### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **geled**, represented by `{{H1539}}`, refers to the human **skin**, likely deriving from an unused root meaning to polish, suggesting smoothness. It is a rare term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H1539}}` is in the book of Job, a text centered on profound suffering and faith. In his anguish, Job declares, "I have sewed sackcloth upon my **skin**, and defiled my horn in the dust" [[Job 16:15]]. Here, the skin is not merely a biological feature but the canvas for an extreme act of mourning. By sewing coarse sackcloth directly onto his skin, Job physically demonstrates the depth of his grief and debasement, a sorrow that has penetrated his very being.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of [[Job 16:15]] links `{{H1539}}` to several other words that together paint a picture of complete humiliation:
* `{{H8609}}` **tâphar** (to sew): This is the action performed by Job. It signifies a deliberate and painful joining of the symbol of mourning (sackcloth) with his own body.
* `{{H8242}}` **saq** (sackcloth): The material sewn onto the skin. Sackcloth is consistently used throughout scripture as an outward sign of mourning, repentance, or distress.
* `{{H5953}}` **ʻâlal** (to defile): This describes the action taken against Job's "horn." In the verse, it is translated as "defiled," indicating a deliberate act of debasement and dishonor.
* `{{H7161}}` **qeren** (a horn): Used figuratively for power and strength. Job defiling his own horn is a symbolic act of surrendering his strength and honor.
* `{{H6083}}` **ʻâphâr** (dust): The element in which Job's horn is defiled. Dust symbolizes lowliness, mortality, and the ground from which humanity was formed [[Genesis 2:7]].
### Theological Significance
Despite its single usage, the theological weight of `{{H1539}}` in its context is significant.
* **Embodiment of Sorrow:** The word illustrates how profound spiritual and emotional anguish can be expressed in a physical, tangible way. The act of afflicting one's own skin makes the internal suffering external.
* **Symbol of Humiliation:** Paired with the defiling of the horn `{{H7161}}` in the dust `{{H6083}}`, the act against the skin `{{H1539}}` becomes a powerful metaphor for total self-abasement and the stripping away of all honor and dignity in the face of overwhelming suffering.
* **The Reversal of State:** The base definition of `geled` implies smoothness. The act of sewing rough sackcloth `{{H8242}}` onto it creates a jarring physical contrast, symbolizing the violent reversal of Job's fortunes from a state of honor to one of extreme affliction.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1539}}` provides a uniquely visceral image within biblical literature. While it simply means "skin," its lone appearance in [[Job 16:15]] transforms it into a powerful symbol. It demonstrates the physical manifestation of unbearable grief and serves as a testament to the depths of human suffering, where a person's own body becomes the medium for expressing a despair that words alone cannot contain.
TRV