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בֹּהֶן

𐤁𐤄𐤍

bôhen

H931 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בֹּהֶן to be thick, to be prominent

Definition

Digit of the hand or foot that is notably thicker and more prominent than the others, specifically the thumb or the great toe. The term serves to distinguish the largest digit, whether of the hand or foot, from the remaining fingers or toes. Used to denote anatomical specificity in ritual, ceremonial, and descriptive passages.

Semantic Range

thumb of the hand, great toe of the foot, principal digit, large extremity digit, anatomical term

Root / Etymology

The root is uncertain but is thought to be related to an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to be thick.' The word itself, בֹּהֶן (bôhen), functions as a noun for the thumb or great toe, capturing the idea of 'thickness' or 'prominence' in comparison to other digits. The root is not otherwise attested in biblical Hebrew or related Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, בֹּהֶן appears primarily in ritual and ceremonial contexts, particularly in the legislation of Leviticus where the thumb and great toe are anointed during the ordination of priests (e.g., Leviticus 8:23–24), or in purity rituals (Leviticus 14:14–28). The specification of thumb (hand) and great toe (foot) accentuates completeness or totality of the person in ritual action, with both extremities involved. English translations often render the term generically as 'thumb' or 'great toe,' sometimes obscuring the cultural significance of these body parts in Israelite ritual and legal texts. The word is not commonly found outside of biblical or ritual texts, pointing to its specialized function. Related Hebrew terms include אֶצְבַּע (ʾetsbaʿ, 'finger, toe') for non-primary digits, further distinguishing the unique status of בֹּהֶן for the largest digit.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root apparently meaning to be thick; the thumb of the hand or great toe of the foot; thumb, great toe.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בהן (b-h-n) — thickness, prominence, large extremity digit

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H932 בֹּהַן Bohan

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H931-02 בֹּ֤הֶן bohen HNcfsc thumb prominent digit of 14
H931-01 בְּהֹנ֥וֹת behonot HNcfpc thumbs prominent digits of 2

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H931-02 Exodus 29:20 בֹּ֤הֶן bohen HNcfsc thumb prominent digit of
H931-02 Exodus 29:20 בֹּ֥הֶן bohen-2 HNcfsc big toe prominent digit of
H931-02 Leviticus 8:23 בֹּ֤הֶן bohen HNcfsc thumb prominent digit of
H931-02 Leviticus 8:23 בֹּ֥הֶן bohen-2 HNcfsc thumb prominent digit of
H931-02 Leviticus 8:24 בֹּ֤הֶן bohen HNcfsc thumb of prominent digit of
H931-02 Leviticus 8:24 בֹּ֥הֶן bohen-2 HNcfsc big toe of prominent digit of
H931-02 Leviticus 14:14 בֹּ֤הֶן bohen HNcfsc thumb prominent digit of
H931-02 Leviticus 14:14 בֹּ֥הֶן bohen-2 HNcfsc big toe prominent digit of
H931-02 Leviticus 14:17 בֹּ֤הֶן bohen HNcfsc thumb prominent digit of
H931-02 Leviticus 14:17 בֹּ֥הֶן bohen-2 HNcfsc thumb prominent digit of
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