Lexical Summary etsem: Bone, essence, substance, selfsame Original Word: עֶצֶם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance body, bone, life, selfsame, strength, very From atsam; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) Selfsame -- body, bone, X life, (self-)same, strength, X very. see HEBREW atsam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom atsom Definition bone, substance, self NASB Translation body (3), bone (15), bone of my bones (1), bones (83), itself (1), limb (1), pains (1), same (7), strength (1), very (7), very same (4), wood (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. עֶ֫צֶם125 noun femininePsalm 35:10 (with pronoun masculine Ezekiel 37:5,6 etc., compare AlbrZAW xvi (1896). 73) bone, substance, self; — absolute ׳י Genesis 2:23 +; עָ֑צֶם; Proverbs 15:30; Proverbs 16:24; construct עֶצֶם Exodus 24:10 +; suffix עַצְמִי Job 19:20 +, etc.; plural עֲצָמוֺת 2 Kings 23:16 +; construct עַצְמוֺת Joshua 24:22 +; suffix עַצְמֹתַי Job 4:14 +, etc.; also עֲצָמִים Ezekiel 24:4 +, suffix עֲצָמַי Genesis 2:23 +, etc.; — 1 bone: a. of living person Micah 3:2,3(hyperbole), Job 10:11; Job 19:20; Lamentations 4:8; Psalm 102:6; Ecclesiastes 11:5 +; figurative of close relationship עֶצָם מֵעֲצָמַי Genesis 2:23, compare Genesis 29:14 (both J), Judges 9:2; 2 Samuel 5:1 = 1 Chronicles 11:1; 2 Samuel 19:13; 2 Samuel 19:14 (all + בָּשָׂר). b. ׳ע + בָּשָׂר = body, Job 2:5, plural = bodily frame Jeremiah 20:9 (simile), limbs, members, לַעֲצָמֶיהָ Judges 9:29 i.e. limb by limb (GFM); as seat of vigour Job 20:11, etc. c. (poetry) as seat of disease and pain Job 30:17,30 and (especially of personified Israel) Psalm 22:15; Psalm 31:11; Psalm 102:4; Lamentations 1:13; Habakkuk 3:16 +. d. plural as representing entire person = one's whole being, (especially of personified Israel) Psalm 6:3 ("" נֶפֶשׁ Psalm 6:4), Psalm 35:10 ("" נֶפֶשׁ Psalm 35:9), Isaiah 66:14; of individual (including physical and moral) Proverbs 3:8; Proverbs 14:30; Proverbs 15:30; Proverbs 16:24. e. singular = external body Lamentations 4:7 Ew Th and others, but dubious; Bi Bu bones (= branches) of coral (מְּנִינִים); Löhr עוֺרָם their skin. f. especially of dead Numbers 19:16,18 (P), Ezekiel 37:1 +; often (plural) = remains Amos 6:10; Genesis 50:25; Exodus 13:19 (twice in verse); Joshua 24:32 (all E) +. 2 bone of animal Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12 (both P); Ezekiel 24:4,5 (symbolic); of (living) hippopotamus Job 40:18. 3 singular substance, self (compare גֶּרֶם 3): הַשָּׁמַיִם ׳כְּע Exodus 24:10 (JE), like the substance of the sky = the sky itself; תֻּמּוֺ ׳בְּע Job 21:23 i.e. full prosperity; especially ׳אֶתעֿ הַיּוֺם הַזֶּה Ezekiel 24:2 this selfsame day, ׳וגו ׳בְּע Ezekiel 24:2; Ezekiel 40:1; Genesis 7:13; Genesis 17:23,26; Exodus 12:17,41,51; Leviticus 23:21,28,29,30; Deuteronomy 32:48; Joshua 5:11 (all P), ׳וגו ׳עַדעֿ Ezekiel 2:3; Leviticus 23:14 (P), Joshua 10:27 (R). — Ezekiel 24:5a read הָעֵצִים (Bö Ew and others); Ezekiel 24:10 strike out הָעֲצָמוֺת (Co Toy); Job 7:15 read מֵעַצְּבוֺתָ֑י (Reiske Me Bu Du and others); Psalm 53:6 read perhaps מֵעֲצַת (compare "" Psalm 14:6 Bae; see Hup Che and others); Psalm 69:5 read מֵעַצְמוֺתַי (for ᵑ0 מַצְמִיתַי), ᵑ6 Ol Che Bae and others Topical Lexicon Foundational Meaningעֶצֶם carries the concrete sense of “bone” and the abstract notions of “substance, essence, self, strength.” In Hebrew thought the bone is the innermost, enduring part of the body; therefore the word easily bridges literal anatomy and the immaterial core of a person or thing. Literal Usage: Skeletal Frame and Mortality 1. Creation: “This is now bone of my bones…” (Genesis 2:23). The first marriage covenant is sealed with עֶצֶם, underscoring unity at the deepest level. Figurative Usage: Strength, Core Identity, and Essence • National Strength: Israel is called “very dry bones” in exile (Ezekiel 37:1–14), yet the Spirit re-members the nation, promising resurrection life. Covenantal and Relational Imagery Adam’s exclamation in Genesis 2:23 becomes a biblical paradigm for covenant: kinship is “bone and flesh” (Judges 9:2; 2 Samuel 5:1). The phrase binds families, tribes, and kingdoms, anticipating the Church as Christ’s own body. Ritual, Purity, and Eschatological Implications Contact with human bones defiles (Numbers 19:16), foreshadowing the need for cleansing blood. The dry-bones vision (Ezekiel 37) previews bodily resurrection, later affirmed in Daniel 12:2 and consummated in 1 Corinthians 15. Messianic and Prophetic Significance Psalm 34:20, fulfilled at the crucifixion, reveals divine sovereignty over every detail of redemption. The valley of dry bones prefigures the messianic age; the same Spirit who raised Christ will “give life to your mortal bodies” (Romans 8:11). Pastoral and Homiletic Reflections • Assurance: God knows the believer to the bone (Psalm 139:15). Occurrence Overview Approximate distribution (126 total): Theological Trajectory into the New Testament While עֶצֶם itself is Hebrew-bound, its themes continue: Thus עֶצֶם moves from the dust of Eden to the glory of the resurrection, witnessing to God’s purpose to redeem the whole person—flesh, bone, and spirit—for His everlasting praise. Forms and Transliterations בְּֽעַצְמוֹתַ֗י בְּעֶ֖צֶם בְּעֶ֙צֶם֙ בְּעֶ֛צֶם בְּעֶ֣צֶם בְּעֶ֣צֶם ׀ בְּעֶ֨צֶם בְּעַצְמ֣וֹת בְּעַצְמֹתַ֖י בְּעַצְמֹתָ֑י בְּעַצְמוֹתָ֣יו בְּעַצְמוֹתָֽיו׃ בְעֶ֥צֶם בַּ֝עֲצָמַ֗י בַּעֲצָמַ֖י בַּעֶ֙צֶם֙ בעצם בעצמות בעצמותי בעצמותיו בעצמותיו׃ בעצמי בעצמתי הָֽעֲצָמוֹת֙ הָעֲצָמ֣וֹת הָעֲצָמִ֖ים הָעֲצָמוֹת֙ העצמות העצמים וְ֝עַצְמוֹתַ֗י וְהָעֲצָמ֖וֹת וְעֶ֖צֶם וְעַצְמ֥וֹת וְעַצְמִי־ וְעַצְמֹתֵיהֶ֛ם וְעַצְמֹתֶ֖יךָ וְעַצְמוֹת֙ וְעַצְמוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם וַעֲצָמַ֥י וּֽבַעֲצָמ֥וֹת וּכְעֶ֥צֶם ובעצמות והעצמות וכעצם ועצם ועצמות ועצמותי ועצמותיכם ועצמי ועצמי־ ועצמתיהם ועצמתיך כַּעֲצָמִ֖ים כעצמים לְעַצְמוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ לַעֲצָמֶ֔יהָ לָעֲצָמ֖וֹת לָעָֽצֶם׃ לעצם׃ לעצמות לעצמותיך׃ לעצמיה מֵֽעֲצָמַ֔י מֵֽעַצְמוֹתָֽי׃ מעצמותי׃ מעצמי עֲ֝צָמֵ֗ינוּ עֲ֭צָמַי עֲ֭צָמָיו עֲצָמ֔וֹת עֲצָמ֣וֹת עֲצָמ֥וֹת עֲצָמִ֖ים עֲצָמִים֮ עֲצָמֶ֖יהָ עֲצָמָ֑י עֲצָמָ֣יו עֲצָמָֽי׃ עֲצָמֽוֹת׃ עֶ֖צֶם עֶ֙צֶם֙ עֶ֚צֶם עֶ֣צֶם עַ֝צְמִ֗י עַ֝צְמוֹתָ֗יו עַ֭צְמוֹתָיו עַצְמ֖וֹ עַצְמ֖וֹת עַצְמ֣וֹת עַצְמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם עַצְמ֤וֹת עַצְמ֥וֹת עַצְמ֨וֹת עַצְמ֫וֹתָ֥י עַצְמְךָ֥ עַצְמִ֑י עַצְמִ֥י עַצְמֵכֶ֥ם עַצְמָ֔ם עַצְמֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם עַצְמֹֽתֵיהֶ֖ם עַצְמֹתַ֖י עַצְמֹתַ֛י עַצְמֹתָ֑יו עַצְמֹתָ֔יו עַצְמֹתָֽי׃ עַצְמֽוֹ׃ עַצְמוֹת֙ עַצְמוֹתֵ֛ינוּ עַצְמוֹתֵיהֶ֜ם עַצְמוֹתַ֔י עַצְמוֹתַ֣י עַצְמוֹתַ֨י ׀ עַצְמוֹתָ֑י עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו עַצְמוֹתָ֔ם עַצְמוֹתָ֣יו עַצְמוֹתָֽי׃ עַצְמוֹתָֽם׃ עַצְמוֹת־ עָֽצֶם׃ עצם עצם׃ עצמו עצמו׃ עצמות עצמות־ עצמות׃ עצמותי עצמותי׃ עצמותיהם עצמותיו עצמותיכם עצמותינו עצמותם עצמותם׃ עצמי עצמי׃ עצמיה עצמיו עצמים עצמינו עצמך עצמכם עצמם עצמתי עצמתי׃ עצמתיהם עצמתיו ‘ă·ṣā·māw ‘ă·ṣā·may ‘ă·ṣā·māy ‘ă·ṣā·me·hā ‘ă·ṣā·mê·nū ‘ă·ṣā·mîm ‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ ‘ā·ṣem ‘aṣ·mām ‘aṣ·mə·ḵā ‘aṣ·mê·ḵem ‘aṣ·mî ‘aṣ·mō·ṯāw ‘aṣ·mō·ṯay ‘aṣ·mō·ṯāy ‘aṣ·mō·ṯê·hem ‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯām ‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯāw ‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯay ‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯāy ‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯê·hem ‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯê·ḵem ‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯê·nū ‘aṣ·mō·wṯ ‘aṣ·mō·wṯ- ‘aṣ·mōw ‘ăṣāmāw ‘ăṣāmay ‘ăṣāmāy ‘ăṣāmehā ‘ăṣāmênū ‘ăṣāmîm ‘ăṣāmōwṯ ‘āṣem ‘aṣmām ‘aṣməḵā ‘aṣmêḵem ‘aṣmî ‘aṣmōṯāw ‘aṣmōṯay ‘aṣmōṯāy ‘aṣmōṯêhem ‘aṣmōw ‘aṣmōwṯ ‘aṣmōwṯ- ‘aṣmōwṯām ‘aṣmōwṯāw ‘aṣmōwṯay ‘aṣmōwṯāy ‘aṣmōwṯêhem ‘aṣmōwṯêḵem ‘aṣmōwṯênū ‘e·ṣem ‘eṣem Atzamai atzaMav atzaMeiha atzaMeinu atzaMim atzaMot Atzem atzMam atzmeCha atzmeChem atzMi atzMo atzMot atzmoTai atzmoTam atzmoTav atzMoteiChem atzMoteiHem atzmoTeinu ba‘ăṣāmay ba‘eṣem ba·‘ă·ṣā·may ba·‘e·ṣem baatzaMai baEtzem bə‘aṣmōṯay bə‘aṣmōṯāy bə‘aṣmōwṯ bə‘aṣmōwṯāw bə‘aṣmōwṯay bə‘eṣem ḇə‘eṣem bə·‘aṣ·mō·ṯay bə·‘aṣ·mō·ṯāy bə·‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯāw bə·‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯay bə·‘aṣ·mō·wṯ bə·‘e·ṣem ḇə·‘e·ṣem beatzMot beatzmoTai beatzmoTav beEtzem Etzem hā‘ăṣāmîm hā‘ăṣāmōwṯ hā·‘ă·ṣā·mîm hā·‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ haatzaMim haatzamOt ka‘ăṣāmîm ka·‘ă·ṣā·mîm kaatzaMim la‘ăṣāmehā lā‘ăṣāmōwṯ lā‘āṣem la·‘ă·ṣā·me·hā lā·‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ lā·‘ā·ṣem laatzaMeiha laatzaMot laAtzem lə‘aṣmōwṯeḵā lə·‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯe·ḵā leatzmoTeicha mê‘ăṣāmay mê‘aṣmōwṯāy mê·‘ă·ṣā·may mê·‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯāy meatzaMai MeatzmoTai ū·ḇa·‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ ū·ḵə·‘e·ṣem ūḇa‘ăṣāmōwṯ ucheEtzem ūḵə‘eṣem uvaatzaMot vaatzaMai veatzmi veatzMot veatzmoTai veatzmoTeicha veatzmoteiChem veatzmoteiHem veEtzem vehaatzaMot wa‘ăṣāmay wa·‘ă·ṣā·may wə‘aṣmî- wə‘aṣmōṯêhem wə‘aṣmōṯeḵā wə‘aṣmōwṯ wə‘aṣmōwṯay wə‘aṣmōwṯêḵem wə‘eṣem wə·‘aṣ·mî- wə·‘aṣ·mō·ṯê·hem wə·‘aṣ·mō·ṯe·ḵā wə·‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯay wə·‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯê·ḵem wə·‘aṣ·mō·wṯ wə·‘e·ṣem wə·hā·‘ă·ṣā·mō·wṯ wəhā‘ăṣāmōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 2:23 HEB: זֹ֣את הַפַּ֗עַם עֶ֚צֶם מֵֽעֲצָמַ֔י וּבָשָׂ֖ר NAS: is now bone of my bones, KJV: [is] now bone of my bones, INT: This is now bone of my bones and flesh Genesis 2:23 Genesis 7:13 Genesis 17:23 Genesis 17:26 Genesis 29:14 Genesis 50:25 Exodus 12:17 Exodus 12:41 Exodus 12:46 Exodus 12:51 Exodus 13:19 Exodus 13:19 Exodus 24:10 Leviticus 23:14 Leviticus 23:21 Leviticus 23:28 Leviticus 23:29 Leviticus 23:30 Numbers 9:12 Numbers 19:16 Numbers 19:18 Numbers 24:8 Deuteronomy 32:48 Joshua 5:11 126 Occurrences |