English · KJV
H1634

גֶּרֶם

gerem /gheh'-rem/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom גָּרַם
Meaninga bone (as the skeleton of the body); hence, self, i.e. (figuratively) very
KJV usagebone, strong, top.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gerem — 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 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.

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 5 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.

  • גָּרֶם
  • גְּרָמָי
  • גֶּרֶם

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.

H6106 עֶצֶם from עָצַם; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame; body, bon H7665 שָׁבַר a primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively); break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to th H1270 בַּרְזֶל perhaps from the root of בִּרְזוֹת; iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement; (ax) head, iron. H7307 רוּחַ from רוּחַ; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubs H3820 לֵב a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; like H5218 נָכֵא or נָכָא; from נָכָא; smitten, i.e. (figuratively) afflicted; broken, stricken, wounded.

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 5 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

1
Genesis
1
2 Kings
1
Job
2
Proverbs

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.