גִּיד

גִּיד

a thong (as compressing); by analogy, a tendon

Definition

The Hebrew noun גִּיד (gîyd) primarily refers to a tendon or sinew, the tough fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone. In its most literal sense, it describes the anatomical sinews in the human body, as seen in Job's description of God knitting him together with 'sinews' (Job 10:11). By analogy, it can also mean a thong or cord, something that binds or compresses, which is the sense likely used in the description of the behemoth whose 'sinews' are like bars of iron (Job 40:17). The word is famously used in Genesis 32:32 for the 'sinew of the hip' that was shrunken when Jacob wrestled with God, leading to a dietary prohibition.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only six times in the Old Testament. Its usage is split between literal anatomical descriptions (Job 10:11, Job 40:17) and powerful metaphorical or symbolic contexts. In Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones, God promises to cover the bones with 'sinews' as part of the resurrection imagery (Ezekiel 37:6, 8). It is used metaphorically for stubbornness in Isaiah 48:4, where Israel's neck is an 'iron sinew.' The most culturally significant usage is in Genesis 32:32, which established a lasting Jewish dietary custom.

Etymology

The word גִּיד (gîyd) is likely derived from the root גּוּד (gûd, H1464), which means 'to crowd upon, attack' or 'to invade.' This root sense of pressing or compressing fits the word's dual meaning as both a tendon (which pulls and constricts) and a thong (which binds).

Semantic Range

גִּיד carries significant theological weight, primarily through its use in two key narratives. In Genesis 32, the 'sinew of the hip' becomes a permanent sign of Jacob's transformative encounter with God, marking a change in his identity and leading to a communal practice. In Ezekiel 37, 'sinews' are a critical component in the prophecy of national resurrection and restoration, symbolizing God's power to reconnect and give life to what was dead and scattered. The metaphor in Isaiah 48:4 also connects the word to the spiritual condition of stubbornness against God. The primary cultural impact of this word stems from Genesis 32:32. Because Jacob was touched on the 'sinew of the hip,' Jewish tradition (the Talmud) interprets this as the sciatic nerve. This led to the dietary law forbidding the consumption of this specific nerve (and its associated blood vessels and fats) in slaughtered animals, a practice observed in kosher butchering (nikkur). This cultural-legal application directly originates from this single biblical event. חֵלֶב (cheleb, H2459) — fat, especially the choicest or sacrificial fat; distinct from sinewy tissue. עֹרֶק (ʿoreq, H6197) — vein, artery, or channel; focuses on vessels for blood/fluid, not connective tissue. שָׁרִיר (sharir, H8307) — muscle, firm part of the body; denotes strength and firmness rather than the binding tendon.

Word Details