Lexical Summary haphugah: Relief, respite, intermission Original Word: הֲפֻגָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance intermission From puwg; relaxation -- intermission. see HEBREW puwg NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pug Definition benumbing, cessation NASB Translation stopping (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [הֲפוּגָה] noun feminine id.; — plural מֵאֵין הֲפֻגוֺת Lamentations 3:49 (of weeping; form very strange, read probably מֻּגוֺת), Topical Lexicon Overview הֲפֻגָה denotes a respite, intermission, or pause in affliction. Though it occurs only once in the Old Testament, the term crystallizes the universal longing for God-granted relief amid unrelenting sorrow. Canonical Setting Lamentations 3:49 records the word’s single appearance: “My eyes flow unceasingly, without relief”. The verse sits within Jeremiah’s personal lament (Lamentations 3:48-51), written after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. The prophet’s tears reflect the nation’s devastation and the prolonged nature of divine discipline foretold in the covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:58-63). Historical Background Jerusalem’s siege produced starvation, death, and exile. Survivors saw no immediate cessation of suffering; their city lay in ruins, the temple burned, and families torn apart (2 Kings 25:8-12). In such circumstances, הֲפֻגָה captures the ache of a people who cannot find even a momentary pause in anguish. Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty over Relief The lack of הֲפֻגָה underscores that God alone opens or closes the door to respite (Job 5:18; Isaiah 14:3). Deliverance is not ultimately human-generated but granted in God’s time and according to His redemptive purposes. 2. Persistence of Covenant Mercy Immediately after lamenting “no relief,” the prophet proclaims, “Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Even when relief is withheld, steadfast love endures. 3. Call to Repentance and Hope The lament moves from piercing grief to renewed trust (Lamentations 3:40-41). Relief is linked to sincere repentance and faith in God’s faithfulness. 4. Foreshadowing Eschatological Comfort Scripture resolves the tension of unrelieved tears in the eschaton: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4). הֲפֻגָה therefore points beyond temporal respite to final, eternal rest. Biblical Parallels • Psalm 6:6-9 – David’s unceasing tears find resolution when the LORD hears his plea. These passages trace a consistent narrative: authentic relief arises from God’s intervention, often following persistent lament and repentance. Christological Fulfillment Jesus enters the world’s unrelieved agony, weeping over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) and bearing divine wrath on the cross (Matthew 27:46). His resurrection inaugurates the “better rest” promised in Hebrews 4:8-10. Thus, הֲפֻגָה anticipates the ultimate relief secured in the gospel. Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Validating Lament: Congregations can employ biblical lament to express ongoing pain without embarrassment, knowing Scripture itself gives language for tears “without relief.” Homiletical Notes • A sermon titled “When Tears Find No Relief” can explore Lamentations 3:49-58, emphasizing God’s faithfulness amid prolonged trials. Conclusion הֲפֻגָה, though rare in Scripture, articulates the deep human need for God’s pause in pain. Its solitary usage intensifies its theological weight: only the LORD can grant true relief, and He will—ultimately and eternally—in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations הֲפֻגֽוֹת׃ הפגות׃ hă·p̄u·ḡō·wṯ hafuGot hăp̄uḡōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Lamentations 3:49 HEB: תִדְמֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ין הֲפֻגֽוֹת׃ NAS: unceasingly, Without stopping, KJV: and ceaseth not, without any intermission, INT: and ceaseth Without stopping 1 Occurrence |
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