גָּחוֹן
the external abdomen, belly (as the source of the faetus )
Definition
The Hebrew noun גָּחוֹן (gâchôwn) refers specifically to the external abdomen or belly of a creature. In its two biblical occurrences, it denotes the underbelly or ventral surface of an animal, particularly the part of the body that touches the ground during locomotion. In Genesis 3:14, it is used in God's curse upon the serpent, condemning it to go 'upon your belly.' In Leviticus 11:42, it appears in dietary laws, referring to creatures that move 'upon all fours' or 'upon its belly,' distinguishing their mode of movement.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. First, in a narrative context in Genesis 3:14, it describes the serpent's cursed mode of locomotion. Second, in a legal context in Leviticus 11:42, it is used to classify unclean animals based on their movement 'upon the belly.' Both uses focus on physical posture and movement close to the ground.
Etymology
The word likely derives from the root גִּיחַ (gîach, H1518), meaning 'to burst forth' or 'to break out.' This connection may imply a sense of protrusion or the front part of the body. It is also compared to the proper name גִּיחוֹן (Gîychôwn, H1521), one of the rivers of Eden, which may share a semantic idea of 'bursting forth.'
Semantic Range
The word is significant in the context of the Fall in Genesis 3:14, where the serpent's punishment to go 'upon your belly' symbolizes humiliation, degradation, and a perpetual state of enmity with humanity. It marks a dramatic change in the creature's nature and relationship with the created order as a consequence of sin. Understanding this physical description enriches the reading of this foundational curse.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, movement 'upon the belly' was associated with lowliness, defilement, and often with creatures considered unclean or dangerous. The imagery in Genesis would have been immediately understood as a profound curse, reducing the serpent's status. The Levitical usage reflects a cultural and religious taxonomy that associated certain physical characteristics, like mode of locomotion, with ritual purity.
בֶּטֶן (beṭen, H990) — a more general term for womb, belly, or body cavity, often internal. מֵעֶה (mēʿeh, H4578) — refers to internal organs, intestines, or womb, emphasizing inward parts.
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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