Lexical Summary pachad: thighs Original Word: פַחַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance stone The same as pachad; a testicle (as a cause of shame akin to fear) -- stone. see HEBREW pachad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of foreign origin Definition thigh NASB Translation thighs (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [מַּ֫הַד] noun [masculine] thigh (probably loan-word (through Aramaic, otherwise  = ז) from Arabic  thigh and (compare WeGGN, 1893, 479) sub-tribe, Palmyrene פחד tribe); — גִּידֵי פַחְדּוֺ Job 40:17 Kt the sinews of his thigh (Qr מְּחָדָיו), of hippopotamus. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence The term פַחַד (Strong’s Hebrew 6344) appears a single time in the Old Testament, in Job 40:17, where the Lord describes Behemoth: “He stiffens his tail like a cedar; the tendons of his thighs are knit together”. The word designates the massive, powerful upper leg or thigh of that untamable creature. Semantic Range and Imagery Though פַחַד elsewhere in Hebrew can denote fear (Strong’s 6343), the spelling and vocalization in Job 40:17 point unambiguously to an anatomical reference. The word evokes the muscular strength resident in the creature’s hindquarters—the place from which explosive power is generated. The image underscores how every part of Behemoth, down to the sinews of its thighs, is an exhibition of might that dwarfs human capability. Theological Insights 1. Display of Divine Sovereignty. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern literature often celebrated the thigh as a symbol of vigor and oath-making (Genesis 24:2; Genesis 46:26). In patriarchal contexts, laying a hand under the thigh implied invoking the progenitor’s strength and posterity. Job 40:17 taps into that cultural sense of potency, yet redirects the reader’s awe from human agency to God’s craftsmanship. Application for Contemporary Ministry • Worship: Preaching that lingers on the vivid description of Behemoth’s פַחַד guides congregations to marvel at the Creator, fostering doxology rather than mere curiosity about the creature. Christological and Eschatological Foreshadowing The Lord’s interrogation of Job prepares hearts for the fuller self-revelation of God in Jesus Christ, in whom “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). As Behemoth’s mighty thigh exposes human impotence, the cross exposes sin and death’s impotence before the greater power of the risen Savior (Romans 1:4). The final triumph over chaos—hinted at in God’s mastery over Behemoth—culminates in the New Creation where every creature’s strength submits to the Lamb (Revelation 5:13). Summary פַחַד in Job 40:17, while linguistically a simple term for “thigh,” serves a grand theological purpose: it amplifies God’s sovereignty, diminishes human pride, and invites readers into reverent trust. Its solitary occurrence becomes a strategic stroke in Scripture’s larger portrait of the Almighty, who alone crafts and commands every sinew of strength in His universe. Forms and Transliterations פַחֲדָ֣יו פחדיו fachaDav p̄a·ḥă·ḏāw p̄aḥăḏāwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 40:17 HEB: [פַחֲדֹו כ] (פַחֲדָ֣יו ק) יְשֹׂרָֽגוּ׃ NAS: The sinews of his thighs are knit together. KJV: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. INT: A cedar the sinews stone are knit 1 Occurrence |
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