Faintness
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Faintness, as described in the Bible, often refers to a state of physical weakness, exhaustion, or a lack of courage and resolve. This condition can be both literal, involving physical fatigue, and metaphorical, representing spiritual or emotional weariness. The concept of faintness is addressed in various contexts throughout Scripture, highlighting the human experience of weakness and the divine provision of strength.

Physical Faintness

In the Old Testament, physical faintness is frequently associated with hunger, thirst, and exhaustion from battle or travel. For instance, in Genesis 25:29-30, Esau returns from the field "famished" and requests some of the stew Jacob is cooking, illustrating a moment of physical weakness. Similarly, in 1 Samuel 14:28-31, the Israelites experience faintness due to hunger during battle, as they had been strictly commanded by Saul not to eat until evening.

Spiritual and Emotional Faintness

The Bible also addresses spiritual and emotional faintness, often in the context of trials and tribulations. In Isaiah 40:29-31, the prophet speaks of God's provision for those who are weary: "He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint." This passage emphasizes the renewal of strength that comes from reliance on God.

In the New Testament, faintness is addressed in the context of perseverance in faith. Galatians 6:9 encourages believers, "Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Here, the apostle Paul exhorts Christians to persist in their good works and faith, promising a reward for their endurance.

Divine Encouragement and Strength

Throughout Scripture, God is portrayed as the ultimate source of strength for those experiencing faintness. In Psalm 73:26, the psalmist declares, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." This verse underscores the belief that while human strength is limited, divine strength is boundless and eternal.

Moreover, Jesus Christ offers rest to the weary and burdened, as seen in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." This invitation highlights the spiritual rest and rejuvenation found in a relationship with Christ.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of faintness serves as a reminder of human frailty and the need for divine strength. Whether facing physical exhaustion or spiritual weariness, believers are encouraged to seek God's sustaining power and to trust in His promises of renewal and rest.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The state of being faint; loss of strength, or of consciousness, and self-control.

2. (n.) Want of vigor or energy.

3. (n.) Feebleness, as of color or light; lack of distinctness; as, faintness of description.

4. (n.) Faint-heartedness; timorousness; dejection.

Greek
1503. eiko -- be like.
... be like. Apparently a primary verb (perhaps akin to eiko through the idea of
faintness as a copy); to resemble -- be like. see GREEK eiko. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1503.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
3288. yeaph -- weariness, faintness
... 3287, 3288. yeaph. 3289 . weariness, faintness. Transliteration: yeaph
Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-awf') Short Definition: weariness. ...
/hebrew/3288.htm - 6k

1670. deabah -- faintness, dismay
... 1669, 1670. deabah. 1671 . faintness, dismay. Transliteration: deabah
Phonetic Spelling: (deh-aw-baw') Short Definition: dismay. ...
/hebrew/1670.htm - 6k

1671. deabon -- faintness, languishing
... 1670, 1671. deabon. 1672 . faintness, languishing. Transliteration: deabon
Phonetic Spelling: (deh-aw-bone') Short Definition: despair. ...
/hebrew/1671.htm - 6k

4816. morek -- weakness
... faintness. Perhaps from rakak; softness, ie (figuratively) fear -- faintness. see
HEBREW rakak. 4815, 4816. morek. 4817 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4816.htm - 6k

Library

Of the Exhortation to be Applied to one Person, who Labours under ...
... For it is often the case that extreme faintness weighs down a weak body, which
faintness ought to be met by strong remedies; but yet the weak body cannot bear ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxxvii of the exhortation.htm

Unfailing Stabs and Fainting Men
... For it is ever to be remembered that the faintness and the ebbing away of might,
which is the truly tragic thing in humanity, does not depend upon physical ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/unfailing stabs and fainting men.htm

The Fainting Soul Revived
... Now I hope some of you will be brought to feel this faintness. What ... feel?
There is faintness of horror at their present condition. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/the fainting soul revived.htm

On Redeeming the Time
... and becomes soft and flabby." The nerves, in the mean time, are quite unstrung,
and all the train of melancholy symptoms " faintness, tremors, lowness of ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 93 on redeeming the.htm

The Glorious Master and the Swooning Disciple
... Not heaven but deadly faintness would be the result of the beatific vision, if granted
to these earthly eyes. ... Here was the occasion of his faintness. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the glorious master and the.htm

The Fourth Season,
... Let not that which God has threatened as a judgment upon the wicked, ever seize
upon the hearts of the righteous. " I will send faintness into their hearts in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/iv the fourth season.htm

Man's Inability to Keep the Moral Law
... Sin cut the lock of original righteousness where our strength lay; it brought a
languor and faintness into our souls; and has so weakened us, that we shall ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/3 1 mans inability to keep.htm

Eighth Tractate. Why Distant Objects Appear Small.
... There is colour with its diminution, faintness; there is magnitude with its diminution,
smallness; and magnitude follows colour diminishing stage by stage with ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/eighth tractate why distant objects.htm

Soul and Body Conceived, Formed and Perfected in Element ...
... soul has gone from us? And do we not experience a faintness and prostration
along with a dimness of sight? This, then, must be the ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter xxvii soul and body conceived.htm

Beauty for Ashes
... comes sweet refreshment, and any here who have striven diligently to serve the Master,
and have been pursuing their sacred calling even unto faintness, will be ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/beauty for ashes.htm

Thesaurus
Faintness (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) Want of vigor or energy. 3. (n.) Feebleness, as of color or light; lack
of distinctness; as, faintness of description. ...Faintness (1 Occurrence). ...
/f/faintness.htm - 7k

Faint (76 Occurrences)
... forms occur in Isaiah 40:30, 31 Jeremiah 2:24; Jeremiah 51:58, 64 Habakkuk 2:13,
as also in Judges 8:15, meaning in all cases the faintness or exhaustion of ...
/f/faint.htm - 38k

Faints (8 Occurrences)

/f/faints.htm - 8k

Fainting (9 Occurrences)

/f/fainting.htm - 9k

Qualm (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A sudden feeling of illness, faintness, or
nausea; an agony. 2. (n.) Sickness; disease; pestilence; death. ...
/q/qualm.htm - 7k

Fearful (73 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 26:36 "'As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into
their hearts in the lands of their enemies: and the sound of a driven leaf ...
/f/fearful.htm - 28k

Fleeing (38 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 26:36 And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness
into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken ...
/f/fleeing.htm - 18k

Flees (19 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 26:36 "'As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into
their hearts in the lands of their enemies: and the sound of a driven leaf ...
/f/flees.htm - 11k

Recovery (6 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Restoration from sickness, weakness, faintness, or the like;
restoration from a condition of misfortune, of fright, etc. ...
/r/recovery.htm - 8k

Resources
Faintness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Faintness (1 Occurrence)

Leviticus 26:36
"'As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies: and the sound of a driven leaf will put them to flight; and they shall flee, as one flees from the sword; and they will fall when no one pursues.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Subtopics

Faintness

Related Terms

Longs (11 Occurrences)

Languishes (11 Occurrences)

Longed (24 Occurrences)

Gasps (1 Occurrence)

Faintness (1 Occurrence)

Murderers (9 Occurrences)

Spreads (31 Occurrences)

Longing (40 Occurrences)

Bearer (23 Occurrences)

Fruitful (57 Occurrences)

Standard (42 Occurrences)

Travail (54 Occurrences)

Anguish (75 Occurrences)

Fair (147 Occurrences)

Forest (67 Occurrences)

Wo (92 Occurrences)

Consume (136 Occurrences)

Courts (59 Occurrences)

Breath (95 Occurrences)

Faint (76 Occurrences)

Fainting: General Scriptures Concerning
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