עֶצֶם
𐤏𐤑𐤌
ʻetsem
H6106 noun
SILEX Entry
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 WordRoot 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 |