גַב
the back (as rounded); by analogy, the top or rim, a boss, a vault, arch of eye, bulwarks, etc.
Definition
The Hebrew noun גַב (gab) fundamentally refers to something that is curved, arched, or rounded. Its primary meaning is 'the back' of a person or animal, as seen in Leviticus 14:9 where a cleansed leper shaves 'all his hair... from his back (gab).' By analogy, it extends to other arched or prominent parts, such as the 'rim' or 'nave' of a wheel (1 Kings 7:33), the 'vault' or 'arch' of the heavens (Job 22:14, implied in its plural form), and even the 'brows' or 'bulwarks' (as a defensive arch) in poetic contexts like Psalm 129:3 and Ezekiel 16:24.
Biblical Usage
גַב appears 11 times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic books. It describes physical, rounded objects: the human back (Leviticus 14:9), wheel parts (1 Kings 7:33; Ezekiel 1:18; 10:12), and architectural bulwarks (Ezekiel 16:24). In wisdom literature, it is used metaphorically; Job's friends have 'proverbs of ashes' and 'defenses of clay' (גַב, Job 13:12), and the wicked is said to run stubbornly against God 'with the thick bosses (גַב) of his shields' (Job 15:26), picturing arrogant defiance.
Etymology
Derived from an unused root meaning 'to hollow' or 'to curve,' גַב inherently describes a curved or arched form. It is cognate with גֵּו (gev, H1460), meaning 'back,' and גּוּף (guf, H1479), meaning 'body,' sharing the core idea of a physical, corporeal form. This etymological family highlights the word's connection to the rounded shape of the torso or back.
Semantic Range
While primarily a physical term, גַב's metaphorical uses carry theological weight. In Job, it illustrates the futility of human arguments against God (Job 13:12) and the arrogant posture of the wicked who oppose Him (Job 15:26). In Ezekiel's vision, the 'rings' or naves (גַב) of the magnificent wheels (Ezekiel 1:18) contribute to the awe-inspiring depiction of God's mobile throne, symbolizing His omnipresence and the flawless execution of His will. Understanding this word enriches the imagery of human vulnerability versus divine sovereignty.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, the 'boss' (גַב) of a shield was a thick, rounded, central protrusion designed to deflect blows. This gives vivid force to the metaphor in Job 15:26, portraying the wicked as one who charges God with the strongest part of his armor. Similarly, the 'nave' of a wheel was a critical, rounded hub, and 'bulwarks' were arched defensive structures. These concrete images would have been immediately familiar to the original audience.
גֵּו (gev, H1460) — A more common synonym for 'back,' often of humans. גַב can include animal backs and a wider range of arched objects. גּוּף (guf, H1479) — Means 'body' or 'corpse,' focusing on the whole physical form rather than specifically its arched back.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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