עֲטִין (a.tin)
a.tin
belly
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 atin appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 21:24. Its meaning is somewhat elusive, with lexicons suggesting a range of physical containers or body parts, including "belly," "bucket," or even "breasts." This ambiguity likely stems from its rare usage and the poetic context of Job’s speech.
In this single occurrence, the word describes what fills the man’s sides. While some translations render it as "belly" to emphasize physical fullness, others opt for "bucket" or "pail," highlighting the container imagery. The choice reflects a tension between describing the internal state of satisfaction and the external vessel that holds it.
Its scarcity makes atin a fascinating linguistic curiosity. It forces translators to decide whether Job is focusing on the sensation of being filled or the object that receives the abundance. This rare word captures a moment where physical reality and poetic metaphor blur, leaving readers to ponder the nature of prosperity in the face of suffering.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word atin appears just once in Scripture, nestled in Job’s long speech about the prosperity of the wicked. It describes a container filled to the brim with milk, painting a picture of abundant physical satisfaction. For readers today, this rare term reminds us that human life often measures success by visible fullness—health, wealth, and comfort.
Yet Job uses this image not to celebrate it, but to question why such ease seems to belong to those who do not honor God. The word invites us to look beyond surface-level blessings. True peace does not come from an overflowing pail, but from a heart aligned with divine justice. Even when life feels empty or unfair, we can trust that God sees the deeper reality behind every outward appearance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- pails/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲ֭טִינָי/ו1×
Key Verses
-
Job 21:24
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
This verse uses atin to describe milk-filled containers, highlighting the physical abundance Job observes in the lives of the prosperous.