יְרֵכָה
properly, the flank; but used only figuratively, the rear or recess
Definition
The Hebrew noun יְרֵכָה (yᵉrêkâh) literally means 'flank' or 'side,' referring to the fleshy part of the body between the ribs and the hip. However, in biblical usage, it is almost always employed figuratively to denote the farthest or most remote part of something—the rear, the recess, or the extremity. In architectural contexts, it describes the back or western sides of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:22-23, 27). In geographical descriptions, it refers to the distant borders or coastal regions of a territory, as seen in the description of Zebulun dwelling 'at the shore of the sea' (Genesis 49:13) and the 'remote parts' of the hill country of Ephraim (Judges 19:1).
Biblical Usage
This word is used 28 times in the Old Testament, primarily in the books of Exodus (detailing the Tabernacle's construction) and Ezekiel (in temple visions). Its usage consistently conveys the idea of a distant, interior, or supporting extremity. In Exodus, it specifies the 'rear' or 'western' boards of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:22-23). In narrative and prophetic books, it describes remote geographical areas, emphasizing isolation or the farthest reach of a land. For example, Judges 19:1 mentions a Levite sojourning in the 'remote parts' of the hill country.
Etymology
יְרֵכָה (yᵉrêkâh) is the feminine form of the more common noun יָרֵךְ (yārēk, H3409), which means 'thigh,' 'loin,' or 'side.' The root is associated with physical strength and generative power (as in the 'thigh' being the seat of procreative power). The feminine form יְרֵכָה developed a more specialized, often architectural or geographical, sense of a side, flank, or furthest part, moving from a literal body part to a metaphor for extremity.
Semantic Range
Understanding יְרֵכָה enriches reading by highlighting God's meticulous design and presence. In the Tabernacle instructions (Exodus 26), the 'rear' or 'sides' (יְרֵכָה) are specified, showing that God's holy presence encompasses and defines even the most remote, unseen parts of the sacred space. This underscores the completeness and order of God's dwelling place. Geographically, its use for 'remote parts' (Judges 19:1, Ezekiel 25:9) can illustrate themes of isolation, refuge, or the far-reaching scope of God's judgment and promise, reminding readers that no place is beyond God's notice or care.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, the 'thigh' (from the root יָרֵךְ) was a symbol of strength and the seat of procreative power (hence the oath-swearing gesture of placing a hand under the thigh in Genesis 24:2). The feminine form יְרֵכָה, while moving to a spatial sense, retains this connotation of a foundational or supporting part. When used for the Tabernacle's 'sides,' it implies the structural supports that hold up the holy place. As a term for geographical extremities, it reflects an ancient perspective where the edges of known territory were often vague, mysterious, or sparsely inhabited.
יָרֵךְ (yārēk, H3409) — The masculine base word, more commonly used for the literal 'thigh' or 'loin.' | קָצֶה (qāṣeh, H7097) — 'end' or 'extremity'; more general for any boundary or limit, not specifically a side or flank. | פֵּאָה (pē'âh, H6285) — 'corner' or 'edge'; often used for the corner of a field or garment, not the rear or recess.
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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