Lexical Summary yaab: To desire, to long for Original Word: יָאַב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance long A primitive root; to desire -- long. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to long, desire NASB Translation longed (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [יָאַב] verb long, desire (Aramaic ![]() Qal Perfect1singular לְמִצְוֺתֶיךָ יָא֑בְתִּי Psalm 119:131, late Aramaism. Topical Lexicon Essential Conceptיָאַב conveys an intense physiological reaction—panting or gasping—that images an equally intense inward craving. In Psalm 119:131 the psalmist writes, “I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments”. The single Old Testament occurrence elevates the verb from a mere description of labored breathing to a picture of passionate, life-dependent yearning for the Word of God. Biblical Setting • Psalm 119 is an alphabetic acrostic celebrating Torah. Verse 131 falls within the פ (Pe) stanza, whose initial letter resembles an open mouth—an apt visual aid for the verb’s action. Spiritual Theology of Longing 1. Vital Breath: Panting is what a creature does when oxygen is scarce. Scripture presents the Word of God as spiritual oxygen; separation from it threatens life itself (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern literature often equates heavy breathing with exhaustion after battle or travel. By appropriating the image for Torah devotion, the psalmist elevates the study of God’s law to the highest exertion known to humanity. In post-exilic Judaism, Psalm 119’s vocabulary fostered a culture in which scribes and students cherished Scripture with palpable emotion, shaping the synagogue’s emphasis on public reading and exposition. Intertextual Echoes and Fulfillment While יָאַב appears only once, its theology ripples through Scripture: • The Servant of Isaiah is given “a well-instructed tongue” (Isaiah 50:4), answering the longing hinted at in Psalm 119:131. Ministry and Devotional Application • Preaching: Use Psalm 119:131 to illustrate the posture of receptivity—mouth open, heart expanded—for expositional ministry. Practical Counsel for Modern Believers 1. Recognize Symptoms: Spiritual lethargy often surfaces when Scripture is neglected. Monitor the soul’s respiratory rate. Conclusion יָאַב may appear but once, yet its single gasp resounds across redemptive history, reminding every generation that true life is found in ardent pursuit of the living Word. Forms and Transliterations יָאָֽבְתִּי׃ יאבתי׃ yā’āḇətî yā·’ā·ḇə·tî yaAvetiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 119:131 HEB: כִּ֖י לְמִצְוֹתֶ֣יךָ יָאָֽבְתִּי׃ NAS: and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. KJV: and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. INT: for your commandments longed 1 Occurrence |