with the revealed knowledge or the
Word of God.
We are offering a Christmas special throughout the month of
December
20% off all merchandise
Which includes all books, teaching manuals and cd’s any of
which would make a wonderful Christmas or grab bag gift.
Order early to receive your purchase before Christmas.
Please contact us at [email protected] to place your
order.
As our gift to you, we will include free gift wrapping & a
Hebrew alphabet bookmark with every book and manual purchased.
{Word Study} Faint “Da’avah”
Jeremiah 31:25: “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the
faint.”
Faint – Hebrew: da’avah – To flow away with anxiety and/or
distress
Jeremiah is speaking of the future restoration of Judah after
going through captivity.
The word “refresh” in the Hebrew is
“ravah” which is very hard to define.
You really need to
experience “ravah” to understand the word.
The English word
“refresh” is probably the best we can do but “ravah” means
much more than that. The word “weary” is “aphah” which could
mean weary or could mean thirsty.
Considering the picture
that is being drawn and the fact that the word “aphah” is a
direct object of the word “ravah” I would be incline to render
this as “thirsty.” The picture being drawn is that of one who
has wandered in a desert without water and is taking his first
sip of water.
. The next words are curious. He will “satisfy the faint.”
What satisfaction does a fainting person need?
The word
“satisfy” in the Hebrew if “mala” which is commonly used to
express the idea of filling.
The word “faint” is “da’avah”
which means to flow away. It is also used to express anxiety
or distress. However, to stay with the picture of wandering
in a desert, we would best render this as faint.
The picture
is one who has wandered in the desert until he has reached the
point of collapse. He has fallen to the ground overcome with
thirst and weariness to the point of fainting. God then rides
up on His camel loaded with bags of water where the weary
travel can drink his fill and God puts him on the camel to
carry him to his journey’s end.
What I find a little curious is the use of the word “da’avah”
as the direct object of “mala.” How do you fill someone that
is faint? A person becomes faint because they lack something,
either water or air. Hence, God is not just reviving someone
who is faint, He is filling them with whatever is lacking that
is causing them to faint or be weary.
There is one word that is in the Hebrew and not found in the
translation used above. It is the word “nephesh” or “soul.”
God will satisfy the weary “soul” and fill the soul that is
fainting.
Here it makes sense to use the word “mala” for
fill. The word itself tells us what God will fill our souls
with.
The word is spelled “mem – water of life, lamed –
learning, and aleph – God.”
God fills our weary souls with
the water of life that comes from learning about Him and/or
knowing Him.