The Hebrew word pîymâh, represented by H6371, means obesity or collops, a term for folds of fat. It is derived from an unused root that likely means to be plump. This specific word is extremely rare, appearing just 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entirety of the biblical text.
The single occurrence of H6371 is found in the book of Job, where it is used to describe the wicked man who has prospered in his godlessness. In this context, Eliphaz the Temanite describes this man as one who "covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks" Job 15:27. This vivid imagery is used to portray a person who has become so consumed by indulgent living and physical excess that it has become a defining characteristic of his arrogant and self-sufficient state.
Several words used in the same verse enrich the meaning of H6371:
- H2459 cheleb (fatness): This word refers to fat, often in a positive sense as the "richest or choice part." For example, it can mean the "finest of the wheat" Psalms 147:14 or the acceptable "fat of rams" in a sacrifice 1 Samuel 15:22, creating a contrast with the negative excess of H6371.
- H3680 kâçâh (cover): A primitive root meaning to cover for clothing or secrecy. While used in Job 15:27 to describe a face being covered with fat, it is also used metaphorically for the covering of sin Psalms 32:1, linking the physical act to a spiritual condition.
- H3689 keçel (flanks, folly, hope): This word has a dual meaning. In Job 15:27, it literally means the "flanks" where the collops of fat are made. However, it can also signify "folly" Ecclesiastes 7:25 or "confidence" and "hope" Proverbs 3:26, suggesting the wicked man's excess is built upon a foundation of foolishness.
Though used only once, the theological weight of H6371 is significant in its context.
- Symbol of Indulgence: The term is a direct symbol of wicked self-indulgence. The physical state of having "collops of fat" is presented as the outward result of a life lived in arrogant opposition to God.
- A Warning Against Worldly Comfort: The imagery in Job 15:27 serves as a warning that material prosperity and physical comfort, when not tempered by humility and godliness, can lead to a state of spiritual deadness and folly.
- Physical Manifestation of Pride: The act of making (âsâh, H6213) these collops implies a deliberate lifestyle. The fatness that covers the face is a physical manifestation of a pride that blinds the man to his own state and to God.
In summary, H6371 is a highly specific and potent term. While its statistical footprint is minimal, its single appearance in Job provides a powerful and unforgettable image of godless prosperity. It serves as a stark illustration of how the Bible can use a graphic physical description to convey a profound moral and spiritual warning against the dangers of pride, indulgence, and a life built on the folly of worldly excess.
TRV