1512. gachon

Lexicon

gachon: Belly, Abdomen

Original Word: גָּחוֹן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: gachown
Pronunciation: gah-KHONE
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-khone')
Definition: Belly, Abdomen
Meaning: the external abdomen, belly

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

belly

Probably from giyach; the external abdomen, belly (as the source of the faetus (compare Giychown)) -- belly.

see HEBREW giyach

see HEBREW Giychown

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
belly (of reptiles)
NASB Translation
belly (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

גָּחוֺן noun masculine belly, of reptiles (compare perhaps Assyrian gi—innu, cord (from twisting ?) Zim^{BP 104}) — גְּחֹנְךָ Genesis 3:14 (J) of the serpent, compare גָּחוֺן Leviticus 11:42 (P).

גחר (? compare Arabic retire, retreat, etc.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to curve.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2836: κοιλία (koilia) • Refers to the belly or abdomen, often used metaphorically in the New Testament to denote the innermost part of a person, including emotions and desires.
• G4738: σπλάγχνον (splagchnon) • Refers to the inward parts, bowels, or entrails, and is used metaphorically to express deep emotions or compassion.

These Greek terms, while not direct translations, share thematic connections with גָּחוֹן in their reference to the physical and metaphorical aspects of the belly or inward parts, reflecting the depth of human experience and emotion.

Usage: The term גָּחוֹן is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to the belly or the external abdomen, particularly in the context of creatures that move close to the ground.

Context: The Hebrew word גָּחוֹן (gāḥôn) appears in the context of describing the movement of certain animals, specifically those that crawl or slither on their bellies. This term is notably used in Genesis 3:14, where God pronounces a curse upon the serpent after the fall of man: "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life" (BSB). The use of גָּחוֹן here emphasizes the serpent's mode of locomotion as a result of the curse, highlighting a humbling transformation from its previous state.

The word also appears in Leviticus 11:42, in the context of dietary laws, where it describes creatures that move on their bellies as unclean: "You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it crawls on its belly or walks on four or more feet; for such creatures are detestable" (BSB). This usage underscores the association of גָּחוֹן with creatures that are considered impure according to the Mosaic Law.

The term is thus associated with humility, curse, and impurity, reflecting the broader theological themes of sin and separation from God. The imagery of moving on the belly conveys a sense of lowliness and submission, which is consistent with the biblical narrative's portrayal of the consequences of disobedience and the need for redemption.

Forms and Transliterations

גְּחֹנְךָ֣ גָּח֜ seg type='large'>וֹ seg>ן גחון גחנך gā·ḥō·wn gaChon gāḥōwn gə·ḥō·nə·ḵā gechoneCha gəḥōnəḵā

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 3:14
HEB: הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה עַל־ גְּחֹנְךָ֣ תֵלֵ֔ךְ וְעָפָ֥ר
NAS: of the field; On your belly you will go,
KJV: of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go,
INT: of the field on your belly will go and dust

Leviticus 11:42
HEB: הוֹלֵ֨ךְ עַל־ גָּח֜ seg type='large'>וֹ seg>ן וְכֹ֣ל ׀ הוֹלֵ֣ךְ
NAS: crawls on its belly, and whatever
KJV: Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth
INT: crawls on belly and whatever walks

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1512
2 Occurrences

gā·ḥō·wn — 1 Occ.
gə·ḥō·nə·ḵā — 1 Occ.