The Hebrew word gêvâh, represented by H1465, is a specific term for the body or back. Its definition is the feminine of גֵּו, meaning the back, and by extension, the person or body. This word is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire biblical text, giving its single usage significant weight.
The sole appearance of H1465 is in Job 20:25, within a vivid description of the fate of the wicked. The verse states that a weapon "is drawn, and cometh out of the body." This context graphically portrays a fatal wound, where the physical form is pierced through. The word is used to emphasize the tangible, physical reality of a violent end, where a glittering sword H1300 comes out of the gall H4846, and terrors H367 overwhelm the person.
Several related words from its only context in Job 20:25 illuminate its meaning:
- H8025 shâlaph (to pull out, up or off; draw): This word describes the action of pulling the weapon from the body, highlighting the violence of the act. It is often used in the context of drawing a sword Judges 8:10.
- H3318 yâtsâʼ (to go out): This term signifies the sword's exit from the body, emphasizing the piercing and passage of the weapon through the person.
- H1300 bârâq (glittering sword): This describes the weapon itself, connecting it to the gleam of lightning and reinforcing the sudden, terrifying nature of the judgment.
- H4846 mᵉrôrâh (gall): Mentioned alongside the body, this word refers to bile and bitterness, suggesting a deep, internal, and bitter wound.
- H367 ʼêymâh (terror): This is the direct result of the event, describing the overwhelming fright and horror that falls upon the person whose body is violated.
The theological weight of H1465 is derived entirely from its singular, dramatic context in Job.
- Physicality of Judgment: The use of H1465 underscores that the consequences of wickedness are not merely spiritual but can be horribly physical. The body itself is the site of the lethal punishment described.
- The Locus of Suffering: The body is presented as the place where the glittering sword H1300 does its work and from which the gall H4846 is drawn, linking the physical form directly to pain and death.
- Source of Terror: The piercing of the body H1465 is the direct cause of the terrors H367 that fall upon the man, showing a clear connection between physical violation and psychological dread in the face of judgment.
In summary, while H1465 is a simple word for body, its solitary use in scripture imbues it with a powerful and dark significance. It appears exclusively in a context of violent judgment in Job 20:25, forever tying it to the imagery of a fatal wound, overwhelming terror, and the physical finality of the wicked man's end. Its rarity makes its single appearance a potent and unforgettable illustration of divine retribution.
TRV