עוֹר
skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather
Definition
The Hebrew word עוֹר (ʻôwr) primarily means 'skin' as the outer covering of a human or animal body. In its most basic sense, it refers to human skin, as when Adam and Eve realized their nakedness (Genesis 3:21) or when Moses's face shone (Exodus 34:29-30). By extension, it denotes animal hides or leather, used for clothing (Genesis 27:16), the coverings of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:14), and as material for various items (Exodus 25:5). In some legal contexts, it can refer to the hide of a slaughtered animal as property (Exodus 22:27).
Biblical Usage
עוֹר appears 82 times across the Pentateuch, historical books, prophets, and poetic literature. It is most frequent in Exodus and Leviticus, detailing the materials for the tabernacle and sacrificial laws. Common contexts include: human skin (Leviticus 13:2-4), leather for garments or containers (2 Kings 1:8), and animal hides used in worship, such as burnt offerings (Leviticus 4:11) or tabernacle coverings (Exodus 35:7). The word consistently denotes a tangible, often processed, outer layer.
Etymology
Derived from the root עוּר (ʻûr, H5783), meaning 'to be bare' or 'to be exposed.' This root conveys the idea of nakedness or uncovering, which directly relates to skin as the exposed surface of the body. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, also carry meanings of skin or hide, indicating a stable, ancient semantic range for the concept of an outer covering.
Semantic Range
עוֹר holds theological significance in several key narratives. In Genesis 3:21, God clothes Adam and Eve with 'garments of skin,' which signifies both His provision covering human shame and the introduction of death (an animal's life given). In the sacrificial system, the skin of the sin offering was often burned outside the camp (Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:11-12), symbolizing the removal of sin and impurity. Moses's shining skin (Exodus 34:29-35) becomes a visible sign of divine encounter and glory, transforming a common physical feature into a vessel of holy radiance.
In ancient Israelite culture, animal hides (עוֹר) were a vital resource for clothing, shelter (tent coverings), containers, and writing material. The processing of leather was a common craft. The use of specific skins (e.g., dolphin or manatee skins in Exodus 26:14) for the tabernacle's outer layer indicated both practicality for weatherproofing and the consecration of valuable materials for sacred space, differing from modern synthetic alternatives.
בָּשָׂר (bāśār, H1320) — flesh, the soft tissue of the body, not just the outer layer. גִּיד (gîḏ, H1517) — sinew or tendon, an internal connective tissue. עֹרֶת (ʻōreth, H6178) — a hide or skin, a less common variant.
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 →