Lexical Summary yaven: mire, miry Original Word: יָוֵן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance mire, miry From the same as yayin; properly, dregs (as effervescing); hence, mud -- mire, miry. see HEBREW yayin NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition mire NASB Translation mire (1), miry (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יָוֵן noun [masculine] mire; — absolute מִטִּיט הַיָּוֵן Psalm 40:3; construct טָבַעְתִּי בִיוֵן מְצוּלָה Psalm 69:3. II. יון (√ of following, meaning unknown; יוֺנָה according to LagArmen. Stud. 7. 53; M. i. 228 = Persian wanâ but improbably; Sta§ 259 a conjectures יוֺנָה to be from אָנָה mourn, so DlPa 157). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery יָוֵן paints the picture of viscous, watery mud—mire in which the foot sinks and the body is imperiled. In Hebrew poetry it evokes both physical danger and the helplessness of the soul overwhelmed by trouble. Occurrences 1. Psalm 40:2 – David testifies that the LORD “lifted me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay”, contrasting the instability of יָוֵן with the solid “rock” on which God places him. Literary Context Both psalms are individual laments that move toward praise. The mire imagery marks the turning point from despair to deliverance. The slippery, engulfing mud stands opposite the steadfastness of the LORD who rescues and establishes. Theological Significance • Human helplessness: יָוֵן illustrates the incapacity of self-rescue. The sufferer is immobilized, emphasizing the need for divine intervention. Historical Background Ancient Near Eastern terrain included marshy wadis and cisterns with sludge at the bottom. Falling into such mire could be fatal. The psalmists draw on a familiar danger to communicate existential dread and God’s real-world salvation. Intertextual Echoes Jeremiah’s literal imprisonment “in the mud” (Jeremiah 38:6) echoes יָוֵן thematically, while Job speaks of being “reduced to dust and ashes” (Job 30:19), a parallel image of degradation. The New Testament picks up the motif in 2 Peter 2:22, “a sow that is washed, returns to wallow in the mire,” underscoring the surpassing value of steadfast purity over returning to the enslaving pit. Prophetic and Messianic Resonance Psalm 40 is applied to Christ in Hebrews 10:5-7. The One who ultimately trusted the Father to lift Him from the grave gives the psalm’s imagery its fullest realization. Jesus experienced the depth of human misery so that believers might stand secure. Ministry and Personal Application • Assurance: Believers facing debilitating circumstances can trust the LORD to replace instability with security. Summary יָוֵן serves as a vivid, two-verse reminder of humanity’s peril and God’s power. From sinking despair to steadfast footing, its legacy strengthens faith, deepens repentance, and calls the church to proclaim the Rock who still lifts people from the mire. Forms and Transliterations בִּיוֵ֣ן ביון הַיָּ֫וֵ֥ן היון bî·wên biVen bîwên haiYaVen hay·yā·wên hayyāwênLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 40:2 HEB: שָׁאוֹן֮ מִטִּ֪יט הַיָּ֫וֵ֥ן וַיָּ֖קֶם עַל־ NAS: of destruction, out of the miry clay, KJV: pit, out of the miry clay, INT: of destruction clay of the miry set upon Psalm 69:2 2 Occurrences |
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