Bible Dictionary
EXTINCT
Extinguished or brought to an end. In the biblical passages where it occurs, the word emphasizes an action that has caused something to cease rather than merely describing a condition.
Definition
Extinct means extinguished, consumed, or brought to an end. In the biblical passages where it occurs, the wording points to something having been made to cease rather than merely describing a continuing condition.
Biblical Usage
Job speaks of his days as extinct, and Isaiah describes others as extinct. In both cases the form indicates an action or completed extinguishing.
Historical Background
The term represents participial forms of Hebrew verbs meaning to be extinguished or consumed. The grammatical form emphasizes the resulting action rather than only a state.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>In Job 17:1, "My days are extinct" (za`akh (in Niphal)) and in Isa 43:17, "They are extinct" (da`akh), the word "extinct" should be recognized as a form of the participle, equivalent to "extinguished," so that in both passages an action, not merely a state, is indicated.</p>