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גִּיד

𐤂𐤉𐤃

gîyd

H1517 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גוד to cut, attack, invade; (anatomical) to bind, join

Definition

Tendon or sinew; the tough, fibrous band that connects muscle to bone. In extended contexts, refers specifically to the anatomical part recognized as sinew or ligament, particularly within animals. Rarely, the word may be used for a cord or thong metaphorically when referring to something strong and binding, though this sense is not predominant.

Semantic Range

sinew, tendon, ligament, anatomical cord; rarely, a strong cord or thong

Root / Etymology

From the root גּוּד (gûd), which means 'to invade, cut, attack,' but the precise semantic link is debated. The formation suggests an anatomical term closely related to notions of binding or tying, which is conceptually plausible for a sinew but the connection to the root is indirect. The etymology is thus considered uncertain in its details.

Historical & Contextual Notes

גִּיד occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, with one prominent occurrence in Genesis 32:33, describing the 'sinew of the thigh' (gîyd hanāshêh), which Israelites were forbidden to eat after Jacob's encounter at Peniel. This specific usage became the basis for later dietary practice. In post-biblical Hebrew the word continues to refer to anatomical sinews, ligaments, or tendons, and in Rabbinic literature, it defines kosher requirements more precisely. Other Hebrew lexemes for connective bodily tissue (such as עֶצֶם for 'bone' or בָּשָׂר for 'flesh') are differentiated in specificity from גִּיד. English translations usually render גִּיד as 'sinew' or 'tendon,' which aligns closely with the Hebrew anatomical sense, though the cultural significance of the Genesis usage exceeds its anatomical definition. In the biblical period, גִּיד does not carry the idiomatic or metaphorical extensions sometimes found in later Hebrew or other languages.

Translation Consistency

primary "sinew" 6 occurrences

SILEX range centers on the anatomical tendon/ligament; “sinew” is the natural, widely used English term that covers tendon/ligament and allows the expected plural form (“sinews”) or construct uses. It fits literal and occasional metaphorical senses and matches traditional Bible-language usage.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"sinew-of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from גּוּד; a thong (as compressing); by analogy, a tendon; sinew.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

גוד (g-w-d) — to cut, attack, invade; to bind, join (anatomical)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1464 גּוּד he will attack

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1517-04 גִּדִ֜ים gidim HNcmpa sinews sinews sinews 2
H1517-05 וְ/גִ֤יד vegid HC/Ncmsc and sinew sinew-of and sinew-of 1
H1517-03 גִּידֵ֖י gidey HNcmpc the sinews of sinews of the sinews of 1
H1517-06 וְ֝/גִידִ֗ים vegidim HC/Ncmpa and-sinews sinews and with sinews 1
H1517-01 בְּ/גִ֖יד begid HR/Ncmsc at the sinew sinew of in the sinew of 1
H1517-02 גִּ֣יד gid HNcmsc sinew sinew of sinew of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1517-02 Genesis 32:33 גִּ֣יד gid HNcmsc sinew sinew of sinew of
H1517-01 Genesis 32:33 בְּ/גִ֖יד begid HR/Ncmsc at the sinew sinew of in the sinew of
H1517-05 Isaiah 48:4 וְ/גִ֤יד vegid HC/Ncmsc and sinew sinew-of and sinew-of
H1517-04 Ezekiel 37:6 גִּדִ֜ים gidim HNcmpa tendons sinews sinews
H1517-04 Ezekiel 37:8 גִּדִים֙ gidim HNcmpa sinews sinews sinews
H1517-06 Job 10:11 וְ֝/גִידִ֗ים vegidim HC/Ncmpa and-sinews sinews and with sinews
H1517-03 Job 40:17 גִּידֵ֖י gidey HNcmpc the sinews of sinews of the sinews of
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