Lexical Summary razah: To be lean, to grow thin Original Word: רָזָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance famish, wax lean A primitive root; to emaciate, i.e. Make (become) thin (literally or figuratively) -- famish, wax lean. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be or grow lean NASB Translation become lean (1), starve (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רָזָה verb be or grow lean (Arabic  grow thin and weak); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular רָזָה Zephaniah 2:11 object false gods, apparently make lean (ᵑ9 attenuavit; ᵐ5 is ἐξολεθρύσει), but sense strange, < רִזָּה (see Arabic above), yet even this very doubtful. Niph`al be made lean, Imperfect3masculine singular מִשְׁמַן בְּשָׂרוֺ יֵרָזֶה Isaiah 17:4. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery A verb of wasting, thinning, or starving that portrays a progressive dwindling of substance and strength. In Scripture it functions as a graphic emblem of divine judgment that strips false glory until only gaunt emptiness remains. Occurrences in Scripture • Isaiah 17:4 – “In that day the splendor of Jacob will fade, and the fat of his body will waste away.” The word paints Northern Israel’s coming reduction from prosperous plenty to skeletal weakness because of covenant infidelity. Historical Setting Isaiah 17 speaks to the Syro-Ephraimite crisis (eighth century BC) when Israel leaned on Damascus rather than on Yahweh; Zephaniah addresses the international idolatries of the late seventh century BC. In both periods God answers misplaced trust by reducing supposed sources of security to skin and bones. Theological Themes 1. Judgment on Human and Idolatrous Pride – Rāzâ shows that strength rooted in anything but the Lord inevitably withers (compare Jeremiah 17:5). Ministry Implications • Prophetic warning: modern idols—materialism, nationalism, self-reliance—will be rendered lean. Christological Perspective Rāzâ inversely points to Jesus Christ, who voluntarily “emptied Himself” (Philippians 2:7) so that His people may share in everlasting fullness. At the cross worldly power is shown emaciated while divine power triumphs. Related Concepts Leanness as chastisement — Psalm 106:15 Withering grass and fading flower — Isaiah 40:7-8 Famine of bread or word — Amos 8:11 In every context רָזָה underlines the Lord’s sovereign ability to drain counterfeit splendor and to redirect all glory and trust to Himself alone. Forms and Transliterations יֵרָזֶֽה׃ ירזה׃ רָזָ֔ה רזה rā·zāh raZah rāzāh yê·rā·zeh yeraZeh yêrāzehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 17:4 HEB: וּמִשְׁמַ֥ן בְּשָׂר֖וֹ יֵרָזֶֽה׃ NAS: of his flesh will become lean. KJV: of his flesh shall wax lean. INT: and the fatness of his flesh will become Zephaniah 2:11 2 Occurrences |
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