Job 40:18

עֲ֭צָמָיו אֲפִיקֵ֣י נְחוּשָׁ֑ה גְּ֝רָמָ֗יו כִּמְטִ֥יל בַּרְזֶֽל
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

עֲ֭צָמָי ו
עֲ֭צָמָי
Root word bones, bone, selfsame, same, body, …
ו
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: עֶצֶם · eh-TSEM

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

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.

BDB6294 H6106

BDB6293 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB6295

I. עֶ֫צֶם125 noun femininePs 35:10 (with pronoun masculine Ezek 37:5; Ezek 37:6 etc., compare AlbrZAW 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

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
      bone (of animal)"substance, self

אֲפִיקֵ֣י
אֲפִיקֵ֣י
Root word rivers, channels, mighty, stream, streams, …
Dictionary form: אָפִיק · aw-PEEK

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

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.

BDB679 H650

BDB678 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB680

[אָפִיק] noun masculine2Sam 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.

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
    • "ravine"of hollow bones (figuratively)

נְחוּשָׁ֑ה
נְחוּשָׁ֑ה
Root word brass, steel
Dictionary form: נְחוּשָׁה · neh-hoo-SHAW

Noun — Common, feminine singular, absolute state

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.

BDB5144 H5154

BDB5143 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB5145

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

BDB9702 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9704

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.

brass, steel
nĕḥûšâ
copper
  • copper, bronze
    • copper (made from melting copper ore)
      • "bronze (made from copper and alloy)

גְּ֝רָמָ֗י ו
גְּ֝רָמָ֗י
Root word bones, strong, top, bone
ו
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: גֶּרֶם · ɡeh-REM

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

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.

BDB1747 H1634

BDB1746 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1748

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

BDB9419 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9421

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

bones, strong, top, bone
gerem
a bone (as the skeleton of the body); hence, self, i.e., (figuratively) very
  • bone, strength, bare?, self?
    • bone
      • "strength, strong-boned"self?, bare? (of stairs)

כִּ מְטִ֥יל
כִּ
Prefix — preposition like, as
מְטִ֥יל
Root word bars
Dictionary form: מְטִיל · meh-TEEL

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

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.

BDB4608 H4300

BDB4607 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB4609

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.

bars
mĕṭîl
an iron bar (as forged)
  • hammered bar, wrought iron bar, wrought metal rod

בַּרְזֶֽל
בַּרְזֶֽל
Root word iron, head, smith
Dictionary form: בַּרְזֶל · bahr-DZEL

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

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.

BDB1318 H1270

BDB1317 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB1319

בַּרְזֶל noun masculineDeut 19:5 iron (with ל afform.; from piercing ? Late Hebrew id., Aramaic id., פַּדְזֶל, , Phoenician ברזל, Assyrian parzillu COTGloss, (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

BDB9817 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9819

פַּרְזֶל19 noun masculineDan 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.

iron, head, smith
barzel
iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement
  • iron
    • iron
      • iron ore
        • "as material of furniture, utensils, implements
    tool of iron"harshness, strength, oppression (figuratively)

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

עֲצָמָיו אֲפִיקֵי נְחוּשָׁה גְּרָמָיו כִּמְטִיל בַּרְזֶֽל׃
18
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
Cross References

Job 7:12

הֲֽיָם-אָנִי אִם-תַּנִּין כִּֽי-תָשִׂים עָלַי מִשְׁמָֽר׃
12
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׃
4
Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
Job 40:17
Read Job 40
Job 40:19