H6244 H6244
to waste away, grow dim, be consumed (from grief or illness)
This verb describes physical deterioration or wasting away, particularly from emotional distress. The psalmist uses it three times to express how grief and anguish have taken physical toll. In Psalm 6:7, the eye 'wastes away' from sorrow; Psalm 31:9-10 expands this to include soul, belly, and bones—comprehensive bodily decline due to affliction. Some scholars propose derivation from 'moth' (as in moth-eaten fabric), while others suggest connections to darkness or dimming. The term conveys not sudden destruction but gradual erosion of vitality and strength.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Describes gradual physical wasting or deterioration, especially from emotional distress. Psalm 6:7 (verse 8 in Hebrew): 'My eye wastes away (עָֽשְׁשָׁה) from grief.' Psalm 31:9 (verse 10 in Hebrew) intensifies this: 'My eye wastes away from vexation, my soul and my belly,' and verse 10 (11 in Hebrew) adds 'my bones waste away (עָשֵׁ֑שׁוּ).' The verb may derive from 'moth,' suggesting moth-eaten decay, or from roots meaning 'be dark/dim.' The imagery is of slow consumption rather than sudden collapse. Spanish glosses emphasize consumption ('consumir'), while English and German use 'waste away.' 3×
AR["بَلِيَتْ", "هَزَلَتْ"]·ben["ক্ষয়-হয়েছে", "ক্ষীণ-হয়েছে"]·DE["haben-wasted-weg", "hat-wasted-weg", "wastes-weg"]·EN["has-wasted-away", "have-wasted-away", "wastes-away"]·FR["dépérir"]·heb["עששה", "עששו"]·HI["क्षीण-हो-गई-है", "घुल-गई", "सूख-गईं"]·ID["Merana"]·IT["penso'"]·jav["Pudheng", "sampun-risak"]·KO["쇠하였나이다"]·PT["Consumidos", "consumiu-se", "definharam"]·RU["измучен", "иссохли", "истощился"]·ES["Se-ha-consumido", "se-consumieron", "se-ha-consumido"]·SW["Limefifia", "imedhoofu", "inadhoofu"]·TR["zayıfladı", "çürüdü"]·urd["دھندلی-ہو-گئی", "دھندلی-ہو-گئی-ہے", "کمزور-ہو-گئیں"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [עָשֵׁשׁ] vb. waste away (cf. Assyrian ašašu, moth; Arabic عُثٌّ moth(-worm), عَثَّ eat (of moth; ? denom.); according to De ψ 6:8 al. עָשֵׁשׁ is denom. from עָשׁ, prop. be moth-eaten, but improb.); according to JacobZMG 1901, 142; ZAW 1902, 107 be dark; cf. עשׁשׁא darkness, in Chr-Pal. Qal Pf. 3 fs. עָֽשְׁשָׁה מִּכַּעַם עֵינִי ψ 6:8 my eye is wasted from grief, = 31:10 (בְּכַעַם; + נַפְשִׁי, בִּטְנִי); 3 pl. עֲצָמַי עָשֵׁ֑שׁוּ v 11.