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גַּו

𐤂𐤅

gav

H1459 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גב back, body, central mass

Definition

Body, trunk, or midst; indicates the physical body (particularly the trunk or torso, excluding limbs and head) or metaphorically the central part or interior of something. In broader usage, refers to the middle of a group, location, or object.

Semantic Range

body (trunk, torso), central part, midst, the main mass, inside, within (secondarily)

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root גב (g-v), related to the notion of 'back' or 'body.' In Aramaic, גַּו (gav) developed as the standard term for 'body' or 'trunk,' distinct from its Hebrew cognate גֵּו (gēv), which is rare in biblical usage. The core root גב conveys ideas of the back, surface, or physical body.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Used exclusively in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, notably Daniel and Ezra, גַּו always conveys the sense of 'body' or 'in the midst of.' Its function as a concrete noun for 'body' (especially trunk) is reinforced in later Aramaic (Targumic and Rabbinic sources), where the term covers both human and animal bodies. In Daniel, the term appears in contexts of the body being consumed by fire or lying in the midst of flames (e.g., Daniel 3:21, 3:27), conveying both the physical aspect of the body and its presence in a particular milieu. English translations sometimes render it as 'midst' or 'body,' but 'trunk' or 'torso' is often more precise. In contrast to Hebrew בָּתוֹךְ (bāṯōḵ), which emphasizes internal location or 'within,' גַּו stresses the central mass or core (physical or metaphorical). While later English translations sometimes use 'in the same place,' this broader locational meaning is secondary and derives from the primary sense of 'central part' or 'body.' Not attested in pre-exilic texts; usage is typical of Jewish Aramaic.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to גֵּו; the middle; midst, same, there-(where-) in.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גב (g-v) — back, body, central mass

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1354 גַב your convex ridge
H1358 גֹּב the hollowed pit
H1465 גֵּוָה from the back

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1459-05 לְ/גֽוֹא lego AR/Ncmsc into the midst of to the central body of 6
H1459-03 בְּ/גֽוֹא bego AR/Ncmsc in-(the)-midst in the body of 3
H1459-01 בְּ/גַוַּ֔/הּ begavah AR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs in-midst-its in her midst 2
H1459-02 בְּ/גַוֵּ֔/הּ begaveh AR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in it in his body 1
H1459-04 גּ֥וֹא go ANcmsc midst midst of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1459-05 Daniel 3:6 לְ/גֽוֹא lego AR/Ncmsc into the midst of to the central body of
H1459-05 Daniel 3:11 לְ/גֽוֹא lego AR/Ncmsc into the midst of to the central body of
H1459-05 Daniel 3:15 לְ/גֽוֹא lego AR/Ncmsc into midst to the central body of
H1459-05 Daniel 3:21 לְ/גֽוֹא lego AR/Ncmsc into midst to the central body of
H1459-05 Daniel 3:23 לְ/גֽוֹא lego AR/Ncmsc into-the-midst to the central body of
H1459-05 Daniel 3:24 לְ/גוֹא lego AR/Ncmsc into the midst of to the central body of
H1459-03 Daniel 3:25 בְּ/גֽוֹא bego AR/Ncmsc in the midst of in the body of
H1459-04 Daniel 3:26 גּ֥וֹא go ANcmsc midst midst of
H1459-03 Daniel 4:7 בְּ/ג֥וֹא bego AR/Ncmsc in-(the)-midst in the body of
H1459-03 Daniel 7:15 בְּ/ג֣וֹא bego AR/Ncmsc within in the body of
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