פִּימָה (pi.mah)
pi.mah
excess fat
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 piymah denotes a superabundance or excess of fat. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 15:27, where it describes the physical state of the wicked man Elihu portrays.
In this context, the word highlights how sin leads to a grotesque accumulation of bodily substance. The text states that the person’s face is covered with fat and his loins are filled with piymah. This imagery suggests a heavy, burdensome corpulence rather than simple health or nourishment.
Translators typically render this term as "excess fat" or "superabundance of fat." The rarity of the word underscores its specific function here: to paint a vivid picture of moral decay manifesting in physical heaviness. It serves as a stark contrast to the lean, agile strength often associated with righteousness in biblical poetry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word piymah appears only once in Scripture, in Job 15:27. Elihu uses it to describe a heavy accumulation of fat on the wicked man’s body. This is not a picture of health, but of burden and decay. The text suggests that sin can weigh us down physically and spiritually, creating a heaviness that hinders our movement and clarity.
While this specific image is rare, it reminds us that our inner state often affects our whole being. We are called to live with integrity, which brings lightness and freedom. When we turn away from God, we may find ourselves carrying burdens we did not choose. The hope of the gospel is that Christ lifts these weights, restoring us to a life of purpose and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- fat1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פִּימָ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Job 15:27
because he has covered his face with his fatness, and gathered fat on his thighs.
This verse uniquely uses piymah to depict the burdensome physical decay associated with the wicked man's moral state.