Lexical Definition

‎גַב‎ gab (gab) back/rim/brow ^H:N
from an unused root meaning to hollow or curve; (compare ‎גֵּו‎ and ‎גּוּף‎)

back, body, boss, eminent (higher) place, (eye) brows, nave, ring.

• the back (as rounded)
• by analogy, the top or rim, a boss, a vault, arch of eye, bulwarks, etc.

1) convex surface, back
1a) back (of man)
1b) mound (for illicit worship)
1c) boss (convex projection of shield)
1d) bulwarks, breastworks (of arguments-fig.)
1e) brow, eyebrow
1f) rim (of wheel)

See Greek: νῶτος · οἴκημα · ὀφρῦς

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: gav (‎ג‎ַּ‎ב‎ "back" גַּב)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎גַּב‎ back, etc., see below ‎גבב‎ [‎גָּב‎], ‎גָּבִים‎ see ‎גוב‎.

‎גַּב‎ noun masculine:? compare Ezek 43:13 (feminine^{Ezek 1:18}) anything convex, curved, gibbous, e.g. back, chiefly late; — absolute ‎גָּ֑ב‎ Ezek 16:24 construct ‎גַּב‎ Ezek 43:13 (read ‎גֹּבַהּ‎ ᵐ5 Ew Sm Co); suffix ‎גַּבִּי‎ Ps 129:3, ‎גַּבֵךְ‎ Ezek 16:31; Ezek 16:39 plural construct ‎גַּבֹּת‎ Lev 14:9, ‎גַּבֵּי‎ Job 13:12; Job 15:26 suffix ‎גַּבֵּיהֶם‎ 1Kgs 7:33, ‎גַּבֵּהֶם‎ Ezek 10:12, ‎גַּבֵּיהֶן‎ Ezek 1:18, ‎גַֹּבֹּתָם‎ Ezek 1:18 —

1. back, of man (figurative of Israel) Ps 129:3 apparently of cherubim Ezek 10:12, but Hi Sm emend v. so that ‎׳‎‎גּ‎ refers to wheels, rim see 6 below

2. mound, for illicit worship Ezek 16:24; Ezek 16:31; Ezek 16:39 (all || ‎רמה‎); ᵐ5 ᵑ9 lupanar, brothel, after analogy of fornix, but this without sufficient proof, & needless.

3. boss, or convex projection, of shield Job 15:26 (figurative) he runneth against him... with the stout bosses of his shields (i.e. wicked against ‎׳‎‎י‎); so in Arabic in similar phrase; compare also Arabic , shield; also French bouclier from boucle.

4. bulwarks, breastworks, figurative for arguments ‎לְגַבֵּיחֹֿמֶר גַּבֵּיכֶם‎ Job 13:12 breastworks of clay are your breastworks.

5. brow, only ‎גַּבֹּת עֵינָיו‎ Lev 14:9 his eyebrows.

6. rim of wheel, felloe 1Kgs 7:33; Ezek 1:18 (twice in verse); so perhaps Ezek 10:12 see 1 above — Ezek 43:13 elevation, i.e. basement of altar, Da after MT., but see ‎גֹּבַהּ‎, compare above

Brown-Driver-Briggs References