לְחִי

לְחִי

the cheek (from its fleshiness); hence, the jaw-bone

Definition

The Hebrew noun לְחִי (lᵉchîy) primarily refers to the cheek, the fleshy part of the side of the face. By extension, it can also denote the jaw or jawbone, as the underlying bony structure. In most biblical contexts, such as Deuteronomy 18:3 and 2 Chronicles 18:23, it simply means 'cheek.' However, in the dramatic story of Samson, the word specifically refers to the 'jawbone' of a donkey used as a weapon (Judges 15:15-17, 19). The term can also be used metaphorically, as in Job 16:10, where enemies 'smite my cheek' as an act of humiliation and contempt.

Biblical Usage

לְחִי appears 19 times across various books, including the Torah (Deuteronomy), Historical Books (Judges, 2 Chronicles), and Poetry (Job). Its most common usage is literal, referring to the physical cheek, often in contexts of striking or offering a cheek as a sign of disrespect or vulnerability (e.g., 2 Chronicles 18:23, Job 16:10). Its most famous and distinct usage is in Judges 15, where it refers specifically to the 'jawbone' of a donkey, which Samson wields to defeat a thousand Philistines, giving the location the name 'Jawbone Hill' (Ramath-lehi).

Etymology

The word לְחִי derives from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to be soft,' likely referring to the soft, fleshy nature of the cheek. This connection to softness aptly describes the primary meaning. The semantic extension from 'soft cheek' to the harder 'jawbone' demonstrates a common linguistic pattern where a word for a body part can refer to both its fleshy exterior and its underlying bony structure.

Semantic Range

While primarily an anatomical term, לְחִי gains theological significance in its narrative and metaphorical uses. In Judges 15, God's power is displayed through the humblest of instruments—a donkey's jawbone—highlighting divine strength working through human weakness. Metaphorically, the 'smitten cheek' in Job and the offered cheek in prophetic imagery (cf. Isaiah 50:6, Lamentations 3:30) become powerful symbols of suffering, submission, and vulnerability, prefiguring New Testament teachings on non-retaliation (Matthew 5:39). In the ancient Near East, striking someone on the cheek was a profound act of insult and shaming, intended to dishonor and degrade the recipient. This cultural understanding gives depth to passages where the cheek is offered or struck. Furthermore, Samson's use of a fresh jawbone (Judges 15:15) as an improvised weapon reflects a context where tools of war were often repurposed from everyday items, making his divinely empowered victory with such an object even more startling. מַלְקוֹחַ (malqôach, H4458) — A more specific term for 'jaw' or 'jawbone,' used in poetic parallelism (e.g., Job 29:17).

Word Details