H2207 H2207
Old age; advanced years affecting physical capacity (Genesis 48:10)
This noun appears in Genesis 48:10, describing how Israel's eyes 'were dim from old age.' The term captures not merely chronological age but the physical decline accompanying it—failing eyesight, diminished strength. Isaac experienced similar age-related blindness (Genesis 27), and the Bible treats this with matter-of-fact realism: long life is blessed, but it brings bodily limitations. Israel's blindness from age becomes significant when he crosses his hands to bless Ephraim over Manasseh—his physical limitation accompanies prophetic insight.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Old age in Genesis 48:10, specifically the physical effects of advanced years on eyesight. The term doesn't merely count years but acknowledges bodily decline—Israel's eyes 'were heavy from old age,' unable to see clearly. This physical limitation sets up the blessing scene where blind Israel, guided by divine insight rather than sight, crosses his hands to elevate the younger over the elder. 1×
AR["مِنَ-الشَّيْخُوخَةِ"]·ben["বৃদ্ধতার-কারণে"]·DE["vor-Alter"]·EN["from-old-age"]·FR["de-ancien-âge"]·heb["מ-זקן"]·HI["बुढ़ापे-से"]·ID["karena-tua"]·IT["da-vecchio-age"]·jav["saking-sepuh"]·KO["에서-늘음"]·PT["de-velhice"]·RU["от-старости"]·ES["de-vejez"]·SW["kwa-uzee"]·TR["yaşlılıktan"]·urd["بڑھاپے-سے"]
Related Senses
H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H6258 1. and now (421×)G2250 1. day (388×)H5750 1. again, more, further (288×)H5769 1. forever, to eternity (280×)H6256 1. time, period (264×)H2320 1. month, calendar period (260×)H0310a 2. after (temporal) (258×)H3915 1. night, period of darkness (234×)H1242 1. morning (214×)H5750 2. still, yet (continuative) (166×)G5119 1. then (160×)G3568 1. now (147×)G2193 1. until (143×)G3825 1. (141×)G3752 1. (123×)H6153 1. evening, time of day (123×)H0227a 1. then (122×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† זֹ֫קֶן n.[m.] old age—עֵינֵי ישׂראל כָּֽבְדוּ מִזֹּ֫קֶן Gn 48:10 (E).