H1634 H1634
bone; by extension, strength, bony frame; self, very (substance of)
A noun denoting bone or skeletal frame, with extended meanings reflecting the same metaphorical logic found in its synonym etsem: from physical bone to inherent strength, and from bodily substance to the idea of 'self' or 'very.' Jacob's blessing calls Issachar a 'bony donkey,' meaning sturdy and strong (Gen 49:14). Proverbs uses it figuratively: a broken spirit dries the bones (17:22), and a gentle tongue can break a bone (25:15). The Aramaic and Arabic cognates preserve the primary sense of body or bone.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Bone, skeletal frame. The concrete anatomical sense appears in Job 40:18 describing Behemoth's limbs as tubes of bronze, paralleling etsem. Proverbs 17:22 and 25:15 use it collectively for the body's frame. Spanish 'hueso' and French 'os' consistently render the literal meaning. Aramaic geram and Arabic jirm (body) confirm the physicality of the root. 5×
AR["أَضْلَاعُهُ", "جُسْمِ", "عَظِيمُ-الْعِظَامِ", "عَظْمًا"]·ben["তার-অঙ্গগুলি", "হাড়", "হাড়ওয়ালা"]·DE["Spitze-von", "[גרם]", "[גרמיו]", "ein-knochiger"]·EN["a-bone", "bone", "its-limbs", "top-of"]·FR["os", "sommet-de", "son-גרמיו-lui", "גרם"]·heb["גרם", "גרמותיו", "עצם"]·HI["उसकी-हड्डियाँ", "गेरेम", "हड्डी", "हड्डी-को", "हड्डीला"]·ID["-tangga", "anggota-anggota badannya", "bertulang-kuat", "tulang"]·IT["cima-di", "its-limbs-suo", "osso", "un-osso"]·jav["balung", "rangka-rangkanipun", "undhak-undhakan"]·KO["그것-의-팔다리들은", "맨-계단에", "뼈를", "힘센"]·PT["degrau-de", "osso", "ossos-fortes", "seus-membros"]·RU["голую", "костистый", "кость", "члены-его"]·ES["hueso", "huesudo", "peldaño-de", "sus-miembros"]·SW["kumwaka", "mfupa", "mifupa", "mifupa-yake", "ngazi"]·TR["gvdei", "kemikleri", "kemikli", "kemiği", "çıplak"]·urd["اونچائی", "اُس-کے-اعضاء", "مضبوط", "ہڈی"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† גֶּ֫רֶם n.[m.] bone, strength, self (?) (Arabic جِرْمٌ body, Aramaic גְּרַם, ܓܪܶܡ bone, self)—abs. גָּ֑רֶם Gn 49:14 + 2 times; cstr. גֶּרֶם 2 K 9:13; sf. גְּרָמָיו Jb 40:18;— 1. bone Pr 17:22 (coll.) 25:15; of behemoth (hippopot.) Jb 40:18 (‖ עצם q.v.) 2. strength Gn 49:14 חֲמֹר גָּ֑רֶם strong ass (lit. bony, so VB). 3. self (cf. עצם), 2 K 9:13 גֶּרֶם הַמַּעֲלוֹת so Ges Ew Ke, but text dub., v. conjectures in Klo.