Job 40:18

עֲ֭צָמָיו אֲפִיקֵ֣י נְחוּשָׁ֑ה גְּ֝רָמָ֗יו כִּמְטִ֥יל בַּרְזֶֽל

His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

Connections

Job 7:12

הֲֽיָם-אָנִי אִם-תַּנִּין כִּֽי-תָשִׂים עָלַי מִשְׁמָֽר׃

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

Isaiah 48:4

מִדַּעְתִּי כִּי קָשֶׁה אָתָּה וְגִיד בַּרְזֶל עָרְפֶּךָ וּמִצְחֲךָ נְחוּשָֽׁה׃

Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

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Job 40:18

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Niqqud

Cantillation

Masoretic Phrasing

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.

עֲ֭צָמָיו Dechi — a lesser break אֲפִיקֵ֣י נְחוּשָׁ֑ה Atnach — the verse's main pause — take a breath here גְּ֝רָמָ֗יו Revia Mugrash — a lesser break כִּמְטִ֥יל בַּרְזֶֽל Silluq — end of the verse

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Word Parts

עֲ֭צָמָי ו

עֲ֭צָמָי

Root word bones, bone, selfsame, same, body, …

Suffix — pronoun his / him / it

Dictionary form: עֶצֶם · eh-TSEM

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncfpc/Sp3ms

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

עֲצָמָי	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Feminine Number Plural State Construct
ו	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Singular

In English

In the KJV here: his bones

the bones ×15 my bones ×14 and the bones ×8 bones ×8 their bones ×7 his bones ×5 same ×5 bone ×3

More options

bone — Core anatomical meaning; default choice in most contexts.

body — Use when referring to the whole physical self or corpse.

very (same) — Idiomatic emphatic sense, e.g. 'that very day'.

essence — Captures the 'core/self' nuance in poetic or abstract passages.

self — Useful for identity or reflexive emphasis in narrative prose.

strength — Metaphorical register; prefer in poetic imagery of vitality.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB6294 H6106

I. עֶ֫צֶם₁₂₅ noun feminine^{Ps 35:10} (with pronoun masculine Ezek 37:5; Ezek 37:6 etc., compare Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896). 73}) bone, substance, self; — absolute ׳י Gen 2:23 +; עָ֑צֶם; Prov 15:30; Prov 16:24 construct עֶצֶם Exod 24:10 +; suffix עַצְמִי Job 19:20 +, etc.; plural עֲצָמוֺת 2Kgs 23:16 +; construct עַצְמוֺת Josh 24:22 +; suffix עַצְמֹתַי Job 4:14 +, etc.; also עֲצָמִים Ezek 24:4 +, suffix עֲצָמַי Gen 2:23 +, etc.; —

1. bone:
a. of living person Mic 3:2; Mic 3:3 (hyperbole), Job 10:11; Job 19:20; Lam 4:8; Ps 102:6; Eccl 11:5 +; figurative of close relationship עֶצָם מֵעֲצָמַי Gen 2:23, compare Gen 29:14 (both J), Judg 9:2; 2Sam 5:1 = 1Chr 11:1; 2Sam 19:13; 2Sam 19:14 (all + בָּשָׂר).
b. ׳ע + בָּשָׂר = body, Job 2:5, plural = bodily frame Jer 20:9 (simile), limbs, members, לַעֲצָמֶיהָ Judg 9:29 i.e. limb by limb (GFM); as seat of vigour Job 20:11, etc.
c. (poetry) as seat of disease and pain Job 30:17; Job 30:30 and (especially of personified Israel) Ps 22:15; Ps 31:11; Ps 102:4; Lam 1:13; Hab 3:16 +.
d. plural as representing entire person = one's whole being, (especially of personified Israel) Ps 6:3 (|| נֶפֶשׁ vPs 6:4), Ps 35:10 (|| נֶפֶשׁ vPs 35:9), Isa 66:14 of individual (including physical and moral) Prov 3:8; Prov 14:30; Prov 15:30; Prov 16:24.
e. singular = external body Lam 4:7 Ew Th and others, but dubious; Bi Bu bones (= branches) of coral (פְּנִינִים); Löhr עוֺרָם their skin. feminine especially of dead Num 19:16; Num 19:18 (P), Ezek 37:1 +; often (plural) = remains Amos 6:10; Gen 50:25; Exod 13:19 (twice in verse); Josh 24:32 (all E) +.

2. bone of animal Exod 12:46; Num 9:12 (both P); Ezek 24:4; Ezek 24:5 (symbolic); of (living) hippopotamus Job 40:18.

3. singular substance, self (compare גֶּרֶם 3): הַשָּׁמַיִם ׳כְּע Exod 24:10 (JE), like the substance of the sky = the sky itself; תֻּמּוֺ ׳בְּע Job 21:23 i.e. full prosperity; especially ׳אֶתעֿ הַיּוֺם הַזֶּה Ezek 24:2 this selfsame day, ׳וגו ׳בְּע Ezek 24:2; Ezek 40:1; Gen 7:13; Gen 17:23; Gen 17:26; Exod 12:17; Exod 12:41; Exod 12:51; Lev 23:21; Lev 23:28; Lev 23:29; Lev 23:30; Deut 32:48; Josh 5:11 (all P), ׳וגו ׳עַדעֿ Ezek 2:3; Lev 23:14 (P), Josh 10:27 (R). — Ezek 24:5a read הָעֵצִים (Bö Ew and others); vEzek 24:10 strike out הָעֲצָמוֺת (Co Toy); Job 7:15 read מֵעַצְּבוֺתָ֑י (Reiske Me Bu Du and others); Ps 53:6 read perhaps מֵעֲצַת (compare || Ps 14:6 Bae; see Hup Che and others); Ps 69:5 read מֵעַצְמוֺתַי (for ᵑ0 מַצְמִיתַי), ᵑ6 Ol Che Bae and others

Strong's Definition H6106

bones, bone, selfsame, same, body, …

ʿeṣem

a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame

bone, essence, substance

bone

body, limbs, members, external body

Variations 65 forms of this word

Translations 55 English renderings

Bones

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Word Parts

אֲפִיקֵ֣י

Root word rivers, channels, mighty, stream, streams, …

Dictionary form: אָפִיק · aw-PEEK

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncmpc

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

אֲפִיקֵי

Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Plural State Construct

In English

In the KJV here: are as strong pieces

the rivers ×4 to the rivers ×3 and as the stream ×1 and the channels ×1 and the rivers ×1 are as strong pieces ×1 as the streams ×1 brooks ×1

More options

channel — Best for engineered or natural watercourses; most versatile.

riverbed — Emphasizes the physical depression or course of a river.

stream — Evokes flowing water; good for poetic or pastoral contexts.

ravine — Highlights the rocky, wadi-like geography of the Levant.

torrent — Captures seasonal, powerful rush of water; vivid in poetry.

mighty one — For rare figurative use denoting strength or power.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB679 H650

[אָפִיק] noun masculine^{2Sam 22:16} channel (as holding, confining waters; in poetry) — constructאֲפִיק Job 6:15 pluralאֲפִיקִים Ezek 6:3 +; אֲפִקִים Ezek 32:6 construct אֲפִיקֵי Joel 1:20 +; suffix אֲפִיקֶיךָ Ezek 35:8 אֲפִיקָיו Isa 8:7 — channel = stream-bed, ravine, wady מַיִם ׳א Ps 42:2; Joel 1:20 compare Joel 4:18; Song 5:12 also Ps 18:16, but better יָם ׳א 2Sam 22:16 נְחָלִים ׳א Job 6:15 of river-bed Isa 8:7 so also (without defining word) Ezek 31:12; Ezek 32:6; Ezek 34:13; Ps 126:4 || גַּיְא Ezek 6:3; Ezek 35:8; Ezek 36:4; Ezek 36:6 figurative of bones of hippopotamus (as hollow) נְחֻשָׁה ׳א Job 40:18 of furrows between scales of crocodile מָגִּנִּים ׳א Job 41:7 — מְזִיהַ אֲפִיקִים Job 12:21 is dubious; read perhaps אַבִּירִים Du (see also Bu). Thes MV Di and others say girdle of the strong (אָפִיק = firm forceful, or — Di — capable, powerful); || נְדָבִים.

Strong's Definition H650

rivers, channels, mighty, stream, streams, …

ʾāpîq

properly, containing, i.e., a tube; also a bed or valley of a stream; also a strong thing or a hero

channel

Variations 11 forms of this word

Translations 13 English renderings

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Word Parts

נְחוּשָׁ֑ה

Root word brass, steel

Dictionary form: נְחוּשָׁה · neh-hoo-SHAW

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncfsa

Noun — Common, feminine singular, absolute state

נְחוּשָׁה

Speech Noun Type Common Gender Feminine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: of brass

of steel ×3 and brass ×2 brass ×2 of brass ×2 as brass ×1

More options

bronze — Best modern default; ancient alloy of copper and tin.

copper — Prefer when pure metal, not alloy, is implied.

metal — Generic; use when specific alloy is uncertain.

brass — Modernizes KJV 'brass'; acceptable in liturgical contexts.

steel — Rare poetic use; implies hardness or strength.

iron — Only when context stresses durability or judgment imagery.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB5144 H5154

נְחוּשָׁה and (Lev 26:19; Job 40:18) נְחֻשָׁה noun feminine copper, bronze (only in poetry; compare I. נְחשֶׁת); — ׳נ always absolute; —

1. copper produced from ore by melting Job 28:2.

2. copper, doubtless hardened with alloy, = bronze, as material of bow 2Sam 22:35 = Ps 18:35; Job 20:24 gates Isa 45:2 figurative of strength Job 40:18 (bones of hippopotamus), compare Job 41:19, Mic 4:13 (hoofs of Zion); of obstinate brow Isa 48:4 (|| גִּיד בַּרְזֶל עָרְפֶּ֑ךָ); unproductive earth Lev 26:19.

BDB9703 H5174 H5154 H5178

נְחָשׁ noun masculine copper, bronze (ᵑ7 Syriac; Biblical Hebrew נְחשֶׁת, נְחוּשָׁה, √ III. נחשׁ); — as material: absolute ׳נ Dan 2:32; Dan 4:12; Dan 4:20; Dan 7:19 emphatic נְחָשָׁא Dan 2:35; Dan 2:39; Dan 2:45; Dan 5:4; Dan 5:23.

Strong's Definition H5154

brass, steel

nĕḥûšâ

copper

copper, bronze

copper (made from melting copper ore)

Variations 3 forms of this word

Translations 5 English renderings

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Word Parts

גְּ֝רָמָ֗י ו

גְּ֝רָמָ֗י

Root word bones, strong, top, bone

Suffix — pronoun his / him / it

Dictionary form: גֶּרֶם · ɡeh-REM

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncmpc/Sp3ms

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

גְּרָמָי	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Plural State Construct
ו	Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Singular

In English

In the KJV here: his bones

his bones ×1 is a strong ×1 the bone ×1 the bones ×1 the top ×1

More options

bone — Core anatomical meaning; most broadly applicable.

skeleton — Use when referring to the whole bony frame.

frame — Figurative register; emphasizes structure or strength.

strength — Abstract sense; suits contexts of power or vigor.

peak — Spatial sense; use for 'top' or highest point contexts.

core — Figurative; highlights innermost or essential part.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB1747 H1634

גֶּ֫רֶם noun [masculine] bone, strength, self (?) (Arabic body, Aramaic גְּרַם, bone, self) — absolute גָּ֑רֶם Gen 49:14 + 2 t.; construct גֶּרֶם 2Kgs 9:13 suffix גְּרָמָיו Job 40:18

1. bone Prov 17:22 (collective) Prov 25:15 of behemoth (hippopotamus) Job 40:18 (|| עצם q. v.)

2. strength Gen 49:14 חֲמֹר גָּ֑רֶם strong ass (literally bony, so VB).

3. self (compare עצם), 2Kgs 9:13 גֶּרֶם הַמַּעֲלוֺת so Ges Ew Ke, but text dubious, see conjectures in Klo.

BDB9420 H1634 H1635

[גְּרַם] noun [masculine] bone (Biblical Hebrew גֶּ֫רֶם; Christian-Palestinian Aramaic Schulth^{Lex. 46}); — plural suffix גַּרְמֵיהוֺן Dan 6:25.

Strong's Definition H1634

bones, strong, top, bone

gerem

a bone (as the skeleton of the body); hence, self, i.e., (figuratively) very

bone, strength, bare?, self?

bone

Variations 4 forms of this word

Translations 5 English renderings

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Word Parts

כִּ מְטִ֥יל

כִּ

Prefix — preposition like, as

מְטִ֥יל

Root word bars

Dictionary form: מְטִיל · meh-TEEL

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar R/Ncmsc

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

כִּ	Speech Preposition
מְטִיל	Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Singular State Construct

In English

In the KJV here: are like bars

are like bars ×1

More options

bar — Most direct modern equivalent; rigid rod or ingot.

rod — Prefer when emphasizing a slender, cylindrical shape.

beam — Use for heavier, structural contexts.

shaft — Good for elongated, weapon-like or mechanical imagery.

bolt — Suits fastening or locking contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB4608 H4300

מְטִיל noun masculine wrought-metal rod (Aramaic (ᵑ7) מְטָל); — construct מְטִיל בַּרְזֶל Job 40:18 figurative of bones (גְּרָמִים) of hippopotamus (|| עֲצָמָיו אֲפִיקֵי נְחֻשָׁה).

מַטְמוֺן see טמן. מַטָּע see נטע.

[מַטְעָם], מַטִעַמִּים see טעם.

מִטְפַּ֫חַת see טפח.

Strong's Definition H4300

bars

mĕṭîl

an iron bar (as forged)

hammered bar, wrought iron bar, wrought metal rod

Variations 1 forms of this word

Translations 1 English renderings

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Word Parts

בַּרְזֶֽל

Root word iron, head, smith

Dictionary form: בַּרְזֶל · bahr-DZEL

Vowels & Accents

Hebrew Alephbet

Grammar Ncmsa

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

בַּרְזֶֽל

Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Singular State Absolute

In English

In the KJV here: of iron

of iron ×25 iron ×12 and iron ×7 the iron ×4 and the iron ×2 any iron ×2 from the iron ×2 in iron ×2

More options

iron — Default choice; fits nearly all contexts naturally.

iron implement — Use when the tool or object itself is in focus.

iron tool — Practical, concrete; good for craftwork or weapon contexts.

iron blade — Prefer when an axe-head or cutting edge is meant.

ironwork — Collective sense; suits lists of materials or construction.

metal — Broaden only when iron as a material class is implied.

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

BDB1318 H1270

בַּרְזֶל noun masculine^{Deut 19:5} iron (with ל afform.; from piercing ? Late Hebrew id., Aramaic id., פַּדְזֶל, , Phoenician ברזל, Assyrian parzillu COT^Gloss, (Arabic fetter is loan-word)) — always absolute ׳ב Gen 4:22 + 74 t. (בַּרְזֶל֑ Gen 4:22 etc.); —

1. iron, literally:
a. iron-ore, stone containing iron, Deut 8:9; Job 28:2
b. as raw material (to be worked) Gen 4:22; 1Chr 22:3; 1Chr 22:14; 1Chr 22:16; 1Chr 29:2 (twice in verse); 1Chr 29:7; 2Chr 2:6; 2Chr 2:13; 2Chr 24:12;
c. as article of commerce Ezek 27:12; Ezek 27:19
d. as material of furniture, utensils, implements, etc., ׳עֶרֶשׂ ב Deut 3:11, ׳רֶכֶב ב Josh 17:16; Josh 17:18; Judg 1:19; Judg 4:3; Judg 4:13, ׳כְּלֵי ב Josh 6:19; Josh 6:24 compare 1Kgs 6:7; Num 35:16, ׳עֵטבֿ Job 19:24 & figurative Jer 17:1, ׳חֲרִצֵי הַבּ 2Sam 12:31= 1Chr 20:3, ׳מַגְזְרוֺת הַבּ 2Sam 12:31 cutting instrument of iron, see Amos 1:3, ׳כַּבְלֵי ב Ps 149:8 (|| זִקִּיִם), ׳נֵשֶׁק ב Job 20:24, ׳קַרְנֵי ב 1Kgs 22:11 = 2Chr 18:10, ׳קִיר ב & ׳מַחֲבַת ב Ezek 4:3 ׳בְּרִיחֵי ב, i.e. of Babylon, ag. Cyrus Isa 45:2 compare 1Sam 17:7 & Isa 60:17 (twice in verse) (figurative)

2. tool of iron Deut 27:5; Josh 8:31; Prov 27:17 (twice in verse); Eccl 10:10; Isa 10:34 (metaphor); head of an axe Deut 19:5; 2Kgs 6:5; 2Kgs 6:6 so weapon 2Sam 23:7; Job 41:19 compare also Num 31:22; Josh 22:8 where iron as spoil of war.

3. iron in figure of unwatered earth Deut 28:23 of Egyptian bondage, ׳כּוּר הַבּ Deut 4:20; 1Kgs 8:51; Jer 11:4 of oppression ׳עֹל ב Deut 28:48; Jer 28:14 compare vJer 28:13 of strength Jer 15:12 (twice in verse); compare מִנְעָלֶיךָ ׳ב Deut 33:25 & Mic 4:13 ׳קֶרֶן ב; of prophet, firm through Yahweh's might, עַמּוּד ׳ב Jer 1:18 of distress, ׳בְּרִיחֵי ב Ps 107:16 compare vPs 107:10 of judgments of ׳י, & Ps 105:18 ׳שֵׁבֶט ב Ps 2:9 of evil-doers, Jer 6:28; Ezek 22:18; Ezek 22:20 simile of scorching sky Lev 26:19 ׳מְטִיל ב of bones of hippopotamus Job 40:18 ׳גִּיד ב of obstinate neck of Israel Isa 48:4.

BDB9818 H6523 H1270

פַּרְזֶל₁₉ noun masculine^{Dan 2:40} iron (ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew בַּרְזֶל); — absolute Dan 2:33 (זֶ֑ל-), Dan 4:12 +; emphatic פַּרְזְלָא Dan 2:34 +; — Dan 2:33; Dan 2:34 + 11 t. 2; Dan 4:12; Dan 4:20; Dan 5:4; Dan 5:23; Dan 7:7; Dan 7:19.

Strong's Definition H1270

iron, head, smith

barzel

iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement

iron

iron

iron ore

Variations 19 forms of this word

Translations 27 English renderings

Iron Metal

Job 40:17

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Job 40:19