Lexical Summary guphah: bodies, body Original Word: גּוּפָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance body From guwph; a corpse (as closed to sense) -- body. see HEBREW guwph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom guph Definition a body, corpse NASB Translation bodies (1), body (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [גּוּפָה] noun feminine body, corpse (late; Late Hebrew גּוּף, Aramaic גּוּפָא; Arabic  ) — construct singular גּוּפַת 1 Chronicles 10:12; construct plural גּוּפֹת 1 Chronicles 10:12, compare Be ("" 1 Samuel 31:12 has גְּוִיָּה). Topical Lexicon Form and Meaning גּוּפָה (guphah) denotes a physical body, specifically a corpse. In its two occurrences it functions as both singular (גּוּפַת “body”) and plural (גּוּפֹות “bodies”), accentuating the tangible remains of the deceased rather than the person’s ongoing identity or spirit. Occurrences in Scripture 1 Chronicles 10:12 contains both appearances: “all the valiant men rose up, took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh”. The Chronicler’s narrative, paralleling 1 Samuel 31:12, preserves this double use as he recounts the same historical event. Synonyms and Semantic Range Hebrew employs several words for a corpse: The word group underscores Scripture’s multifaceted vocabulary for death while confirming a shared assumption: even in death, the human frame is treated with dignity. Historical Setting of 1 Chronicles 10 After Saul’s defeat on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines displayed his body on the walls of Beth Shan (1 Samuel 31:10). The men of Jabesh Gilead, remembering Saul’s earlier deliverance of their city (1 Samuel 11:1-11), risked their lives to recover both the king’s גּוּפָה and the גּוּפֹות of his sons. They transported the remains approximately fourteen miles, cremated them, buried the bones, and fasted seven days. The Chronicler recounts this deed to illustrate valor, covenant loyalty, and reverence for the dead. Theological Insights 1. Dignity of the human body. From the creation of Adam (Genesis 2:7) to New Testament teaching on the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:42-44), Scripture affirms the body’s worth. The respectful handling of Saul’s גּוּפָה anticipates doctrines of bodily resurrection (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2). Ministry Applications • Funeral ministry. The narrative encourages pastors to underscore the sanctity of the body and the hope of resurrection when officiating funerals (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Foreshadowing in Redemptive History Just as the valiant men rescued Saul’s body from humiliation, so God promises to redeem His people’s bodies from corruption (Romans 8:23). The single verse that contains גּוּפָה thus contributes to the larger biblical tapestry that culminates in the glorified, imperishable body of the risen Christ and of all who belong to Him. Forms and Transliterations גּוּפַ֣ת גּוּפֹ֣ת גופת gū·p̄aṯ gū·p̄ōṯ guFat guFot gūp̄aṯ gūp̄ōṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 10:12 HEB: וַיִּשְׂא֞וּ אֶת־ גּוּפַ֣ת שָׁא֗וּל וְאֵת֙ NAS: and took away the body of Saul KJV: and took away the body of Saul, INT: the valiant and took the body of Saul and the bodies 1 Chronicles 10:12 2 Occurrences |
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