σκέλος G4628
legs; the lower limbs from hip to foot
This anatomical term denotes the legs, specifically from the hip downward. Classical usage was straightforward anatomical description, also used for legs of sacrificial animals. John uses it exclusively in the crucifixion narrative to describe the breaking of legs to hasten death—a detail with profound theological significance.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Refers to the legs of those crucified with Jesus. John 19:31 sets the scene: 'the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.' Verse 32 reports 'the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him.' Verse 33 delivers the crucial detail: 'when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.' The straightforward cross-linguistic anatomical terms emphasize this is literal bodily description. The unbroken legs fulfill Scripture (Exodus 12:46, Psalm 34:20)—Jesus is the true Passover Lamb, slain but with no broken bones. 3×
AR["سَاقَيْنِ", "سِيقَانُ"]·ben["পাগুলি,", "পাগুলি।"]·DE["Beine"]·EN["legs"]·FR["jambe"]·heb["רַגְלַיִם"]·HI["टाँगें"]·ID["kaki"]·IT["skele"]·jav["sampéyan"]·KO["다리", "다리-를"]·PT["pernas"]·RU["голени,", "голени."]·ES["piernas"]·SW["miguu"]·TR["bacakları", "bacaklarını"]·urd["ٹانگیں"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
σκέλος, εος, τό, leg from the hip downwards, only once in Refs 8th c.BC+ the ham or buttock, Refs 8th c.BC+; τὰ σκέλη τε καὶ τὰ ἰσχία πρὸς τὴν γῆν ἐρείσας Refs 5th c.BC+; of dancers, τὸ σ. ῥίψαντες, αἴρειν, Refs 5th c.BC+; οὐρανῷ σκέλη προφαίνων, of one thrown head foremost, Refs 5th c.BC+; βαδιοῦνται ἐπὶ δυοῖν σκελοῖν, ἐφ᾽ ἑνὸς πορεύσονται σκέλους, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὁ δεινός, ὁ ταλαύρινος, ὁ κατὰ…