### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gîyd**, represented by `{{H1517}}`, refers to a **sinew** or tendon. Based on its root, it suggests something that compresses or binds. It appears 7 times across 6 unique verses, used both literally to describe anatomy and figuratively to represent unyielding strength or stubbornness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H1517}}` is used to illustrate God's role in the formation of life. Job describes his creation as being clothed with skin and flesh and "fenced" with bones and **sinews** [[Job 10:11]]. Similarly, in the vision of the valley of dry bones, the LORD promises to lay **sinews** upon the bones as a step in their restoration to life ([[Ezekiel 37:6]], [[Ezekiel 37:8]]). The term is also the basis for a specific dietary law for the children of Israel, who do not eat the **sinew** on the thigh in remembrance of Jacob's wrestling encounter [[Genesis 32:32]]. Figuratively, it is used to describe Israel's obstinance, whose neck is called an "iron **sinew**" [[Isaiah 48:4]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are used alongside `{{H1517}}` to describe the body's structure or to provide metaphorical context:
* `{{H6203}}` **ʻôreph** (the nape or back of the neck): This word is paired with `{{H1517}}` in a powerful metaphor for stubbornness, where Israel's **neck** is described as an "iron sinew" [[Isaiah 48:4]].
* `{{H1320}}` **bâsâr** (flesh; by extension, body, person): **Flesh** is consistently mentioned with sinews as a core component of the body, both in God's initial creation of man and in the miraculous reanimation of the dry bones ([[Job 10:11]], [[Ezekiel 37:6]], [[Ezekiel 37:8]]).
* `{{H6106}}` **ʻetsem** (a bone; by extension, the body): As the framework of the body, **bones** are described as being "fenced" together by sinews, highlighting the sinew's role in providing structure and connection [[Job 10:11]].
* `{{H5785}}` **ʻôwr** (skin; by implication, hide, leather): **Skin** is the outer covering laid over the flesh and sinews, completing the physical form in the descriptions of creation and restoration ([[Job 10:11]], [[Ezekiel 37:6]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological and figurative weight of `{{H1517}}` is demonstrated in several key themes:
* **Divine Creation and Restoration:** Sinews represent a fundamental part of God's handiwork in forming a living being. They are essential in Job's description of his own creation and in the LORD's power to restore life to the dead in Ezekiel's vision ([[Job 10:11]], [[Ezekiel 37:6]]).
* **Symbol of Inflexibility:** In Isaiah, the "iron sinew" becomes a metaphor for spiritual hardness and rebellion. It powerfully illustrates an unbending and obstinate will that refuses to submit to God [[Isaiah 48:4]].
* **Covenantal Remembrance:** The prohibition against eating a specific sinew serves as a perpetual reminder for the people of Israel of their forefather Jacob's transformative struggle with a divine being, embedding a historical event into daily life [[Genesis 32:32]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1517}}` is a specific anatomical term that carries significant meaning. It functions as a literal building block in God's creation, a powerful metaphor for rebellious stubbornness, and the focal point of a lasting ritual practice. The word **gîyd** shows how the physical components of the body are used in Scripture to teach lessons about God's power, human nature, and historical identity.
TRV