אַצִּיל (ats.tsil)
ats.tsil
joint
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun atstsil refers to a physical joint, specifically the hinge point where two bones meet, such as an elbow or knee. Its core meaning is functional: it denotes the place of connection and movement within the body. The word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 51:33, where it describes the joints of a threshing floor.
This single occurrence carries significant weight. In this context, the "joints" are not just anatomical features but the points of stress and action during the agricultural process of separating grain from chaff. The imagery suggests that even the strongest structural connections can be subjected to intense pressure and pounding.
Translators typically render atstsil as "joint" or "hinge." While the word is rare, its usage in Jeremiah highlights a vivid physical reality: the body’s points of flexibility are also its points of vulnerability under force. This concrete imagery helps readers visualize the intensity of the metaphor used in this prophetic text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word atstsil refers to a physical joint, specifically the hinge point where two bones meet, such as an elbow or knee. Its core meaning is functional: it denotes the place of connection and movement within the body.
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 51:33, where it describes the joints of a threshing floor. The imagery suggests that even the strongest structural connections can be subjected to intense pressure and pounding. While the word is rare, its usage in Jeremiah highlights a vivid physical reality: the body’s points of flexibility are also its points of vulnerability under force.
When we face seasons of stress or difficult circumstances, we might feel like our own joints are being tested. This word reminds us that connection and movement often come with pressure. It invites us to trust that God sees the strain we endure and remains present in those moments of intense activity and challenge.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] joints of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַצִּל֣וֹת1×