### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gerem**, represented by `{{H1634}}`, is a term whose definition begins with **a bone** but extends to mean **strong**, **top**, or figuratively, the **self**. It appears only 5 times in 5 unique verses, yet its applications are remarkably diverse, touching on concepts of physical strength, position, and the very core of a person.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H1634}}` serves multiple functions. It is used to signify great physical power, as when Issachar is described as a **strong** ass [[Genesis 49:14]] and when a creature's bones are said to be "like bars of iron" [[Job 40:18]]. The term also appears in a positional sense, referring to the **top** of the stairs where Jehu was declared king [[2 Kings 9:13]]. Figuratively, it represents something hard and resistant that can be overcome by gentleness, as a "soft tongue breaketh the **bone**" [[Proverbs 25:15]]. It also serves as an indicator of one's inner health, where a broken spirit "drieth the **bones**" [[Proverbs 17:22]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the conceptual field of `{{H1634}}`:
* `{{H6106}}` **ʻetsem** (a bone): This word is used in parallel with `{{H1634}}` in [[Job 40:18]], where both refer to the bones of a powerful creature, reinforcing the theme of foundational strength.
* `{{H7665}}` **shâbar** (breaketh): This verb is paired with "bone" in [[Proverbs 25:15]], highlighting the idea that even the strongest points of resistance can be broken by soft persuasion.
* `{{H1270}}` **barzel** (iron): The strength of the **gerem** is explicitly compared to **iron** in [[Job 40:18]], establishing a clear link between the word and the concept of unyielding hardness and durability.
* `{{H7307}}` **rûwach** (spirit): This word is contrasted with the physical bones in [[Proverbs 17:22]], where a broken **spirit** has a direct, detrimental effect on the body's framework.
### Theological Significance
The conceptual weight of `{{H1634}}` is evident in its metaphorical applications.
* **Symbol of Foundational Strength:** The term consistently represents a core, resilient strength. This is seen in its direct translation as **strong** [[Genesis 49:14]] and in the imagery of bones as powerful as **iron** bars [[Job 40:18]].
* **Indicator of Inner Well-being:** The state of one's bones is used as a physical gauge for the state of one's spirit. A "merry **heart**" `{{H3820}}` is a medicine, but a "broken **spirit**" `{{H5218}}` withers the body to its very bones [[Proverbs 17:22]].
* **Metaphor for Obstinate Resistance:** In [[Proverbs 25:15]], the bone symbolizes a hardened position or a powerful individual. The teaching that a gentle tongue can break it underscores a moral principle about the effectiveness of patience and persuasion over force.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1634}}` is a multifaceted word that moves from the literal to the deeply figurative. While rooted in the physical skeleton, it is used to articulate ideas of immense strength, high position, and stubborn resistance. Most significantly, it serves as a powerful illustration of the biblical worldview that connects the physical body to the intangible spirit, showing how one's inner state can fortify or diminish one's very core.
TRV