Word Study for H1480 (גּוּפָה)

gûwphâh /goo-faw'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga corpse (as closed to sense)

KJV usagebody.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gûwphâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word gûwphâh, represented by H1480, refers to a body or corpse. Derived from a root meaning "closed to sense," it specifically denotes a dead body. It appears only 2 times in the Bible, both within a single unique verse, making its usage highly specific and impactful.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole use of H1480 occurs in the narrative describing the aftermath of King Saul's death. Following the battle, valiant men from Jabesh "took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons" to provide them with a proper burial 1 Chronicles 10:12. This act highlights the importance of honoring the dead, particularly a king and his heirs, by respectfully retrieving their physical remains.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words in the immediate context of 1 Chronicles 10:12 help to frame the scene:

H5375 nâsâʼ (to lift, carry away): This verb describes the direct action performed upon the bodies of Saul and his sons. The valiant men physically lifted and took away the corpses from the battlefield.
H6912 qâbar (to inter, bury): This word indicates the ultimate purpose of retrieving the bodies. The remains were recovered so that they could be buried, an act of final respect.
H6106 ʻetsem (a bone, body): While the men took the body (gûwphâh), the text states they buried their bones. This related term distinguishes the flesh from the enduring skeletal frame, emphasizing the components of the physical form.
H2428 chayil (valor, strength): This term describes the men who performed the recovery as valiant. Their bravery was essential to retrieving the bodies from a place of defeat.

Theological Significance

While its use is limited, the theological weight of H1480 is demonstrated through the actions surrounding it.

Honor for the Dead: The effort of the valiant men to retrieve the body of Saul and his sons underscores a profound respect for the physical person, even after death. It was an act of loyalty and honor.
Courage and Duty: The recovery was a dangerous mission undertaken by valiant men 1 Chronicles 10:12. This connects the proper handling of a corpse with acts of bravery and the fulfillment of a solemn duty to one's fallen leader.
Physicality of Death: The term's specific focus on the corpse serves as a stark reminder of the physical finality of death and the separation of the body from life.

Summary

In summary, H1480 is a precise and rare term for a corpse. Its only appearance in scripture powerfully illustrates the biblical value of showing honor and respect for the dead. The narrative in 1 Chronicles 10:12 uses gûwphâh to anchor the story in the physical reality of death while simultaneously highlighting the loyalty and valor required to care for the fallen bodies of a king and his sons.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

גּוּפֹת
גּוּפַת

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in 1 Chronicles — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.