עֶצֶם

𐤏𐤑𐤌

ʻetsem

H6106 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ע־צ־ם to be strong, to be mighty, to be numerous

Definition

Bone; by extension, a bodily frame or skeleton; figuratively, the essential substance or core of something (essence, self, strength, very). 'Etsem' primarily denotes an anatomical bone, but it also serves as a metaphor for the foundational or substantive part of a person, thing, or group—what is essential, enduring, or identical to itself. In some contexts it functions as an intensifier (e.g., 'the very same day').

Semantic Range

bone, bones, body, skeleton, substance, essence, self, strength, very (as an intensifier), identical, selfsame, day itself (idiomatic)

Root / Etymology

Root ע־צ־ם (עָצַם, 'atsam), meaning 'to be strong, mighty, numerous.' 'Etsem' is a noun deriving from this root, signifying a bone as that which gives strength or structure to the body. Over time, this concrete meaning evolved to include metaphoric senses associated with fundamental identity, substance, or essential reality.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, 'etsem' occurs most often in the anatomical sense ('bone', both in singular and collective plural). The term is also used metonymically for the human body (Genesis 2:23, 'bone of my bones'), emphasizing kinship or essential sameness. In some passages, especially legal or formulaic language, 'etsem' is used adverbially to mean 'the very (same) day' (e.g., Exodus 12:17), an idiomatic construction highlighting exactness or identity in time. In poetic or wisdom literature, 'etsem' is sometimes used to denote the core or substance of a person (Psalm 102:5, 'my bones cling to my flesh,' expressing physical affliction). English translations commonly render 'etsem' as 'bone' or 'very,' but may miss nuances involving identity, essence, or emphasis. Notably, 'etsem' is distinct from related terms like גֶּבֶר (gever, 'man, strong man') and חָזָק (chazaq, 'strong'), as it focuses on structural strength and inalienable substance rather than external power or might. Over time, its metaphorical applications grew, especially in later biblical Hebrew and post-biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָצַם; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame; body, bone, [idiom] life, (self-) same, strength, [idiom] very.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

עצם (ʿ-ṣ-m) — strength, might, numerousness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6099 עָצוּם mighty
H6105 עָצַם you grew mighty
H6108 עֹצֶם my might
H6109 עׇצְמָה mightiness
H6110 עַצֻּמָה your weighty matters

Word Forms

46 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6106-13 עַצְמ֥וֹת atsemot HNcfpc bones bones of 18
H6106-25 בְּ/עֶ֨צֶם beetsem HR/Ncfsc on the very in essence of 15
H6106-15 עַצְמֹתַ֖/י atsemotay HNcfpc/Sp1cs my bones my bones 10
H6106-26 עֶ֚צֶם etsem HNcfsa bone bone 8
H6106-16 עַצְמֹתָ֔י/ו atsemotayv HNcfpc/Sp3ms his bones his bones 7
H6106-28 הָֽ/עֲצָמוֹת֙ haatsamot HTd/Ncfpa the bones the bones 5
H6106-11 עַצְמִ֥/י atsemi HNcfsc/Sp1cs my bone my bone 5
H6106-06 עֲצָמֽוֹת atsamot HNcfpa bones bones 4
H6106-17 עַצְמֹ֣תֵי/הֶ֔ם atsemoteyhem HNcfpc/Sp3mp their bones their bones 3
H6106-23 בְּ/עַצְמֹתָ֑/י beatsemotay HR/Ncfpc/Sp1cs in my bones in my bones 3

Occurrences in Scripture

126 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6106-26 Genesis 2:23 עֶ֚צֶם etsem HNcfsa bone bone
H6106-34 Genesis 2:23 מֵֽ/עֲצָמַ֔/י meatsamay HR/Ncfpc/Sp1cs from my bones from my bones
H6106-25 Genesis 7:13 בְּ/עֶ֨צֶם beetsem HR/Ncfsc On that very in essence of
H6106-25 Genesis 17:23 בְּ/עֶ֨צֶם֙ beetsem HR/Ncfsc on the very in essence of
H6106-25 Genesis 17:26 בְּ/עֶ֨צֶם֙ beetsem HR/Ncfsc in the very same in essence of
H6106-11 Genesis 29:14 עַצְמִ֥/י atsemi HNcfsc/Sp1cs my bone my bone
H6106-15 Genesis 50:25 עַצְמֹתַ֖/י atsemotay HNcfpc/Sp1cs my bones my bones
H6106-25 Exodus 12:17 בְּ/עֶ֨צֶם֙ beetsem HR/Ncfsc in-(the)-bone-of in essence of
H6106-25 Exodus 12:41 בְּ/עֶ֨צֶם֙ beetsem HR/Ncfsc on the very in essence of
H6106-45 Exodus 12:46 וְ/עֶ֖צֶם veetsem HC/Ncfsa and bone bone