גִּבֵּן
𐤂𐤁𐤍
gibbên
H1384 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
An individual with a deformed or hunched back; specifically, a person whose spinal curvature or dorsal deformity is visibly apparent. In biblical usage, denotes one exhibiting an abnormal arching or protrusion of the upper back.
Semantic Range
hunchback, one with a hunched back, individual with significant dorsal curvature, person with spinal deformity
Root / Etymology
Root: גבנ (g-b-n), likely related to the noun גב (giv), meaning 'back' or 'hill, mound,' suggesting something elevated or protruding. The specific verb form is not attested in the biblical texts, and the underlying root's verbal meaning ('to be arched, to protrude') is inferred from related nouns.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term appears only in Leviticus 21:20, within a list of physical conditions that disqualified certain Israelite males from officiating as priests in the sanctuary. The word is a rare, technical descriptor, likely indicating a visible curvature or abnormal protrusion of the back, akin to a hunchback. The precise nature of the deformity is interpreted through cognate Semitic words and contextual considerations. In contrast to broader terms for disability or physical defect (e.g., מוּם, mum), גִּבֵּן refers specifically to visible dorsal curvature, distinguishing it from other forms of physical impairment. The English rendering 'hunchbacked' is generally accurate, though modern clinical terms (e.g., kyphosis) are anachronistic. There is no evidence of the term carrying metaphorical or non-literal senses in biblical Hebrew. Usage is restricted to priestly law; there are no indications of the term's use for social exclusion outside cultic contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to be arched or contracted; hunch-backed; crookbackt.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גבנ (g-b-n) — to arch, to protrude, to be convex
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1384-01 |
גִבֵּ֣ן | giben | HAamsa |
hunchback | hunchbacked man | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1384-01 |
Leviticus 21:20 | גִבֵּ֣ן | giben | HAamsa |
hunchback | hunchbacked man |