Lexical Summary
etsem: Bone, essence, substance, selfsame
Original Word:עֶצֶם
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:`etsem
Pronunciation:EH-tsem
Phonetic Spelling:(eh'tsem)
KJV: body, bone, X life, (self-)same, strength, X very
NASB:bones, bone, same, very, very same, body, bone of my bones
Word Origin:[fromH6105 (עָצַם - To be strong)]
1. a bone (as strong)
2. by extension, the body
3. (figuratively) the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
body, bone, life, selfsame, strength, very
Fromatsam; 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 HEBREWatsam
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
atsomDefinitionbone, substance, self
NASB Translationbody (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.
125Psalm 35:10 (with pronoun masculine
Ezekiel 37:5,6 etc., compare Albr
ZAW xvi (1896). 73) ; — absolute
Genesis 2:23 +; ;
Proverbs 15:30;
Proverbs 16:24; construct
Exodus 24:10 +; suffix
Job 19:20 +, etc.; plural
2 Kings 23:16 +; construct
Joshua 24:22 +; suffix
Job 4:14 +, etc.; also
Ezekiel 24:4 +, suffix
Genesis 2:23 +, etc.; —
bone:
Micah 3:2,3(hyperbole),Job 10:11;Job 19:20;Lamentations 4:8;Psalm 102:6;Ecclesiastes 11:5 +; figurative of close relationshipGenesis 2:23, compareGenesis 29:14 (both J),Judges 9:2;2 Samuel 5:1 =1 Chronicles 11:1;2 Samuel 19:13;2 Samuel 19:14 (all + ).
+ =body,Job 2:5, plural =bodily frameJeremiah 20:9 (simile),limbs, members,Judges 9:29 i.e.limb by limb (GFM); as seat of vigourJob 20:11, etc.
(poetry) as seat of disease and painJob 30:17,30 and (especially of personified Israel)Psalm 22:15;Psalm 31:11;Psalm 102:4;Lamentations 1:13;Habakkuk 3:16 +.
plural = one's whole being, (especially of personified Israel)Psalm 6:3 (""Psalm 6:4),Psalm 35:10 (""Psalm 35:9),Isaiah 66:14; of individual (including physical and moral)Proverbs 3:8;Proverbs 14:30;Proverbs 15:30;Proverbs 16:24.
singular =external bodyLamentations 4:7 Ew Th and others, but dubious; Bi Bubones (= branches) of coral (); Löhrtheir skin.
Numbers 19:16,18 (P),Ezekiel 37:1 +; often (plural) =remainsAmos 6:10;Genesis 50:25;Exodus 13:19 (twice in verse);Joshua 24:32 (all E) +.
bone of animalExodus 12:46;Numbers 9:12 (both P);Ezekiel 24:4,5 (symbolic); of (living) hippopotamusJob 40:18.
singularsubstance, self (compare
):Exodus 24:10 (JE),like the substance of the sky = the sky itself;Job 21:23 i.e. full prosperity; especiallyEzekiel 24:2this selfsame day,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),Ezekiel 2:3;Leviticus 23:14 (P),Joshua 10:27 (R). —Ezekiel 24:5a read (Bö Ew and others);Ezekiel 24:10 strike out (Co Toy);Job 7:15 read (Reiske Me Bu Du and others);Psalm 53:6 read perhaps (compare ""Psalm 14:6 Bae; see Hup Che and others);Psalm 69:5 read (for ), 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.
2. Patriarchal Burials: Jacob commands that his “bones” be carried to Canaan (Genesis 50:25;Exodus 13:19), expressing hope in the promises of God beyond death.
3. Physical Well-Being: Proverbs links marrowed bones with spiritual health: “It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:8).
4. Judgment and Suffering: Job laments, “My bones burn with heat” (Job 30:30), showing how pain pierces to the innermost part.
5. Protection: “He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken” (Psalm 34:20), a text echoed in the passion of Jesus Christ (John 19:36).
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.
• Personal Resolve: “Your bones will flourish like the grass” (Isaiah 66:14) pictures revitalized courage.
• Spiritual Integrity: Unrepented sin “wastes away” the bones (Psalm 32:3), while righteous delight “makes the bones fat” (Proverbs 15:30).
Covenantal and Relational Imagery
Adam’s exclamation inGenesis 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 inDaniel 12:2 and consummated in1 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).
• Discipline: Sin saps inner strength (Psalm 38:3).
• Comfort: The Lord restores “to your bones new life” (Isaiah 58:11).
Occurrence Overview
Approximate distribution (126 total):
• Pentateuch – Genesis (11), Exodus (6), Leviticus (4), Numbers (8), Deuteronomy (5)
• Historical Books – Joshua to Esther (31)
• Wisdom Literature – Job (16), Psalms (18), Proverbs (9), Ecclesiastes (1)
• Major Prophets – Isaiah (9), Jeremiah (3), Ezekiel (11)
• Minor Prophets – Micah (1), Nahum (1), Zechariah (1)
Theological Trajectory into the New Testament
While עֶצֶם itself is Hebrew-bound, its themes continue:
• Incarnation – “A body You prepared for Me” (Hebrews 10:5).
• Church – believers are “members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Ephesians 5:30).
• Resurrection Hope – the promise of re-embodied life (Philippians 3:21) fulfills Ezekiel’s vision.
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‘ăṣāmōwṯ
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