Lexical Summary yaash: To despair, to lose hope, to give up Original Word: יָאַשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cause to despair, one that is desperate, be no hope A primitive root; to desist, i.e. (figuratively) to despond -- (cause to) despair, one that is desperate, be no hope. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to despair NASB Translation despair (2), despaired (1), hopeless (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs [יָאַשׁ] verb despair (not in Qal) (Late Hebrew Hithpa`el despair of, יֵאוּשׁ desperation; Aramaic Pa`el יָאֵשׁ, etc., make despair (so ᵑ7 Ecclesiastes 2:20); Arabic Niph`al Perfect וְנוֺאַש consecutive 1 Samuel 27:1; Participle נוֺאָשׁ Jeremiah 2:25 3t.; — despair, מִמֶּנִּי שָׁאוּל ׳וְנ לְבַקְּשֵׁנִי 1 Samuel 27:1 and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me; participle desperate, despairing, of Job, Job 6:26; elsewhere נוֺאָ֑שׁ (following אמר) desperate! = there is no hope! Jeremiah 2:25; Jeremiah 18:12; Isaiah 57:10. Pi`el Infinitive לְיַאֵשׁ אֶתלִֿבִּי עַל כָּלהֶֿעָמָל Ecclesiastes 2:20 to make my heart despair, concerning all the toil. יאֹשִׁיָּ֫הוּ, יאֹשִׁיָּה see below אשׁה above Topical Lexicon Core Concept The verb יָאַשׁ portrays the inner decision that hope is gone, leading a person to resignation, despair, or a conviction that ruin is inevitable. Scripture treats such hopelessness not as an unavoidable emotion but as a spiritual crisis that calls either for repentance and renewed trust or for divine intervention and comfort. Survey of Occurrences • 1 Samuel 27:1 – Hunted by Saul, David concludes, “One day I will perish by the hand of Saul,” and prepares to seek refuge among the Philistines. The king‐in‐waiting momentarily loses sight of God’s preserving promise (1 Samuel 16:13). Interpretative Themes 1. Human frailty: Each text uncovers a point where human calculation eclipses divine assurance. Historical and Prophetic Significance In the monarchical period, David’s despair almost drives him into permanent exile, illustrating how fear can derail the redemptive line. In the prophetic books, the cry “It is hopeless” signals not the end of God’s dealings but a turning‐point where judgment or restoration will follow. Jeremiah’s generation chooses judgment; Isaiah 57 anticipates eventual renewal for the contrite (Isaiah 57:15). Pastoral Insights • Discernment: Counsel must distinguish between honest lament (Job) and defiant hopelessness (Jeremiah). Canonical Coherence Old Testament warnings about despair converge with New Testament exhortations: “Let us not grow weary in well-doing” (Galatians 6:9) and “Hope does not disappoint us” (Romans 5:5). The Bible consistently opposes resignation with the certainty of God’s faithfulness. Key Takeaways 1. Despair is a verdict, not a feeling; Scripture treats it as a choice against trust. Forms and Transliterations וְנוֹאַ֨שׁ ונואש לְיַאֵ֣שׁ ליאש נֹאָֽשׁ׃ נאש׃ נוֹאָ֑שׁ נוֹאָ֔שׁ נואש lə·ya·’êš ləya’êš leyaEsh nō’āš nō·’āš nō·w·’āš noAsh nōw’āš venoAsh wə·nō·w·’aš wənōw’ašLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 27:1 HEB: אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וְנוֹאַ֨שׁ מִמֶּ֤נִּי שָׁאוּל֙ NAS: Saul then will despair of searching KJV: and Saul shall despair of me, to seek INT: the land of the Philistines will despair at Saul Job 6:26 Ecclesiastes 2:20 Isaiah 57:10 Jeremiah 2:25 Jeremiah 18:12 6 Occurrences |
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despair) —