What Is Sinew in the Bible?
“Sinew” is a biblical word, and it means “tongue”. The Hebrew word sinew is pronounced “si-nay-ee.” There are also other biblical terms for sinew, including “pulley,” “nerve,” and “tongue.”
‘Sinew’
The word sinew in the Bible refers to many different anatomical elements. For example, it can refer to nerve tissue in Gen 32:32 or connective tissues in human bodies. It is also used figuratively in Isa 48:4 to refer to stubbornness. This word also appears in Job 10:11, Ezek 37:6 and Job 40:17.
The word sinew is a synonym for tendon and muscle. It can also refer to strength and resilience. It is derived from Middle and Old English, and is related to the Sanskrit word syati. The Hebrew word sinew is a good word choice for the Bible because it is both meaningful and relevant.
It is interesting to note that the Bible mentions internal organs quite often. In fact, it even mentions the pharynx. But it is hard to say which of these organs the Bible refers to when it refers to sinews. Yet, the term yoteret ha-kaved is usually associated with the mesentery. And the word gid ha-nasheh is often translated as “spine.”
‘Nerve’
In the Bible, the word ‘Nerve’ means the “body.” Nerves are the structures within the body that transmit impulses. A nerve is a bundle of fibers that transmit sensations and electrical impulses between different parts of the body. Various parts of the body have nerves, such as the spinal cord and tendons. An insect’s wing is also covered with nerve fibers.
‘Tongue’
The term ‘tongue’ occurs 50 times in the Bible, and can refer to a person’s language or the language of a group of people. Some of these terms can have negative connotations, such as being deceitful or lying. If you want to know the exact meanings of these terms, you need to study the Bible.
In the New Testament, the term ‘tongue’ means a language that is spoken in the spirit. The tongue is used in praise and adoration, and the language of the tongue is also translated into human languages. People who speak in tongues were praising God at Pentecost and in Caesarea. However, tongues can also be used for sins, and some of these are mental sins.
‘Pulley’
George Herbert uses a variety of literary devices in his poem, ‘Pulley.’ First, he uses alliteration, which increases the overall rhyme and rhythm of the poem. He also uses imagery, a common poetic device, to show the relationship between God and humanity. The speaker envisions the longing for “rest” in human beings as a “pulley” drawing them back to God. Moreover, he pictures the final tug on the “pulley,” which flings them into the arms of God.
The pulley metaphor, which is often used to describe wheels, is an allegory of God’s power to lift man up. In a metaphorical sense, the pulley symbolizes the effort that man must make to achieve rest. Though beauty, strength, and honour may come without effort, rest will take effort. It is through prayer and meditation that man will be able to rest.
‘Tendon’
Tendon is a noun in the Bible. It refers to a muscle or ligament that runs from the back of the knee to the gluteal muscle. The Hebrew word for tendon is gid hanasheh, which literally means “forgotten sinew” or “displaced tendon.” Jews do not eat the tendon because it is a forbidden food. You can read more about this law in Tractate Chullin, chapter 7.
In the Bible, tendons are often described as the ‘first covering’ of dry bones. The Bible also mentions them as the part of the body that attaches muscle to bone. In Job 40:15-18, the tendon is described as the first covering for the bones, and in Job 10:11 it is described as the “first covering” of man.