יָרֵךְ (H3409) — Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵךְ

𐤉𐤓𐤊

yârêk

H3409 noun

SILEX Entry

Root י־ר־ך thigh, flank, side

Definition

Thigh; the upper part of the leg between the hip and knee in humans and animals. In broader usage, refers to the area of the upper leg, including the hip and groin region. By extension, a euphemism for the generative organs or progeny, particularly in oath-taking or declarations of lineage. Figuratively, can refer to the side or flank of an object, such as a structure or other parts of the body. In poetic or anatomical imagery, sometimes used for a staff, shaft, or other elongated objects, reflecting similarity in shape or position.

Semantic Range

thigh (human or animal), the hip/groin region, loins (as euphemism), generative organs (euphemistically), progeny (by metonymy), side or flank of an object or structure, shaft or staff (by metaphor)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root ירך, which does not otherwise appear as a verb in biblical Hebrew. The root is likely related to Semitic terms with the general sense of 'thigh' or 'side,' but its precise verbal root remains uncertain. Thus: 'etymology uncertain.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

יָרֵךְ is consistently used in the Hebrew Bible for the anatomical thigh, but its meaning can broaden based on context. It often denotes the thigh as a locus of strength or vulnerability, and is used in oath-swearing rituals (Genesis 24:2, 47:29) where placing the hand under the thigh likely involves symbolic reference to progeny and the continuation of the family line. In genealogical contexts, 'coming from the thigh' indicates descent or offspring (e.g., Genesis 46:26). In descriptive or poetic contexts, יָרֵךְ can image the side or support of objects, such as altars or buildings, and by metaphor, staff or shaft is possible in rare cases (e.g., the shaft of a menorah in Exodus 25:31). The word is sometimes rendered 'loins' or 'side' in translations, but these may narrow the term's actual range. Later Jewish tradition sometimes associates the term with modest euphemism, but in biblical usage the anatomical reference is primary. The root is paralleled by cognates in other Semitic languages, confirming the core anatomical sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to be soft; the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts; figuratively, a shank, flank, side; [idiom] body, loins, shaft, side, thigh.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ירך (y-r-k) — thigh, flank, side

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3411	יְרֵכָה	in the two far extremities

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H3409-06`	יֶ֥רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	thigh	thigh of	12
`H3409-09`	יְרֵכ֑/וֹ	yerekho	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his thigh	his thigh	6
`H3409-02`	יָרֵ֑ךְ	yarekhe	`HNcfsa`	thigh	thigh	6
`H3409-03`	יְרֵכָ֣/הּ	yerekhah	`HNcfsc/Sp3fs`	its base	her thigh	4
`H3409-08`	יְרֵכִֽ/י	yerekhi	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my thigh	my thigh	2
`H3409-05`	יְרֵכַ֖יִם	yerekhayim	`HNcfda`	the thighs	two thighs	1
`H3409-07`	יְרֵכֵ/ךְ֙	yerekhekhe	`HNcfsc/Sp2fs`	your thigh	your thigh	1
`H3409-04`	יְרֵכַ֔יִ/ךְ	yerekhayikhe	`HNcfdc/Sp2fs`	of your thighs	your two thighs	1
`H3409-01`	הַ/יָּרֵ֔ךְ	hayarekhe	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the thigh	the thigh	1

Occurrences in Scripture

34 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H3409-08`	Genesis 24:2	יְרֵכִֽ/י	yerekhi	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my thigh	my thigh
`H3409-06`	Genesis 24:9	יֶ֥רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	thigh	thigh of
`H3409-09`	Genesis 32:26	יְרֵכ֑/וֹ	yerekho	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his thigh	his thigh
`H3409-06`	Genesis 32:26	יֶ֣רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	thigh	thigh of
`H3409-09`	Genesis 32:32	יְרֵכֽ/וֹ	yerekho	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his hip	his thigh
`H3409-01`	Genesis 32:33	הַ/יָּרֵ֔ךְ	hayarekhe	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the thigh	the thigh
`H3409-06`	Genesis 32:33	יֶ֣רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	thigh of	thigh of
`H3409-09`	Genesis 46:26	יְרֵכ֔/וֹ	yerekho	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his loins	his thigh
`H3409-08`	Genesis 47:29	יְרֵכִ֑/י	yerekhi	`HNcfsc/Sp1cs`	my thigh	my thigh
`H3409-06`	Exodus 1:5	יֶֽרֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	the loins of	thigh of
`H3409-03`	Exodus 25:31	יְרֵכָ֣/הּ	yerekhah	`HNcfsc/Sp3fs`	its base	her thigh
`H3409-05`	Exodus 28:42	יְרֵכַ֖יִם	yerekhayim	`HNcfda`	the thighs	two thighs
`H3409-09`	Exodus 32:27	יְרֵכ֑/וֹ	yerekho	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his thigh	his thigh
`H3409-03`	Exodus 37:17	יְרֵכָ֣/הּ	yerekhah	`HNcfsc/Sp3fs`	its base	her thigh
`H3409-06`	Exodus 40:22	יֶ֥רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	side	thigh of
`H3409-06`	Exodus 40:24	יֶ֥רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	side	thigh of
`H3409-06`	Leviticus 1:11	יֶ֧רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	side	thigh of
`H3409-06`	Numbers 3:29	יֶ֥רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	the side	thigh of
`H3409-06`	Numbers 3:35	יֶ֧רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	the side	thigh of
`H3409-07`	Numbers 5:21	יְרֵכֵ/ךְ֙	yerekhekhe	`HNcfsc/Sp2fs`	your thigh	your thigh
`H3409-02`	Numbers 5:22	יָרֵ֑ךְ	yarekhe	`HNcfsa`	thigh	thigh
`H3409-03`	Numbers 5:27	יְרֵכָ֑/הּ	yerekhah	`HNcfsc/Sp3fs`	her-thigh	her thigh
`H3409-03`	Numbers 8:4	יְרֵכָ֥/הּ	yerekhah	`HNcfsc/Sp3fs`	its shaft	her thigh
`H3409-06`	Judges 3:16	יֶ֥רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	thigh	thigh of
`H3409-06`	Judges 3:21	יֶ֣רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	thigh	thigh of
`H3409-09`	Judges 8:30	יְרֵכ֑/וֹ	yerekho	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	from his loins	his thigh
`H3409-02`	Judges 15:8	יָרֵ֖ךְ	yarekhe	`HNcfsa`	thigh	thigh
`H3409-06`	2 Kings 16:14	יֶ֥רֶךְ	yerekhe	`HNcfsc`	the side	thigh of
`H3409-02`	Jeremiah 31:19	יָרֵ֑ךְ	yarekhe	`HNcfsa`	my thigh	thigh
`H3409-02`	Ezekiel 21:17	יָרֵֽךְ	yarekhe	`HNcfsa`	your thigh	thigh
`H3409-02`	Ezekiel 24:4	יָרֵ֣ךְ	yarekhe	`HNcfsa`	thigh	thigh
`H3409-02`	Psalms 45:4	יָרֵ֣ךְ	yarekhe	`HNcfsa`	your thigh	thigh
`H3409-09`	Song of Songs 3:8	יְרֵכ֔/וֹ	yerekho	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his thigh	his thigh
`H3409-04`	Song of Songs 7:2	יְרֵכַ֔יִ/ךְ	yerekhayikhe	`HNcfdc/Sp2fs`	of your thighs	your two thighs

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