גְּבִינָה (ge.vi.nah)
ge.vi.nah
cheese
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 gevinah refers to curds or cheese, a simple food product derived from coagulated milk. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, located in Job 10:10. In this context, Job uses the image of curdling milk to describe how God formed him in his mother’s womb, highlighting both the delicacy and the physical reality of human creation.
This single occurrence provides a rare glimpse into ancient dietary practices and agricultural life. The word describes a tangible substance, likely fresh cheese or thickened milk, which would have been a common part of the diet in the ancient Near East. By choosing this specific term, Job emphasizes the intimate, hands-on nature of his formation, comparing the divine act to the everyday process of preparing food.
The rarity of gevinah in Scripture makes its usage particularly striking. Rather than appearing in legal codes or poetic lists of blessings, it serves as a vivid metaphor for God’s creative power. The image connects the sacred act of creation with the mundane, reminding readers that the same care involved in preparing simple foods is present in the formation of every human life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Job 10:10 offers a startlingly intimate image of God’s care. He asks if He did not pour Job out like milk and curdle him like cheese. This metaphor draws on a common ancient food preparation process, suggesting that human creation is as tangible and deliberate as making a simple meal.
It reminds us that our formation was not accidental or distant. The same hands that shaped the world also carefully coagulated the elements of our being. There is comfort in knowing that the Creator pays attention to the physical details of our lives, treating our existence with the same care one might give to preparing nourishment for a family.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ like <the>/ cheese1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ֝/כַ/גְּבִנָּ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
Job 10:10
Haven’t you poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?
This verse uses gevinah to describe the physical process of formation, linking divine creation to the familiar act of curdling milk.