δέρμα (derma)
derma
leather
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun derma refers simply to the skin or hide of an animal, serving as the direct equivalent of the Hebrew word for "skin" found in the Old Testament. It denotes the raw material itself rather than processed leather goods, capturing the physical covering of a beast.
This term appears only once in the New Testament, within Hebrews 11:37. The author uses it to describe the harsh conditions faced by faithful figures who "wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins." Here, derma highlights their poverty and vulnerability, contrasting their spiritual wealth with their lack of material comfort.
Its singular usage underscores a specific image of endurance. By specifying animal skins rather than fine garments, the text emphasizes that these believers possessed nothing but what nature provided, relying entirely on God amidst persecution.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word derma refers to the raw skin or hide of an animal. In Hebrews 11:37, it describes the rough sheepskins and goatskins worn by faithful believers who faced persecution. This simple material highlights their poverty and vulnerability, showing that they had no fine garments or comfortable shelter.
Seeing these early Christians wear such basic coverings reminds us that true faithfulness does not depend on wealth or status. They relied entirely on God amidst hardship, trusting Him even when they lacked basic comforts. Their spiritual wealth far exceeded their material poverty.
This image encourages us to find strength in our own struggles. When we face difficult seasons, we can look to those who endured with nothing but their faith. God sees our honesty and our dependence on Him, just as He saw theirs.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- skins,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δέρμασιν,1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 11:37
They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—
The word derma specifies the rough animal skins worn by persecuted believers, emphasizing their extreme poverty and reliance on God rather than material comfort.