בֶּטֶן
𐤁𐤈𐤍
beṭen
H990 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The hollow or interior part of the body, most often signifying the abdomen or womb. Used concretely for the physical belly (anatomical stomach and intestines), and specifically for the womb as the seat of gestation. By extension, also refers to the inner parts, inward being, or interior (both literal and figurative), and occasionally the internal cavity of objects.
Semantic Range
belly, abdomen, womb, internal cavity, inner being, bosom, body, interior (of a person or object), center, within
Root / Etymology
The noun בֶּטֶן (beṭen) is commonly linked to the root בָּטַן (batán), "to be hollow" or "to curve out," though this precise verbal root does not occur in biblical Hebrew. Cognate forms appear in other Semitic languages with similar meanings related to hollow spaces. Thus, the noun refers to a hollow or internal space, from which its use for 'belly' or 'womb' is derived.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בֶּטֶן appears throughout the Hebrew Bible for the corporeal abdomen or womb, especially in genealogical, birth, or blessing contexts. In earlier texts, it designates the literal belly or womb, but in wisdom literature and poetry, it can connote inner being, center, or the internal aspect of a person (e.g., seat of emotion or thought). Occasionally extended metaphorically to interiors of objects or abstract ideas of innerness (e.g., Ps 71:6). Distinct from קֶרֶב (qérev), which more commonly expresses 'inner parts' or core being, while בֶּטֶן retains a closer focus on the anatomical or generative interior. In later Jewish Greek translations, the term is often rendered by κοιλία (koilía), which similarly refers both to the physical belly and interior spaces. Later English translations occasionally use 'bosom' or 'body,' but 'womb' or 'belly' most consistently capture its primary sense in context. Usage remains consistent across pre-exilic and post-exilic periods, though poetic and metaphorical use becomes more pronounced in later literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything; belly, body, [phrase] as they be born, [phrase] within, womb.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בטן (b-ṭ-n) — to be hollow, interior space, curve inward
Word Forms
30 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H990-17 |
מִ/בֶּ֣טֶן | mibeten | HR/Ncfsc |
from the womb | from the belly | 14 |
H990-28 |
בִטְנְ/ךָ֣ | vitenekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
of your womb | your inner-belly | 7 |
H990-24 |
בָֽטֶן | vaten | HNcfsa |
the body | belly | 5 |
H990-29 |
בִטְנִ֖/י | viteni | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my belly | my inner womb | 4 |
H990-12 |
בִּטְנִ֗/י | biteni | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my belly | my belly | 3 |
H990-15 |
הַ/בֶּ֖טֶן | habeten | HTd/Ncfsa |
the-belly | the womb | 2 |
H990-13 |
בִּטְנ֑/וֹ | biteno | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his belly | his inner hollow | 2 |
H990-03 |
בְּ/בֶ֣טֶן | beveten | HR/Ncfsc |
in the womb | in womb of | 2 |
H990-04 |
בְּ/בִטְנָֽ/הּ | bevitenah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
in her womb | in her womb | 2 |
H990-10 |
בִּטְנֵ֖/ךְ | bitenekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your-belly | your belly | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
72 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H990-06 |
Genesis 25:23 | בְּ/בִטְנֵ֔/ךְ | bevitenekhe | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2fs |
are in your womb | in your womb |
H990-04 |
Genesis 25:24 | בְּ/בִטְנָֽ/הּ | bevitenah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
in her womb | in her womb |
H990-24 |
Genesis 30:2 | בָֽטֶן | vaten | HNcfsa |
of the womb | belly |
H990-04 |
Genesis 38:27 | בְּ/בִטְנָֽ/הּ | bevitenah | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs |
in her womb | in her womb |
H990-10 |
Numbers 5:21 | בִּטְנֵ֖/ךְ | bitenekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your belly | your belly |
H990-02 |
Numbers 5:22 | בֶּ֖טֶן | beten | HNcfsa |
belly | belly |
H990-26 |
Numbers 5:27 | בִטְנָ֔/הּ | vitenah | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
her-belly | her womb |
H990-28 |
Deuteronomy 7:13 | בִטְנְ/ךָ֣ | vitenekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
of your womb | your inner-belly |
H990-28 |
Deuteronomy 28:4 | בִטְנְ/ךָ֛ | vitenekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
of your womb | your inner-belly |
H990-28 |
Deuteronomy 28:11 | בִטְנְ/ךָ֛ | vitenekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
of your womb | your inner-belly |