Lexical Summary leach: Burning, Scorching Original Word: לֵחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance freshness, vigor From the same as lach; freshness, i.e. Vigor: see HEBREW lach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as lach Definition moisture, freshness NASB Translation vigor (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [לֵחַ] noun masculine moisture, freshness (i.e. force, vigour); — suffix וְלֹא נָס לֵחהֹ Deuteronomy 34:7 and his freshness had not fled; read probably also בְּלֵחוֺ for ᵑ0 בְּלַחְמוֺ Jeremiah 11:19 (see לֶחֶם near the end; on Zephaniah 1:17 see לְחוּם). לְחִי, לֶ֑חִי see לחה. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery The term conveys the idea of “moisture,” “sap,” or “freshness,” a vivid picture of the life-giving fluid that keeps a branch green and supple. By extension it signifies vigor, liveliness, and undiminished strength—qualities that stand in contrast to the brittleness and decay that normally accompany old age. Biblical Usage Its sole occurrence is Deuteronomy 34:7, which records, “Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not diminished” (Berean Standard Bible). Within the Torah this statement forms the final evaluation of Moses’ earthly life and leadership. Divine Preservation of Moses The phrase underscores that Moses finished his calling with the same God-given vigor that had sustained him since the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6). Forty years of wilderness hardship did not erode the freshness of his physical and spiritual capacities. The word therefore testifies to the Lord’s faithfulness in enabling His servant to complete the mission of delivering Israel, receiving the Law, and shepherding the nation to the edge of the Promised Land. Connection to the Motif of Sap and Flourishing Other Hebrew words for “fatness,” “greeness,” and “sap” (e.g., Psalm 92:14-15; Proverbs 11:28) echo the same life-sustaining motif. Together they build a biblical theology in which true vitality flows from God. The righteous “still bear fruit in old age” because their “sap is fresh” (Psalm 92:14), while the wicked wither like grass. The isolated use of this term in Deuteronomy therefore enriches a broader canonical pattern: longevity joined to God-given productivity. Foreshadowing New-Covenant Renewal The divine empowerment that kept Moses fresh anticipates the New-Testament promise that “though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). Just as Moses’ natural vigor was supernaturally preserved, believers experience spiritual renewal through union with Christ, the true source of life (John 15:1-5). Implications for Ministry and Discipleship 1. Finishing Well: Moses’ undiminished vigor encourages believers to pursue lifelong faithfulness, trusting the Lord to supply strength for every season. Summary In its singular appearance, the word paints a portrait of God-bestowed vitality that outlasts normal human limits. It celebrates the Lord’s power to keep His servants fresh, fruitful, and effective until their appointed work is finished, thereby encouraging every generation to trust Him for sustaining grace. Forms and Transliterations לֵחֹֽה׃ לחה׃ lê·ḥōh leChoh lêḥōhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 34:7 HEB: וְלֹא־ נָ֥ס לֵחֹֽה׃ NAS: was not dim, nor his vigor abated. KJV: was not dim, nor his natural force abated. INT: nor abated his vigor |
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