We are in chapter 40 of Genesis with our word for today. זָעַף to be or become low of spirit, depressed, or lacking in energy, be troubled, look poor, thin. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament. Here are all the uses. Proverbs 19:3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart יִזְעַ֥ףrages against the Lord. This idea of not being in good humor or not having a positive attitude in the sense of being angry is also seen in 2 Chronicles 26:16, 18-19 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense…They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.” Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became וַיִּזְעַף֙ angry. While he was וּבְזַעְפּ֣וֹ raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead.
It is also used in the sense of being worse off than previously. Daniel 1:10 But the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking זֹֽעֲפִ֗ים worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” This is the same sense we see our word used today in our chapter. Genesis 40:6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were זֹעֲפִֽים troubled. So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” We can see why Joseph was so good at his work because he cared enough to notice how people were doing and engaged with them to encourage them. This is a great example of how God calls us to care for each other in his church. 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. I’ll close with this great reminder of why this caring for each other is so important. Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
