Lexical Summary hayyah: Beast, animal, living creature Original Word: הַיָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance calamity Another form for hovah; ruin -- calamity. see HEBREW hovah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee havvah. Brown-Driver-Briggs הַיָּה noun feminine destruction, suffix הַיָּתִי Job 6:2 Kt, id quod הַוָּתִי (Qr), and probably an error for it: see הַוָּה 2 [הַיָּה] noun feminine only הַיָּתִי Hab Micah 6:2 Kt see הַוָּה. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Conceptual Range The term הַיָּה (Strong’s 1962) conveys the idea of a crushing misfortune or “calamity” heavy enough to be pictured as a load on a set of scales. It belongs to a small group of Hebrew nouns that evoke sudden ruin or overwhelming disaster (compare הַוָּה, Strong’s 1942; רָעָה, Strong’s 7451; and צָרָה, Strong’s 6869). Unlike broader words for “evil” or “trouble,” הַיָּה emphasizes the experiential weight of adversity—disaster felt as a burden. Usage in Job 6:2 “If only my grief could be weighed and my calamity placed with it on the scales!” (Job 6:2) Job pairs “my grief” (כַּעְסִי) with “my calamity” (וְהַיָּתִי), pleading for an objective weighing of his pain. The singular occurrence of הַיָּה heightens its force: the reader meets the word only here, precisely where Job struggles to articulate the intolerable load of suffering. In Job’s legal-sounding protest, the courtroom image of balanced scales underscores his conviction that the severity of his affliction has not been justly considered. Historical and Literary Background In the ancient Near East, balances symbolized fairness in commercial and judicial settings (Leviticus 19:36; Proverbs 11:1). By borrowing this cultural metaphor, Job frames his lament as a demand for equitable evaluation before the divine Judge. The vocabulary choice suggests weight rather than mere occurrence, reinforcing the physical and emotional oppression of calamity. Theological Reflections 1. Human Suffering and Divine Justice: Job’s outcry with הַיָּה affirms that Scripture does not trivialize pain. The Spirit-inspired text legitimizes lament, allowing believers to voice anguish without forfeiting faith. Canonical Connections • Psalm 55:22 invites the sufferer to “cast your burden on the LORD,” an implicit reversal of Job 6:2. Pastoral and Homiletical Applications • Counselors may guide believers to articulate their own הַיָּה before God, modeling honest lament while steering hearts toward hope (Psalm 62:8). Comparative Study with Synonyms While רָעָה often describes moral evil and צָרָה denotes tightness or distress, הַיָּה focuses on catastrophic impact. Recognizing these nuances enriches exegesis: Job is not charging God with moral evil but pleading that the crushing consequences of existence in a fallen world be acknowledged. Summary for Ministry Significance Though occurring only once, הַיָּה serves as a theological pivot in Job’s dialogue, encapsulating the human craving for vindication amid unexplained suffering. Its solitary appearance magnifies the message: even the heaviest calamity can be brought before God, who ultimately balances the scales through the atoning work of His Son and the promise of final judgment and restoration. Forms and Transliterations וְ֝הַוָּתִ֗י והותי vehavvaTi wə·haw·wā·ṯî wəhawwāṯîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 6:2 HEB: [וְהַיָּתִי כ] (וְ֝הַוָּתִ֗י ק) בְּֽמֹאזְנַ֥יִם INT: weighed my grief calamity the balances and laid 1 Occurrence |
    |