Thigh

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

I pause at this word in order to notice the very remarkable custom, and of the highest antiquity, observed by the patriarchs, and which it is said is observed even now by some of the descendants of Abraham after the flesh, of swearing with the hand under the thigh. Thus we find Abraham desired his servant Eliezer to swear, concerning the taking a wife for his son. ( Genesis 24:2) So in like manner Jacob caused his son Joseph to swear concerning burying him not in Egypt. ( Genesis 47:29 etc.) It is remarkable however, that we do not, after these striking instances, meet with a like ceremony among the Israelites, of swearing by putting the hand under the thigh, though there is smiting, in token of shame and sorrow. (See  Jeremiah 31:19)

Various have been the opinions of writers as to the intention and design of it. Some have supposed that the oath was to remind the person taking it, that he and the person demanding it, were both circumcised: so that it was pledging himself by the covenant relationship between them. Others carry the matter farther, and while supposing, as the former, that the oath had respect to this fraternity and relationship in one common covenant, they add to it a reference to the person, and the expectation of the Messiah as the head and substance of the covenant; and in confirmation of this opinion they refer to that passage,  Genesis 46:26 where it is said that "all the souls which cause with Jacob into Egypt, came out of his loins," or, as the margin renders it, his thigh. By which I humbly conceive is meant, as still with an eye to the covenant, an interest in the Messiah. And if this should have been the allusion, what a blessed testimony doth it hold forth of the patriarch's esteem of the salvation by Jesus Christ, and of their faith and assurance concerning it! And why may we not suppose that that early song of the royal nuptial feast of Christ with his church, which was sung by the psalmist a thousand years before Christ's incarnation, had an eye to the same, when Jesus was called upon to gird himself with his sword upon his thigh? ( Psalms 65:3) We lose numberless beauties of the holy Scriptures, in our ignorance of the customs and manners of the East. But if the loins and thigh in relation to Israel's seed were the same as we have seen,  Genesis 46:26, surely the girding of Christ and the clothing of Christ may without violence he considered not unsimilar. And why may not the Lord be invocated as the most mighty, with his glory and majesty to gird himself upon the seed of his loins or thigh, as God the Father be heard claring concerning the whole seed of Christ, that he shall be clothed with them? "As I live, saith the Lord," speaking to his dear Son as Mediator, "thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and bind them on thee as a bride doth?" ( Isaiah 49:19) But I add no more, the Lord pardon what I have already sold if I err.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Thigh (Heb. yârçk , Gr. mçros ). The hollow of Jacob’s thigh was strained as he wrestled at Peniel (  Genesis 32:25 ), and to this is attributed the Jewish custom (enjoined in the Mishna) of not eating ‘the sinew of the hip’ (  Genesis 32:32 ). On the thigh the sword was girded (  Exodus 32:27 ,   Psalms 45:3 ,   Song of Solomon 3:8 ); Ehud’s on the right thigh because he was left-handed (  Judges 3:16;   Judges 3:21 ). Under the jealousy ordeal the woman’s thigh falls away if she has been guilty of adultery (  Numbers 5:21 ff.). To smite ‘hip and thigh’ (lit. ‘leg upon thigh’) is a phrase denoting utter discomfiture accompanied by great slaughter (  Judges 15:8 ). Its origin is unknown, and its meaning much disputed. Is   Jeremiah 31:19 and   Ezekiel 21:12 smiting upon one’s thigh is a gesture of sorrow or terror. In Heb. (cf. AVm [Note: Authorized Version margin.] ) of   Genesis 46:25 ,   Exodus 1:5 ,   Judges 8:30 a man’s children are described as coming out of his thigh. This explains the oath taken by placing the hand under the thigh (  Genesis 24:2;   Genesis 24:9;   Genesis 47:29 ), a special sacredness being ascribed to the organs of generation. In NT ‘thigh’ occurs only in   Revelation 19:16 , where perhaps the meaning is that the name was written on that part of the garment which covered the thigh.

J. C. Lambert.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The mode of taking an oath, alluded to in  Genesis 24:2-9   47:29-31 , was significant of the swearer's obligation to obedience. Jacob's thigh was disabled by the Angel, to show the patriarch that his prevalence was through his faith and prayer, not through force,  Genesis 32:25-31 . Smiting the thigh was a gesture of self-condemnation and grief,  Jeremiah 31:19   Ezekiel 21:12 . Warriors wore their swords upon the left thigh, unless left-handed in readiness for use,  Judges 3:15-21   Psalm 45:3 Song of   Song of Solomon 3:8; so too they may have borne their names and titles, not only on their shields, but on their swords, or on the rove or mailed coat covering the thigh,  Revelation 19:16 . "Hip and thigh,"  Judges 15:8 , seems to mean utterly and irrecoverably.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Psalm 45:3 (b) This expression is used to represent the almighty and active power of GOD in preparing for the judgment of His enemies. As the soldier girds on his sword and is ready for the battle, so the Psalmist asks GOD to prepare for the great day of the revelation of His majestic power.

 Ezekiel 21:12 (c) We may use this type to illustrate the rather common practice of striking one's self upon the thigh, or the hip, or the leg, when in anger, or when insisting on some course of action.

 Daniel 2:32 (b) Probably this represents the chronology of the kingdoms. The nation of Greece was to be the third after Nebuchadnezzar, even as the head is first, the breast is second, and the thigh is the third in the body.

 Revelation 19:16 (b) This is indicative and symbolical of the mighty power and strength of the exalted Christ as He comes forth to rule and reign. The thigh, the place of strength and power in the body, is used to describe the strength and power of CHRIST when He comes to reign on the earth.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Μηρός (Strong'S #3382 — Noun Masculine — meros — may-ros' )

occurs in  Revelation 19:16; Christ appears there in the manifestation of His judicial capacity and action hereafter as the executor of Divine vengeance upon the foes of God; His name is spoken of figuratively as being upon His "thigh" (where the sword would be worn; cp.  Psalm 45:3 ), emblematic of His strength to tread down His foes, His action being the exhibition of His Divine attributes of righteousness and power.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

‘Thigh’ (μηρός) found in the NT only in  Revelation 19:16, ‘on his garment and on his thigh a name written.’ There is considerable doubt as to the interpretation (see Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) , s.v. ‘Thigh’), but the general view is that the second phrase limits the first, i.e. the name was written upon the outer garment where it falls over the thigh; or it may have been that the inscription was partly on the garment and partly on the thigh (or what covered it). It was customary to attach a legend of some sort to statues, equestrian and other, and to place this in a prominent position. See references in H. Alford, Greek Testament , iv.5 [London, 1875] 728, and in H. B. Swete, The Apocalypse of St. John 2 , London, 1907, p. 255. In contrast to v. 12 this name is not cryptic.

W. Cruickshank.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Judges 3:16 Psalm 45:3 Song of Solomon 3:8 Song of Solomon 7:1 Genesis 46:26 Exodus 1:5 Judges 8:30  Numbers 5:16-21 testify testes   Genesis 32:25-32 Jeremiah 31:19 Ezekiel 21:12 Leviticus 7:32-34 Leviticus 10:14 1 Samuel 9:24

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) The proximal segment of the hind limb between the knee and the trunk. See Femur.

(2): ( n.) The coxa, or femur, of an insect.

King James Dictionary

THIGH, n. That part of men, quadrupeds and fowls, which is between the leg and the trunk.

As the word signifies, it is the thick part of the lower limbs.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( יָרֵךְ Yarek ; Sept. Μηρός ; Vulg. Femur ) , properly the part of the body from the legs to the trunk, of men, quadrupeds, etc. ( Genesis 32:25;  Genesis 32:31-32;  Judges 3:16;  Judges 3:21;  Psalms 45:3;  Song of Solomon 3:8), occurs in several phrases of special significance in the Bible.

1. Putting The Hand Under The ‘ Thigh appears to have been a very ancient custom, upon occasion of taking an oath to any one. Abraham required this of the oldest servant of his house, when he made him swear that he would not take a wife for Isaac of the daughters of the Canaanites ( Genesis 24:2-9). Jacob required it of his son Joseph, when he bound him by oath not to bury him in Egypt, but with his fathers in the land of Canaan ( Genesis 47:29-31). The origin, form, and import of this ceremony in taking an oath are very doubtful Aben-Ezra says, "It appears to me that it was the custom in that age for a servant to place his hand on his master's thigh, at the command of the latter, to show that he considered himself subject to, and undertook, his master's bidding; and such is at present the custom in India." Grotius thinks that, as the sword was worn upon the thigh (comp.  Judges 3:16;  Judges 3:21;  Psalms 45:3;  Song of Solomon 3:8), this custom was as much as to say, If I falsify, kill me. Not a few commentators, ancient and modern, explain it of laying the hand on or near the sectio circumcisionis, to protest by that solemn covenant of God, whereof circumcision was the badge and type, in the Abrahamic family. So R. Eleazar says, "Before the giving of the law, the ancient fathers swore by the covenant of circumcision" (Pirke, c. 49). The Targum of Jonathan ben- Uzziel explains it כגזירת מהולתי , "in sectione circumcisionis meae;" the Jerusalem Targum, תחות יר ִקימי , "sub femore foederis mei." Dr. Adam Clarke adopts the former of these two explanations ( Commentary On  Genesis 24:9). This interpretation supposes Meiosis, or metonymy such as is supposed by some to attend the use of the word with regard to the effect of the water of Jealousy ( Numbers 5:21-22;  Numbers 5:27). Bochart adduces many similar instances (Hieroz. II, 5, 15). We may also refer to the margin or Heb. of  Genesis 46:26;  Exodus 1:5;  Judges 8:30. No further allusion to this ceremony in taking an oath occurs in Scripture, unless the phrase "giving the hand under" ? refer to it. (See Heb. or margin of  1 Chronicles 29:24, and "giving the hand,"  2 Chronicles 30:8;  Jeremiah 1:15;  Ezekiel 17:18.) (See Oath).

2. Our translation states that " The Hollow Of Jacob'S Thigh was out of joint by the touch of the angel who wrestled with him" ( Genesis 32:25). Some, however, (prefer to render וְתָקִע , Was Sprained or Wrenched, and adduce  Jeremiah 6:8;  Ezekiel 23:17-18. The Sept. renders it Καὶ Ἐνάρκησε Τὸ Πλάτος Τοῦ Μηροῦ ; the Vulg. Tetigit Nervum Femoris Ejus, Et Statim Emarcuit. Some such sense better suits  Ezekiel 23:31, where we find Jacob Limping on his thigh; see Gesenius on צלע . The custom of Jacob's descendants, founded upon this incident, is recorded in  Ezekiel 23:32, which has been thus translated: "Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the nerve Nashe, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck the hollow of Jacob's thigh, on the nerve Nashe (Sept. Τὸ Νεῦρον ,Vulg. Nervus ) . The true derivation of the word נשה is considered by Dr. F Ü rst, in his Concordance, to be still a secret; but, along with Gesenius, he understands the nerve itself to be the Sciatic Nerve, which proceeds from the hip to the ankle. This nerve is still extracted from the hinder limbs By the Jews in England, and in other countries where properly qualified persons are appointed to remove it ( New Translation, etc., by the Rev. D. A. De Sola, p. 333).

3. ( שׁוֹק , Shok. ) The phrase " Hip And Thigh " occurs in  Judges 15:8, in the account of Samson's slaughter of the Philistines. Gesenius translates עִל in this passage With, and understands it as a proverbial expression for "he smote them all." The Chaldee paraphrase interprets it, "He smote both footmen and horsemen, the one resting on their legs (as the word שׁוֹק should be rendered), the other on their thighs, as they sat on their horses." Others understand that he smote them both on the legs and thighs. Some give another interpretation: Smiting On The Thigh denotes penitence ( Jeremiah 31:19), grief, and mourning ( Ezekiel 21:12).

A few mistranslations occur. The word "thigh" should have been translated "leg" in  Isaiah 47:2, שׁוֹק , Κνήμας , Crura. In  Song of Solomon 7:1, "The joints of thy thighs," etc., the true meaning is "the cincture of thy loins (i.e. the drawers, trousers) is like jewelry." Lady Wortley Montagu describes this article of female attire as: composed of thin rose-colored damask, brocaded with silver flowers" (Letters, 2, 12; see Harmer, On Solomon's Song, p. 110). Cocceius, Buxtorf, Mercerus and Junius all adopt this explanation. In  Revelation 19:16 it is said "the Word of God ( Revelation 19:13) hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." Schleusner thinks the name was not written upon the thigh, but upon the sword. Montfaucon gives an account of several images of warriors having inscriptions on the thighs (Antiquite Expliquae, III, 2, 268, 269; Grupter, 3, 1489; and Zornii Opuscula S. S. 2, 759).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

thı̄ ( ירך , yārēkh  ; Aramaic ירכה , yarekhāh (  Daniel 2:32 ); μηρός , meros (Judith 9:2; Sirach 19:12;  Revelation 19:16 ); as part of a sacrificial animal ( Exodus 29:22 , etc.) שׁיק , shōḳ , the King James Version, the Revised Version margin "shoulder"; in addition the King James Version has "thigh" for shōḳ in  Isaiah 47:2 (the Revised Version (British and American) "leg")): The portion of the leg from the knee to the hip, against which a weapon hangs when suspended from the waist (  Exodus 32:27;  Judges 3:16 ,  Judges 3:21;  Psalm 45:3 , etc.). So the thigh of a rider on horseback would be covered by a loose girdle, on which his name might be embroidered ( Revelation 19:16 ). The "hollow of the thigh" ( Genesis 32:25 ff) is the hip-socket or the groin. See also Hip .

The thighs were thought to play a part in procreation ( Genesis 46:26;  Exodus 1:5 , English Versions of the Bible "loins";  Judges 8:30 , English Versions of the Bible "body"; compare  Numbers 5:21 ff), so that an oath taken with the hand under the thigh (  Genesis 24:2 ,  Genesis 24:9;  Genesis 47:29 ) was taken by the life-power (the rabbis interpreted "by the seal of circumcision"). It is perhaps significant that this oath in both Gen 24 and 47 is said to have been exacted by persons in danger of death. Doubtless this association of the thigh with life (aided perhaps by its excellence as food ( 1 Samuel 9:24;  Ezekiel 24:4 )) determined its choice as a sacrificial potion ( Exodus 29:22 , etc.; on the "heave thigh" see Sacrifice ). Consequently, it is natural to find the thigh classed as forbidden ("sacred") food among certain peoples, and, probably, this sacred character of the part is the real basis of  Genesis 32:32 : "The children of Israel eat not the sinew of the hip which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day." The origin of the prohibition, however, was unknown to the writer of the verse, and he sought an explanation from a story in which special attention was called to the thigh. Nothing else is heard about this precept in the Old Testament, but it receives elaborate attention in the Mishna ( Ḥullı̄n vii), where, for instance, all food cooked with meat containing the sinew ( nervus ischiadicus ) is rendered unclean if the sinew imparts a flavor to it, but not otherwise. (For further details see the comms., especially Skinner. ( ICC ) and RS2 , 380.) One of the proofs of guilt in the jealousy trial ( Numbers 5:27 ) was the falling-away of the "thigh" (a euphemism; see Jealousy ). To smite upon the thigh was a token of contrition ( Jeremiah 31:19 ) or of terror (Ezr  Genesis 21:12 ).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Thigh, the part of the body from the legs to the trunk, of men, quadrupeds, etc. Putting the hand under the thigh appears to have been a very ancient custom, upon occasion of taking an oath to anyone. Abraham required this of the oldest servant of his house, when he made him swear that he would not take a wife for Isaac of the daughters of the Canaanites . Jacob required it of his son Joseph, when he bound him by oath not to bury him in Egypt, but with his fathers in the land of Canaan . The origin, form, and import of this ceremony in taking an oath, are very doubtful. Smiting on the thigh denotes penitence , grief, and mourning .