גְּוִיָּה (ge.viy.yah)
ge.viy.yah
body
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun geviyyah refers simply to a physical body, whether that of a living creature or a human being. In the Old Testament, it appears in eight verses, often describing the tangible remains of life after death. The term is neutral; it does not inherently carry emotional weight regarding the state of the deceased, but rather identifies the material substance itself.
Its usage varies between living and dead contexts. For instance, Psalm 106:38 mentions the shedding of innocent blood, describing how they sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons, leaving behind their geviyyot (bodies) as offerings. Similarly, in Judges 20:7, the elders propose a solution to a crime by offering to provide a geviyyah (body) for burial, highlighting its role in social and religious duties of respect.
The word underscores the physical reality of human existence and mortality. It reminds readers that life is embodied, and death leaves behind a physical presence that requires handling. This concrete term grounds theological concepts of life and death in the tangible world, avoiding abstract speculation about what happens after the body ceases to function.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word geviyyah simply means body, referring to the physical substance of a person or animal. It appears in contexts ranging from living beings to remains after death. This term grounds our understanding of humanity in tangible reality. We are not just spirits floating free; we are embodied creatures, made of dust and flesh.
In Daniel 10:6, a heavenly vision describes a figure whose body shone like beryl. This shows that even divine encounters involve physical presence. The word reminds us that God cares about our material existence. He created bodies, and they matter to Him.
When we face loss or mortality, geviyyah acknowledges the finality of death without despair. It calls for respect in how we handle what remains. Whether in joy or grief, our physical lives are part of God's good design. This truth invites us to honor our own bodies and those of others as sacred gifts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ [the] carcass of1×
- corpses1×
- corpse/ his1×
- body/ our1×
- bodies/ our1×
- and/ body/ his1×
- [was] in/ [the] carcass of1×
- [the] corpses of1×
- [the] corpse of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/גְּוִיַּ֥ת1×
- וּ/גְוִיָּת֣/וֹ1×
- גְּוִיֹּ֣ת1×
- גְּוִיָּתֵ֖/נוּ1×
- גְּוִיָּת/וֹ֙1×
- גְּוִיַּ֣ת1×
- גְּ֠וִיֹּתֵי/נוּ1×
- גְוִיּ֑וֹת1×
- בִּ/גְוִיַּ֥ת1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 10:6
His body also was like beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches. His arms and his feet were like burnished bronze. The voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude.
This verse uses geviyyah to describe the physical form of a heavenly being, showing that divine glory can be expressed through tangible appearance.
-
I Samuel 31:12
all the valiant men arose, went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.
Here, the body is taken from the wall for burial, highlighting the cultural and religious duty to honor the dead with respect.
-
Genesis 47:18
When that year was ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord how our money is all spent, and the herds of livestock are my lord’s. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands.
The phrase 'our bodies' appears alongside land and money, illustrating that human life itself was seen as a resource given up in times of famine.