Original Word: יָגָע
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: yaga`
Pronunciation: yah-GAH
Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-gaw')
KJV: that which he laboured for
NASB: what he has attained
Word Origin: [from H3021 (יָגַע - weary)]

1. earnings (as the product of toil)

earnings as the product of toil

From yaga'; earnings (as the product of toil); -that which he laboured for.

see HEBREW yaga'

Word Origin
from yaga
Definition
a gain
NASB Translation
what he has attained (1).

יָגָע noun [masculine] gain ( = product of labour ) — יָגָע Job 20:18 ("" תְּמוּרָה).

Overview

יָגָע portrays the exhaustion that follows relentless toil. Though the noun surfaces only once in the Hebrew canon, it draws on a root family that speaks of wearing effort, depleted strength, and the futility of labor pursued apart from God’s lasting blessing.

Canonical Occurrence (Job 20:18)

“He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he cannot enjoy the profits of his trade.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Zophar pictures the wicked man feverishly amassing wealth, yet divine justice forces him to disgorge it. The word accentuates how back-breaking work, undertaken in rebellion or greed, yields no enduring satisfaction. It is toil that ends, not in rest, but in forfeiture.

Context in Job’s Wisdom Discourse

1. Retributive motif: The chapter contrasts the short-lived triumph of the impious with the equitable governance of God (Job 20:4–29). יָגָע underscores that even “successful” toil can be reversed in a moment.
2. Echo of Genesis 3:17-19: Post-Fall labor is frustrating and sweaty; Job 20 shows a further twist—work may not only weary but also evaporate.
3. Anticipation of Job’s rebuttal (Job 21): Job will argue exceptions to Zophar’s premise, yet יָגָע still stands as a sober reminder that toil, detached from righteousness, is insecure.

Wisdom Tradition on Exhausting Labor

Although the specific noun is rare, its theme saturates Scripture:
• Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 – sleepless nights “because his work is so burdensome.”
• Proverbs 23:4 – “Do not wear yourself out to gain wealth.”
• Isaiah 55:2 – “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?”

Together these texts warn against a life shackled to profit rather than to the fear of the Lord.

Historical Background

Ancient Near Eastern life revolved around subsistence farming, animal husbandry, and trade caravans. Success demanded ceaseless physical exertion under harsh conditions. Against that backdrop, Job 20:18 would have struck hearers as doubly tragic: not only does labor drain the body, but divine recompense can also strip away its gains.

Theological Trajectory

1. Labor is dignified (Genesis 2:15) yet cursed when humanity rebels (Genesis 3:19).
2. Old-covenant law tempers drudgery with Sabbath rest (Exodus 20:8-11), previewing a fuller rest still to come.
3. Prophets envision reversal: “They shall not labor in vain” (Isaiah 65:23).
4. The New Covenant fulfills this hope in Christ, who invites the weary: “Come to Me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The emptiness bound up in יָגָע finds its answer in His finished work (Hebrews 4:9-10).

Ministry Significance

• Counseling and discipleship: Job 20:18 cautions believers who equate prosperity with blessing. Hard work is commendable, but labor untethered from obedience and generosity can become idolatrous and self-defeating.
• Preaching: The text helps expose the myth of ultimate fulfillment through achievement, setting the stage for proclaiming Christ as the true source of rest and reward.
• Social ethics: Recognizing the vanity of oppressive toil encourages fair labor practices, Sabbath rhythms, and compassion for the exhausted.

Practical Application

1. Examine motives: Is our effort directed toward God’s glory or personal accumulation?
2. Embrace limits: Regular rest acknowledges creaturely dependence.
3. Hope in future restoration: Revelation 14:13 promises that labor “in the Lord” is never in vain; the weary are blessed and their works follow them.

Even a solitary occurrence of יָגָע is enough to remind God’s people that labor, while honorable, cannot secure joy apart from Him who alone grants lasting fruitfulness and rest.

יָ֭גָע יגע yā·ḡā‘ yāḡā‘ YagoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts