עֲבִי
𐤏𐤁𐤉
ʻăbîy
H5672 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Physical thickness, depth, or density; a measure of how substantial or massive an object or entity is. Refers to the thickest or densest part of something, whether in vertical, horizontal, or even metaphorical dimensions (such as the thick of battle or forest).
Semantic Range
thickness, depth, density, the thickest/most central part (of a forest, cloud, darkness etc.), central mass, intensity
Root / Etymology
From the root עבה (ʿ-b-h), meaning 'to be thick, to be dense.' עֲבִי is a nominal form derived from this root, referring to a state, quality, or measurement of thickness or density.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֲבִי appears in a small number of biblical texts, typically as a term for the thickest, deepest, or densest part of an object, such as a forest (עֲבִי הַיַּעַר, 'thickness of the forest') or the central, densest area of a location. The term may also be used metaphorically for intensity (e.g., the thick/dense part of a battle). Its primary use is descriptive rather than technical, and it often connotes the idea of being enveloped, surrounded, or immersed in density. English translations usually render it as 'thickness,' 'depth,' or 'midst,' but these renderings may not fully convey its sense of substantial density or central mass. The term is related to, but distinct from, עָב, which refers to a thick cloud; while both share a semantic idea of density, עֲבִי refers more broadly to any thick/dense thing. In post-biblical and Modern Hebrew, derivatives of עבה preserve the meaning of physical thickness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or עֳבִי]; from עָבָה; density, i.e. depth or width; thick(-ness). Compare עָב.
Bantu Hebrew
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עבה (ʿ-b-h) — to be thick, to be dense, to grow stout
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5672-02 |
וְ/עָבְי֣/וֹ | veaveyo | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and its thickness | and his thickness | 3 |
H5672-01 |
בַּ֝/עֲבִ֗י | baavi | HR/Ncmsc |
thick | thickness of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5672-02 |
1 Kings 7:26 | וְ/עָבְי֣/וֹ | veaveyo | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and its thickness | and his thickness |
H5672-02 |
Jeremiah 52:21 | וְ/עָבְי֛/וֹ | veaveyo | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and its thickness | and his thickness |
H5672-01 |
Job 15:26 | בַּ֝/עֲבִ֗י | baavi | HR/Ncmsc |
thick | thickness of |
H5672-02 |
2 Chronicles 4:5 | וְ/עָבְי֣/וֹ | veaveyo | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and its thickness | and his thickness |