Job 40:17

יַחְפֹּ֣ץ זְנָב֣וֹ כְמוֹ אָ֑רֶז גִּידֵ֖י (פחדו) פַחֲדָ֣יו יְשֹׂרָֽגוּ
He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

יַחְפֹּ֣ץ
יַחְפֹּ֣ץ
Root word delight, delighteth, delighted, pleased, desire, …
Dictionary form: חָפֵץ · haw-PAYTS

Verb — Qal, Imperfect (Yiqtol), third person masculine singular simple action — "he did" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "he (or it)"

In the KJV here: he moveth
delighteth ×9 delight ×5 delighted ×3 he will ×3 delight in it ×2 he delighted in me ×2 he please ×2 i delighted not ×2
More options
delight in — Best default; captures joyful, wholehearted desire.
take pleasure in — Slightly more neutral; good for formal or prose contexts.
desire — Emphasizes want over enjoyment; useful in volitional contexts.
long for — Adds emotional intensity; suits poetic or yearning passages.
cherish — Highlights deep, lasting affection; fits relational contexts.
be pleased with — Stresses approval or acceptance, especially of offerings or persons.

BDB3007 H2654

BDB3006 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3008

חָפֵץ verb delight in (compare Arabic be mindful of, attentive to, keep, protect, Aramaic whence eager, zealous, Arabic anger (excitement), enrage (Aramaic and Arabic of excited attention, Hebrew of delighted attention), DlPr 168 NöZMG 1886, 742; Late Hebrew חֵפֶץ weakened to thing, see DeEc. Glossary, Phoenician in proper name חפצבעל); —

Qal Perfect ׳ח Gen 34:19 + 28 t.; feminine הָפֵ֑צָה Isa 66:3?; 2 masculine חָפַצְתָּ Deut 21:14 + 4 t.; חָפָ֫צְנוּ Job 21:14, etc., + 14 t. Perfect; Imperfect יַחְפֹּץ Deut 25:7 + 7 t.; יֶחְפָּ֑ץ Ps 37:23; Ps 147:10 plural יַחְפְּצוּ Isa 13:17; Jer 6:10 יֶחְפָּ֑צוּ Ps 68:31 יֶחְפָּצוּ֑ן Isa 58:2 (twice in verse) etc. + 9 t. Imperfect; Infinitive absolute חָפֹץ Ezek 18:23 on Participle חָפֵץ = adjective verb., see below; —
1. of men:
  a. take pleasure in, delight in, with בְּ, a woman Gen 34:19 (J), Deut 21:14; Esth 2:14 a man 1Sam 18:22; 1Sam 19:1; 2Sam 20:11 in matters and things 2Sam 24:3; Isa 13:17; Isa 66:3; Jer 6:10; Ps 109:17; Ps 112:1; Ps 119:35; Prov 18:2; Esth 6:6; Esth 6:7; Esth 6:9 (twice in verse); Esth 6:11 with accusative Ps 68:31; Isa 58:2; Eccl 8:3 implicit object Ps 73:25.
  b. delight, desire, be pleased to do a thing, would do it Deut 25:7; Deut 25:8; 1Kgs 9:1; Esth 6:6; Ruth 3:13; Ps 40:9; Job 9:3; Job 13:3; Job 21:14; Job 33:32; Isa 58:2; Jer 42:22.
  c. absolute עַד שֶׁתֶּחְפָּ֑ץ until it please (of love) Song 2:7; Song 3:5; Song 8:4.
2. of God:
  a. delight in, have pleasure in, with בְּ, persons Num 14:8 (J), 2Sam 15:26; 2Sam 22:20 = Ps 18:20, 1Kgs 10:9 = 2Chr 9:8; Ps 22:9; Ps 41:12; Isa 62:4 not in the strength of a horse Ps 147:10 in doing evil Mal 2:17 in the death of the sinner Ezek 18:32; Ezek 33:11 but in mercy, justice, and righteousness Jer 9:23 בחר באשׁר (לא) חפצתי Isa 56:4; Isa 65:12; Isa 66:4 not with (accusative) the blood of bullocks Isa 1:11 זבח (ים ׅ; Ps 40:7; Ps 51:18; Ps 51:21, or the death of the sinner Ezek 18:23 (twice in verse); but with חסד Hos 6:6; Mic 7:18, אמת Ps 51:8 with the way of a man Ps 37:23 כל אשׁר חפץ Ps 115:3; Ps 135:6; Prov 21:1 אשׁר חפץ Isa 55:11; Jonah 1:14.
  b. pleased to do a thing with infinitive Judg 13:23; 1Sam 2:25; Isa 53:10.
  c. with imperfect subject (Ges«GKC:142»§ 142 (3) c) חָפֵץ יגדיל תּורה ׳י Yahweh was pleased to magnify teaching Isa 42:21. — On Job 40:17 see חָפַץ.

BDB3011 H2654

BDB3010 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3012

[חָפַץ] verb bend down (Arabic lower, depress, as wings Qor 15:88) — only Qal Imperfect יַחְפֹּץ זְנָבוֺ כְמוֺאֶֿרֶז Job 40:17 he bendeth down (extendeth down stiffly) his tail like a cedar, see Wetzst in DeJob 526 HiHiob 299.

delight, delighteth, delighted, pleased, desire, …
ḥāpēṣ
properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire
  • to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with
    • (Qal)
      • of men
        • to take pleasure in, delight in
          • "to delight, desire, be pleased to do
        of God
        • to delight in, have pleasure in
          • "to be pleased to do
    to move, bend down
    • (Qal) to bend down

זְנָב ֣וֹ
זְנָב
Root word tail, tails
֣וֹ
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: זָנָב · dzaw-NAWB

Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: his tail
tail ×2 tails ×2 the tail ×2 and tail ×1 his tail ×1 is the tail ×1 it by the tail ×1 or tail ×1
More options
tail — Direct, modern equivalent; suitable in nearly all contexts.
rear — Metaphorical use; good for military or positional contexts.
end — Abstract sense; useful when denoting the last or lowest position.
back end — Informal; vivid for animal anatomy or spatial imagery.

BDB2405 H2180

BDB2404 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB2406

זָנָב noun masculineJudg 15:4 tail, also (figurative) end, stump (Late Hebrew id., Assyrian zibbatu HomNS 368, Ethiopic Arabic , Aramaic , דּוּנְבָּא, דַּנְבָּא) — ׳ז absolute Judg 15:4 (twice in verse) + 5 t.; suffix זְנָבוֺJob 40:17 plural זְנָבוֺת Judg 15:4 construct זַנְבוֺת Isa 7:4 —

1. a. tail of fox Judg 15:4 (3 t. in verse), of serpent Exod 4:4 (J), of hippopotamus Job 40:17
  b. figurative of common people, opposed to rulers Isa 9:13; Isa 19:15 (in both, ראֹשׁ וְזָנָב, || כִּפָּה וְאַגְמוֺן; Isa 9:14 is incorrect gloss); of subject-people (opposed to ראֹשׁ) Deut 28:13; Deut 28:44.
2. end, stump (of firebrand, אוּד) in metaphor Isa 7:4.

tail, tails
zānāb
the tail (literally or figuratively)
  • tail, end, stump

כְמוֹ
כְמוֹ
Preposition as, like, thee, him, it, …
Dictionary form: כְּמוֹ · keh-MOH

Preposition

In the KJV here: like
as ×23 like ×9 like him ×7 like unto thee ×7 like thee ×5 as i ×4 like it ×4 as thou ×3
More options
like — Most natural, versatile choice for comparisons in modern prose.
as — Slightly more formal; suits poetic or elevated register.
similar to — Explicit similarity; good when likeness needs emphasis.
just as — Stresses close correspondence; fits parallel or climactic clauses.
comparable to — More analytical tone; useful in didactic or wisdom contexts.
in the same way as — Adverbial use; clarifies manner rather than identity.

BDB3872 H3644

BDB3871 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB3873

כְּמוֺ adverb and conjunction like, as, when (literally the like of what (namely) . . ., a pleonastic form of כְּ (see מוֺ), and, like it, properly a substantive: compare Aramaic כְּמָא like Ps 78:68 Levy, usually כְּמָא דְּ like as; (i.e. ) like what, like, usually followed by like as; Samaritan ; Arabic Ethiopic kama, like as, Di Gr§ 63 a Sabean כמוZMG 1883, 394) — used

1. (56 t.) as an independent word (except Gen 19:15; Neh 9:11, only in poetry);
2. as an equivalent for כְּ before suffixes, always before light ones, and occasionally before heavy ones (see כְּ at the beginning): —
1. a. adverb, as poetic synonym of כְּ, like, as, Exod 15:5 they went down כמואֿבן like a stone (hence in prose Neh 9:11), vNeh 9:8 (Ps 78:13), Isa 30:22; Isa 51:6 (see כֵּן), Isa 26:17 כְּמוֺ חָרָח תַּקְרִיב לָלֶרֶת (see כְּ 1 c (2), on the construct: so Isa 41:25; Ps 58:5; Ps 58:9), vIsa 26:18 we have brought forth the like of, as it were, wind, Jer 13:21; Jer 15:18; Jer 50:26; Ezek 16:57 (כמו עת as at the time of: see כְּ Note), Hos 7:4; Hos 8:12; Hos 13:7; Hab 3:14 (as it were), Zech 9:15; Zech 10:2; Zech 10:7 (as with wine: see ib.) Elsewhere chiefly in Psalms (19 t.) and Job (11 t.), as Ps 29:6; Ps 61:7; Ps 63:6; Ps 78:69; Ps 79:5; Ps 88:6; Ps 90:9; Job 6:15; Job 10:22 (twice in verse); Job 12:3 כמו אלה the like of these things, Job 14:9; Song 6:10; Song 7:2; Lam 4:6 כמו רגע (in prose כרגע). Repeated, like כְּ ֗֗֗ כְּ, Ps 58:10 and answered by כֵּן Isa 26:17. — Ps 58:8b כמו יתמוללו, as it were is against usage of כמו (with a verb), and yields a lame sense: read perhaps ׳ית [חָצִיר] כמו (Lag Che); Ps 73:15 if I said, אֲסַפְּרָה כְמ֑וֺ, the text is untranslateable, the rendering thus for כמו being indefensible: probably הֵנָּה has dropped out before the following ׃הִנֵּה for כְּמוֺ הֵנָּה the like of these things, compare Job 23:14 כָּהֵנָּה, and Job 12:3 above b. conjunction = כַּאֲשֶׁר: (a) of time, once, Gen 19:15 כְּמוֺ עָלָה הַשַּׁחַר when the dawn arose; (β) of mode, according as, Zech 10:8 וְרָבוּ כְּמוֺ רָבוּ Prov 23:7 (answered by כֵּן). — For 2 (before suffixes), see עכּ.

as, like, thee, him, it, …
kĕmô
as, thus, so
  • (adv) like, as, the like of which
    • "(conj) when, according as, as it were

אָ֑רֶז
אָ֑רֶז
Root word cedar, cedars, trees, tree
Dictionary form: אֶרֶז · eh-REDZ

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: a cedar
of cedar ×11 cedar ×6 cedars ×6 the cedar ×5 the cedars ×5 with cedar ×5 and cedar ×3 of cedars ×3
More options
cedar — Best default; clear and universally recognized.
cedar tree — Use when the physical tree (not wood) is in focus.
cedar wood — Prefer when the material or timber sense is primary.
Lebanon cedar — Adds geographical specificity for cultural clarity.

BDB744 H730

BDB743 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB745

אֶ֫רֶז noun masculineEzek 17:23 cedar; —

feminine Ezek 17:22 הָרָמָה ׳א, but strike out הרמה ᵐ5 Co; — (Arabic pine-tree, etc.; Ethiopic Syriac ) — ׳א absolute Lev 14:4 + 19 t., אָ֑רֶז Job 40:17 + 6 t.; plural אֲרָזִיס Isa 9:9 + 35 t.; construct אַרְזֵי Isa 2:13 + 5 t.; suffix אֲרָזֶיךָ Jer 22:17; Zech 11:1 אֲרָזָיו Isa 37:24 = 2Kgs 19:23 —
1. cedar-tree,
   (a) as growing Num 24:6; Ps 148:9; Isa 41:19; Isa 44:14 compare Ezek 31:8 especially as growing on Lebanon 1Kgs 5:13; 2Kgs 14:9 = 2Chr 25:18 (both in fable of Jehoash); often אַרְזֵי (הַ) לְּבָנוֺן Judg 9:15; Isa 2:13; Isa 14:8; Ps 29:5 (twice in verse) (figurative) Ps 104:16, compare 1Kgs 5:20; 2Kgs 19:23 = Isa 37:24; Ps 92:13; Song 5:15; Ezek 27:5 (singular collective) Zech 11:1; Zech 11:2 (figurative); Song 1:17; Ezra 3:7; Jer 22:23 (figurative) Ezek 17:3 (figurative);
   (b) especially in simile, of outward power, stateliness & majesty Ps 80:11 (אֵל ׳א) compare Ezek 31:3 (personified, but see Co on text), Amos 2:9 of individuals Jer 22:7; Ps 92:13; Ezek 17:22; Ezek 17:23 compare other examples of figurative use, above; simile of straightness & strength Job 40:17 (tail of hippopotamus).
2. cedar-timber, cedar-wood for building, עֲצֵי אֲרָזִים 1Sam 5:11; 1Kgs 5:22; 1Kgs 5:24; 1Kgs 6:10; 1Kgs 9:11; 1Chr 14:1; 1Chr 22:4 (twice in verse); 2Chr 2:7; Ezra 3:7 without עֵץ 2Sam 7:2; 2Sam 7:7; 1Kgs 6:9; 1Kgs 6:15; 1Kgs 6:16; 1Kgs 6:18 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 6:20; 1Kgs 6:36; 1Kgs 7:2 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 7:3; 1Kgs 7:7; 1Kgs 7:11; 1Kgs 7:12; 1Kgs 10:27; 1Chr 17:1; 1Chr 17:6; 2Chr 1:15; 2Chr 2:3; 2Chr 9:27 & Song 8:9; Isa 9:9; Jer 22:14; Jer 22:15 (compare also Isa 44:14; 1Kgs 5:20; Ezek 27:5; Ezra 3:7 above)
3. cedar-wood used in purifications, with עֵץ Lev 14:4; Lev 14:6; Lev 14:49; Lev 14:51; Lev 14:52; Num 19:6 (all P).

cedar, cedars, trees, tree
ʾerez
a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots)
  • cedar
    • cedar tree
      • "cedar timber, cedar wood (in building)"cedar wood (in purifications)

גִּידֵ֖י
גִּידֵ֖י
Root word sinews, sinew
Dictionary form: גִּיד · ɡeed

Noun — Common, masculine plural, construct state plural — usually add "-s"; "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: the sinews
the sinews ×2 and sinews ×1 in the sinew ×1 sinew ×1 sinews ×1 the sinew ×1
More options
tendon — Most precise anatomical term; prefer in narrative contexts.
sinew — Modernized KJV form; still widely understood.
ligament — Emphasizes connective tissue; useful in physiological passages.
nerve — Older anatomical sense; use cautiously, may imply neural tissue.
fiber — Broader, figurative use; suits poetic or metaphorical contexts.

BDB1616 H1517

BDB1615 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1617

גִּיד noun masculineGen 32:33 sinew (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic גִּידָא, ; compare Arabic neck) — construct גִּיד Gen 32:33 (twice in verse); Isa 48:4 plural גִּידִים Job 10:11; Ezek 37:6, גִּדִים Ezek 37:8 construct גִּידֵי Job 40:17 — sinew, in general of human body, || בשׂר, עור, עצמות, Job 10:11 compare Ezek 37:6; Ezek 37:8 of thigh Gen 32:33 (of beast) 32:33; iron sinew, figurative of obstinacy, Isa 48:4 בַּרְזֶל עָרְפֶּ֑ךָ וּמִצְחֲךָ נְחוּשָׁה ׳וג; of hippopotamus, פחדו ׳ג, i.e. of his loins, Job 40:17.

sinews, sinew
gîd
a thong (as compressing); by analogy, a tendon
  • sinew

פחד ו
פחד
Root word stones
ו
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: פַּחַד · pa-HAHD

Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

of his stones ×1
More options
testicles — Precise anatomical term; preferred in formal/scholarly contexts.
genitals — Broader term; suitable when specificity is less important.
groin — Euphemistic; use when anatomical precision is not required.

BDB6578 H6344

BDB6577 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6579

II. [פַּ֫הַד] noun [masculine] thigh (probably loan-word (through Aramaic, otherwise = ז) from Arabic thigh and (compare WeGGN, 1893, 479) sub-tribe, Palmyrene פחד tribe); — גִּידֵי פַחְדּוֺ Job 40:17 Kt the sinews of his thigh (Qr פְּחָדָיו), of hippopotamus.

stones
paḥad
a testicle (as a cause of shame akin to fear)
  • thigh

פַחֲדָ֣י ו
פַחֲדָ֣י
Root word stones
ו
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: פַּחַד · pa-HAHD

Noun — Common, masculine dual, construct state dual — a natural pair ("two ___"); "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: of his stones
of his stones ×1
More options
testicles — Precise anatomical term; preferred in formal/scholarly contexts.
genitals — Broader term; suitable when specificity is less important.
groin — Euphemistic; use when anatomical precision is not required.

BDB6578 H6344

BDB6577 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6579

II. [פַּ֫הַד] noun [masculine] thigh (probably loan-word (through Aramaic, otherwise = ז) from Arabic thigh and (compare WeGGN, 1893, 479) sub-tribe, Palmyrene פחד tribe); — גִּידֵי פַחְדּוֺ Job 40:17 Kt the sinews of his thigh (Qr פְּחָדָיו), of hippopotamus.

stones
paḥad
a testicle (as a cause of shame akin to fear)
  • thigh

יְשֹׂרָֽגוּ
יְשֹׂרָֽגוּ
Root word together, wreathed
Dictionary form: שָׂרַג · saw-RAHɡ

Verb — Pual, Imperfect (Yiqtol), third person masculine plural intensive passive — "it was thoroughly done" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "they"

In the KJV here: are wrapped together
are wrapped together ×1 they are wreathed ×1
More options
intertwine — Best general term for things woven or twisted together.
interweave — Emphasizes a fabric-like, crossing pattern.
entwine — Suggests coiling or winding around each other.
interlace — Highlights a lattice or overlapping arrangement.
coil together — Good for serpentine or rope-like imagery.
twist together — Plain, concrete; suits physical or literal contexts.

BDB8307 H8276

BDB8306 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB8308

[שָׂרַג] verb Pu`al be intertwined (Talmud סָרַג Pi`el enmesh, weave around; Aramaic intertwine, involve, סְרַג entwine; Arabic set in order, join, weave, mix); — Imperfect 3 masculine plural יְשׂרָ֑גוּ Job 40:17 are intertwined (of sinews of hippopotamus). Hithpa`el Imperfect 3 masculine plural יִשְׂתָּֽרְגוּ Lam 1:14 they intertwine themselves (figurative of פְּשְׁעַי).

together, wreathed
śārag
to intwine
  • to be intertwined
    • (Pual) to be intertwined
      • "(Hithpael) to intertwine oneself

This book is chanted to the poetic accent system (used only in Job, Psalms, and Proverbs). Each group below ends at one of its pausing accents — translate a group as one unit.
יַחְפֹּ֣ץ זְנָב֣וֹ כְמוֹ אָ֑רֶז Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here גִּידֵ֖י פחדו פַחֲדָ֣יו יְשֹׂרָֽגוּ Silluq — end of the verse

יַחְפֹּץ זְנָבוֹ כְמוֹ-אָרֶז גִּידֵי ‫(פחדו)‬ פַחֲדָיו יְשֹׂרָֽגוּ׃
17
He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
Cross References

Job 41:23

מַפְּלֵי בְשָׂרוֹ דָבֵקוּ יָצוּק עָלָיו בַּל-יִמּֽוֹט׃
23
The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
Job 40:16
Read Job 40
Job 40:18