English · KJV
H1517

גִּיד

gîyd /gheed/ Ask about this word
Rootprobably from גּוּד
Meaninga thong (as compressing); by analogy, a tendon
KJV usagesinew.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gîyd — 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 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.

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 7 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • גִּדִים
  • גִיד
  • גִּידֵי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H6203 עֹרֶף from עָרַף; the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative); back H1320 בָּשָׂר from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; bod H6106 עֶצֶם from עָצַם; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame; body, bon H5785 עוֹר from עוּר; skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather; hide, leather, skin.

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

Appears in 6 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Ezekiel (2 verses each); never once in the other 35.

1
Genesis
2
Job
1
Isaiah
2
Ezekiel

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.