גַּף
the back; by extension the body or self
Definition
The Hebrew noun גַּף (gaph) primarily refers to the 'back' of a person or animal, as seen in its literal use. By extension, it can signify the whole 'body' or 'self', a meaning derived from the part representing the whole (a figure of speech known as synecdoche). This extended sense is evident in its use regarding a person's physical presence or being, such as in the laws concerning Hebrew servants in Exodus 21:3-4. In Proverbs 9:3, it takes on a more figurative meaning, where Wisdom sends out her maidens and calls from the 'highest places' (gaph) of the city, using the term to denote a prominent, elevated point.
Biblical Usage
This word occurs only three times in the Old Testament, all in distinct contexts. In Exodus 21:3-4, it is used in legal material concerning the physical body or person of a Hebrew servant who enters service alone or with a family. In Proverbs 9:3, it appears in wisdom literature with a spatial, metaphorical sense ('highest places'). There is no usage in narrative or poetic books outside of these two.
Etymology
Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to arch' or 'to curve', likely describing the shape of the human back. This root concept naturally extended to signify the body or self, as the back is a central, supporting part of the physical form.
Semantic Range
While not a theologically dense term, גַּף enriches reading by highlighting the concrete, physical reality in biblical law and metaphor. In Exodus 21, it grounds the concept of personal liberty and identity in the servant's own physical body. In Proverbs 9:3, it contributes to the imagery of Wisdom's public, authoritative call from the most visible and elevated parts of society, contrasting with Folly's hidden call (Proverbs 9:14-15).
In the context of Exodus 21, understanding גַּף as 'self' or 'body' is crucial to the cultural and legal concept of indentured servitude. A servant's physical person was the entity entering and leaving the service, distinct from any accompanying family members who remained attached to the master's household. This reflects the individual legal identity within the family-based structure of ancient Israelite society.
גֵּו (gev, H1460) — Also means 'back', but more commonly refers to the physical back as the seat of strength or as the part that is turned. שְׁכֶם (shekem, H7926) — Literally 'shoulder', often used for bearing burdens or responsibility, a different body part with a more task-oriented connotation.
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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