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גֵּו

𐤂𐤅

gêv

H1460 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גאה to be high, rise up, tower

Definition

The nape or back of a person or animal, especially the area between the shoulders; by extension, the central part or middle section of something, often with reference to location or movement (for example, being "among" or "in the midst"); rarely used of the whole body, but mostly the dorsal aspect.

Semantic Range

back (of person or animal), nape, dorsal aspect, central portion, midst (in the sense of being among or within), rare: body

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root גָּאָה (gʾh), meaning 'to be high, rise up,' which is evident in the sense of the raised or elevated part of the body, i.e., the back. This term is a variant or alternate formation corresponding to גַּב (gav), which also denotes 'back' or 'ridge.' The formation גֵּו (gêv) appears less frequently and with a more restricted usage than גַּב.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the biblical corpus, גֵּו (gêv) is used almost exclusively in poetic or figurative contexts (e.g., Psalms, Job). The focus is typically on the vulnerability or exposure of the back, especially in contexts describing attacks or suffering (for example, being struck on the back, or carrying burdens). In some instances, it marks the central portion of a group or mass, thus extending to the meaning 'among' or 'midst.' It overlaps with גַּב (gav) semantically, but is distinguishable by nuance and infrequency. English translations often render it simply as 'back' or 'body,' though the underlying image is more specific. The use of 'middle' is contextual, not anatomical; it refers to being inside or among others, not to an anatomical middle. The range of meanings is narrower than similar roots such as גַּוָּה (gaw-wah, 'body, carcass') and is not used for more general references to the person or physical body as a whole. Its appearance in later texts is rare, and it does not carry specialized liturgical or ritual connotations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from גָּאָה (corresponding to גַב); the back; by analogy, the middle; [phrase] among, back, body.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גאה (g-ʾ-h) — to be high, rise up, tower

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1341 גֵּא proud one
H1342 גָּאָה he rose high
H1343 גֵּאֶה lofty
H1344 גֵּאָה self-exaltation
H1345 גְּאוּאֵל El has exalted

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1460-05 לְ/גֵ֣ו legev HR/Ncmsc for the back to the back-of 3
H1460-03 גֵּוֵ֔/ךְ gevekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your-back your back 1
H1460-02 גֵוְ/ךָ֖ gevekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your back your back 1
H1460-01 גֵּ֥ו gev HNcmsa midst back 1
H1460-04 גֵּוִ/י֙ gevi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my back my back 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1460-02 Isaiah 38:17 גֵוְ/ךָ֖ gevekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your back your back
H1460-04 Isaiah 50:6 גֵּוִ/י֙ gevi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my back my back
H1460-03 Isaiah 51:23 גֵּוֵ֔/ךְ gevekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your-back your back
H1460-05 Proverbs 10:13 לְ/גֵ֣ו legev HR/Ncmsc for the back of to the back-of
H1460-05 Proverbs 19:29 לְ/גֵ֣ו legev HR/Ncmsc for the back to the back-of
H1460-05 Proverbs 26:3 לְ/גֵ֣ו legev HR/Ncmsc for the back to the back-of
H1460-01 Job 30:5 גֵּ֥ו gev HNcmsa midst back
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