גּוּפָה
a corpse (as closed to sense)
Definition
The Hebrew noun גּוּפָה (gûwphâh) refers specifically to a dead body or corpse. It denotes the physical remains of a deceased person, emphasizing the body as an inanimate object that is 'closed to sense' or devoid of life. This term is used in its sole biblical occurrence to describe the corpse of King Saul after his death in battle. The word carries a sense of finality and the stark reality of physical death, contrasting the lifeless body with the living person it once was.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 10:12. In this context, it describes the corpse of King Saul, which the valiant men of Jabesh-gilead retrieved from the wall of Beth-shan to give it a proper burial. The usage is straightforward and literal, referring to a physical dead body in a narrative of honor, rescue, and burial following a tragic death in battle.
Etymology
גּוּפָה (gûwphâh) is a feminine noun derived from the root verb גּוּף (gûph, H1479), which means 'to shut' or 'to close.' This etymological connection highlights the core idea of the corpse being 'closed off'—devoid of breath, sensation, and life. The development from a verb meaning 'to shut' to a noun for 'corpse' poetically captures the finality of death as the closing down of the living body.
Semantic Range
While used only once, this word contributes to the biblical theology of death and honor. The retrieval and burial of Saul's גּוּפָה (1 Chronicles 10:12) was an act of covenant loyalty and respect, contrasting with the dishonor of his defeat. It underscores the Hebrew value of proper burial and the tangible reality of death's consequence, even for a fallen king. Understanding this term enriches reading by highlighting the concrete, physical nature of mortality in the biblical narrative.
In ancient Israelite culture, leaving a body unburied was a profound disgrace and curse (Deuteronomy 21:23). The act of retrieving Saul's corpse for burial, as described using this word, was a culturally significant deed of loyalty, piety, and respect for the deceased. It affirmed human dignity even in death and fulfilled a sacred duty, preventing the body from being desecrated or consumed by animals.
פֶּגֶר (peger, H6297) — a more common term for corpse or dead body, often used for masses of the slain. נְבֵלָה (nᵊbēlâ, H5038) — typically refers to a carcass, often of an animal, but can be used for human corpses, emphasizing rotting or decay. גְּוִיָּה (gᵊwîyyâ, H1472) — another term for body, but can refer to a living body or a corpse, with a broader sense of the bodily frame.
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.
Full methodology & sources →