Lexical Summary umlal: Withered, feeble, weak, languishing Original Word: אֻמְלַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance weak From 'amal; sick -- weak. see HEBREW 'amal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom amal Definition feeble NASB Translation pining away (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אֲמֵלָל] adjective feeble (Mishna id.; on formation compare Ew§ 157 b Sta§ 232); הַיְּהוּדִים הָאֲמֵלָלִים Nehemiah 3:34. Topical Lexicon Semantic Vision of WitheringThe verb אֻמְלַל paints the picture of life ebbing away, whether in an individual soul or in the land itself. It evokes plants scorched by a relentless sun, bones aching under sickness, and a once-fruitful earth now brittle and bare. Scripture employs this image to confront human frailty and to underscore dependence on the covenant-keeping God who alone restores vitality. Occurrences and Context Psalm 6:2 places the word on David’s lips in personal lament: “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.” Physical weakness parallels spiritual desperation; the psalmist’s fading strength drives him to seek divine mercy. Joel 1:10 transfers the language from person to landscape: “The field is ruined, the land mourns; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails.” The prophet announces a locust-induced devastation that foreshadows the Day of the LORD. When the produce of field and vine withers, the nation recognizes that sin has cut it off from the life-giving presence of God. Nahum 1:4 repeats the verb twice: “He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon withers.” Here the image underscores the LORD’s absolute sovereignty. Fertile regions famed for cedars and pasture are powerless before His rebuke. What Assyria’s armies cannot touch, God withers at a word. Theological Themes Dependence. Human vigor and agricultural prosperity wither alike apart from divine favor. The verb reminds hearers that “man does not live on bread alone” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Judgment and Mercy. Withering is never depicted as random misfortune; it is a moral signpost. Yet each setting also hints at restoration: David is healed, Joel calls the priests to intercede, and Nahum promises Judah that the oppressor will be cut off while the faithful are delivered. Reversal. The same Lord who withers also revives. Isaiah echoes the thought: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). The final authority of His word guarantees renewal for those who trust it. Historical Resonance • David’s petition (Psalm 6) likely arose during national crisis or personal illness, illustrating how royal leadership begins with humble reliance on God. Ministry Application Pastoral Counsel. Believers facing burnout, illness, or economic loss can voice Psalm 6 without shame, knowing Scripture legitimizes such weakness while directing eyes to God’s grace. Prophetic Warning. Church leaders may draw from Joel and Nahum to remind congregations that moral decay eventually bears visible fruit. Social and environmental crises may function as calls to repentance. Intercession. Just as priests wept between porch and altar (Joel 2:17), modern intercessors stand between a languishing world and the living God, pleading for outpourings of mercy. Christological Reflection On the cross the Messiah “poured out His soul unto death” (Isaiah 53:12), entering the ultimate withering so that those united to Him might flourish eternally. His resurrection certifies the promised reversal: “I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance” (John 10:10). New Testament Echoes While the Greek Scriptures use different vocabulary, the theme resurfaces whenever spiritual barrenness is contrasted with the Spirit’s life. “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5) encapsulates the same truth encoded in אֻמְלַל: severed from the Vine, branches inevitably wither. Worship and Prayer Seasonal prayers for rain, liturgies of repentance, and hymns celebrating spiritual renewal all find vivid language in this verb. By admitting “we are languishing,” worshipers learn to rest in the steadfast love that never withers. Summary אֻמְלַל confronts the reader with a sobering yet hopeful reality: every form of human and ecological flourishing depends entirely on the Lord. Its four appearances trace a line from personal weakness to national calamity to cosmic authority, yet always invite a return to the God who can make deserts bloom and faint hearts sing. Forms and Transliterations אֻמְלַ֤ל אֻמְלַ֥ל אֻמְלַ֫ל אֻמְלָֽל׃ אמלל אמלל׃ ’um·lal ’um·lāl ’umlal ’umlāl umLalLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 6:2 HEB: יְהוָה֮ כִּ֤י אֻמְלַ֫ל אָ֥נִי רְפָאֵ֥נִי NAS: to me, O LORD, for I [am] pining away; Heal KJV: upon me, O LORD; for I [am] weak: O LORD, INT: God for I pining I Heal Joel 1:10 Nahum 1:4 Nahum 1:4 4 Occurrences |
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