feminine from the same as גִּבֵּן; curdled milk; cheese.
Transliteration:gᵉbinâh
Pronunciation:gheb-ee-naw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word gᵉbinâh (`{{H1385}}`) is a feminine noun derived from a root related to gibbēn (`{{H1377}}`), which denotes something "humped" or "bent." This etymological connection suggests a process of coagulation or thickening, where a liquid substance transforms into a more solid, congealed form. The primary and most direct meaning of gᵉbinâh is "curdled milk" or "cheese." It refers to a solidified dairy product, a staple food item in ancient Near Eastern agrarian societies. Semantically, it belongs to the domain of food preparation and sustenance, representing a processed and preserved form of milk, often associated with provision and hospitality.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word gᵉbinâh (`{{H1385}}`) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, making its sole occurrence particularly significant:
* [[Job 10:10]]: "Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?"
In this poignant lament, Job is reflecting on his own creation and the intricate work of God in forming him in the womb. The imagery is deeply metaphorical, likening the process of human embryonic development to the transformation of milk into cheese. Just as milk (a fluid) is poured out and then, through a process of curdling, becomes a solid, formed substance (cheese), so too was Job's body formed and solidified from a more nascent, fluid state within his mother's womb. This powerful metaphor underscores the miraculous and mysterious nature of divine creation, using a common, everyday agricultural process to articulate the profound depth of God's involvement in the formation of human life. The context is one of Job's profound struggle with suffering and his questioning of the Creator who so intimately fashioned him.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Milk (חָלָב - *chalav* `{{H2461}}`):** gᵉbinâh (`{{H1385}}`) is inherently linked to milk, being its processed, solidified form. Milk itself is a pervasive biblical symbol of sustenance, blessing, abundance, and purity (e.g., "a land flowing with milk and honey"). The transformation from milk to cheese implies a process of maturation, preservation, or solidification.
* **Food and Sustenance:** As a dairy product, gᵉbinâh (`{{H1385}}`) falls under the broader category of food items essential for human life. Its metaphorical use in Job nevertheless points to the fundamental necessities of existence and God's provision for life.
* **Creation and Formation:** The unique usage in Job directly connects gᵉbinâh (`{{H1385}}`) to the themes of divine creation and the intricate formation of the human body. This aligns it conceptually with broader biblical affirmations of God as the ultimate Creator and His meticulous handiwork (e.g., [[Psalm 139:13-16]]).
* **Coagulation and Solidification:** The underlying semantic range of the root suggests a process of thickening or solidifying. This concept resonates with other biblical descriptions of things becoming firm, stable, or structured, though not necessarily through direct lexical ties.
### Theological Significance
The singular, metaphorical appearance of gᵉbinâh (`{{H1385}}`) in [[Job 10:10]] carries immense theological weight. It powerfully illustrates the *immanence* and *intimacy* of God's creative work. God is not depicted as a distant, detached architect, but as intimately involved in the very formation of human life, from its most fluid beginnings to its structured development. The metaphor elevates a seemingly mundane agricultural process (cheese-making) to a sacred illustration of divine power, wisdom, and design. It suggests that God's creative hand is at work even in biological processes, revealing a profound divine order and purpose. Furthermore, it highlights the *mystery* inherent in the origins of life. Just as the transformation of milk into cheese was a process understood but perhaps not fully comprehended in its chemical intricacies by ancient peoples, so too is the formation of a human being in the womb presented as a miraculous and awe-inspiring act of God. In Job's lament, this imagery serves to emphasize God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, creation and destruction, providing a poignant backdrop to his questioning of divine justice in the face of his suffering.
### Summary
The Hebrew word gᵉbinâh (`{{H1385}}`), meaning "curdled milk" or "cheese," is a rare but profoundly significant term, appearing only once in [[Job 10:10]]. In this unique occurrence, Job employs the word in a powerful metaphor, describing God's intricate formation of him in the womb: "Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?" This singular usage transforms a common dairy product into a vivid theological symbol. It underscores the intimate, meticulous, and mysterious nature of God's creative work in forming human life from its earliest, fluid stages to its structured form. Though uncommon, gᵉbinâh (`{{H1385}}`) thus serves as a compelling illustration of divine sovereignty over creation and the intricate design woven into human existence, grounding profound theological reflection in the everyday realities of ancient life.
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