גֶּ֫לֶד (ge.led)
ge.led
skin
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gelēd refers specifically to human skin. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in Job 16:15, where it carries a heavy emotional weight rather than a purely anatomical one.
In this context, Job describes his suffering by saying he has sewn sackcloth on his skin. The word highlights the vulnerability of the body’s outer layer as a site of pain and humiliation. It is not used for animal hides or general coverings, but for the flesh itself, emphasizing the raw exposure of the sufferer.
This rare usage underscores the physical reality of Job’s distress. By focusing on the skin, the text brings attention to the tangible, visible marks of grief that Job bears before his friends and God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gelēd refers to human skin, appearing only once in the Old Testament within Job 16:15. Here, Job describes sewing sackcloth directly onto his flesh. This image conveys more than physical discomfort; it illustrates a state of raw vulnerability and public humiliation. The skin becomes the visible record of deep inner grief, marking the sufferer for all to see.
When life brings intense pain, we often feel exposed and stripped of dignity. Job’s experience reminds us that such rawness is not hidden from God. He sees the tangible marks of our sorrow and understands the weight of suffering that presses against our very being. We are invited to bring this honest, unvarnished pain to Him without pretense.
God does not dismiss the reality of physical or emotional wounds. Instead, He meets us in our brokenness with compassion. You can trust that your visible struggles are known and held by a Creator who cares for every detail of your life. In your darkest moments, you are never alone, but accompanied by One who understands suffering deeply.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- skin/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גִלְדִּ֑/י1×
Key Verses
-
Job 16:15
I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
This verse uniquely uses the word to describe Job sewing sackcloth directly onto his skin, emphasizing the raw, physical reality of his public humiliation and grief.