Lexical Definition

‎יָרֵךְ‎ yârêk (yaw-rake') thigh ^H:N-F
from an unused root meaning to be soft

[idiom] body, loins, shaft, side, thigh.

• the thigh (from its fleshy softness)
• by euphemistically the generative parts
• figuratively, a shank, flank, side

1) thigh, side, loin, base
1a) thigh
1a1) outside of thigh (where sword was worn)
1a2) loins (as the seat of procreative power)
1b) side (flank) (of object)
1c) base

See Greek: ἡμέρα · μηρός · σκέλος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎יָרֵךְ‎ noun feminine^{Num 5:27} thigh, loin, side, base (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic ‎יַרְכָּא‎; Zinjirli ‎ירך‎ loin; Assyrian arku, arkâtu, back, rear, hereafter Dl^{HWB 242}; Arabic hip) — absolute ‎יָרֵךְ‎ Judg 15:8 + 6 t.; construct ‎יֶ֫רֶךְ‎ Gen 24:9 + 11 t. + 2Sam 3:27 (see below); suffix ‎יְרֵכִי‎ Gen 24:2; Gen 47:29 ‎יְרֵכֵךְ‎ Num 5:21 ‎יְרֵכוֺ‎ Gen 32:26* + 6 t.; ‎יְרֵכָהּ‎ Exod 25:31+ 3 t.; dual ‎יְרֵכַיִם‎ Exod 28:42 suffix ‎יְרֵכַיִךְ‎ Song 7:2* —

1. thigh,
a. outside of thigh, where sword was worn, ‎שִׂים חֶרֶב עַליְֿרֵכוֺ‎ Exod 32:27 (E); ‎וַיַחְגֹּר אֹתָהּ עַליֶֿרֶךְ‎ ‎יְמִינוֺ‎ Judg 3:16 and he girded it upon his right thigh, vJudg 3:21; Ps 45:4*; Song 3:8 ‎כַּף הַיָּרֵךְ‎ Gen 32:33* hollow of the thigh, Gen 32:26* (twice in verse); Gen 32:33* (all J); ‎חַמּוּקֵי יְרֵכַיִךְ‎ Song 7:2* the roundings of thy thighs; ‎מִמָּתְנַיִם וְעַדיְֿרֵכַיִם‎ Exod 28:42 (P); || ‎בֶּטֶן‎ Num 5:21; Num 5:22; Num 5:27 (P); ‎צֹלֵעַ עַליְֿרֵכוֺ‎ Gen 32:32* (J), limping upon his thigh; ‎סָפַק עַליָֿרֵח‎ Jer 31:19 and (with ‎אֶלֿ‎) Ezek 21:17*, smite upon, thigh, in token of consternation; ‎וַיַּךְ אוֺתָם שׁוֺק עַלֿ‎ ‎יָרֵךְ‎ Judg 15:8 and he smote them, hip upon thigh, a great slaughter.
b. thigh = loins, as seat of procreative power (RS^{K. 34}; Semitic i, 360 (380)) ‎יֹצְאֵי ירך‎ those proceeding from the loins of any one Gen 46:26; Exod 1:5 (both P), Judg 8:30 hence ‎שִׂים יַד תַּחַת‎ ‎ירך‎ place the hand under thigh, in taking oath Gen 24:2; Gen 24:9 (J), Gen 47:29.

2. side (flank) of altar 2Kgs 16:14; Lev 1:11 (P); of tabernacle Exod 40:22; Exod 40:24; Num 3:29; Num 3:35 (all P); also ‎יֶרֶךְ הַשַּׁעַר‎ (for ᵑ0 ‎׳‎‎תּוֺךְ הַשּׁ‎) ᵐ5 Th We Dr Bu Kit.

3. base (loins) of candlestick Exod 25:31; Exod 37:17; Num 8:4 (all P).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References