Proverbs 26:22 — Word Study
WLCדִּבְרֵ֣י נִ֭רְגָּן כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִ֑ים וְ֝הֵ֗ם יָרְד֥וּ חַדְרֵי־ בָֽטֶן׃
BSAThe wordsdâbâr [of a whisperer, like a slanderer] are like choice morselslâham [dainty, sweet] ◂thathêm go downyârad■ [to swallow, gulp] into the inmost beingcheder [innermost parts, the belly, the seat of emotions]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| דִּבְרֵ֣י | [the] words of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| נִ֭רְגָּן | a slanderer | Verb, Niphal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִ֑ים | [are] like delicacies | Preposition, verb hithpael participle (active) masculine plural |
| וְ֝הֵ֗ם | and they | Conjunction, pronoun |
| יָרְד֥וּ | they go down | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| חַדְרֵי־ | [the] chambers of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| בָֽטֶן׃ | [the] belly | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. |
| KJV | The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. |
| ASV | The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts. |
| YLT | The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart. |
| WEB | The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts. |
| BBE | The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, they go down into the inner parts of the stomach. |
The translations agree on the nature of gossip as דִּבְרֵי — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause with a comparison and an adverbial phrase describing the action.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectהֵם
verbרגן
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 26:22
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Dangers of Gossipgenerated
Proverbs 26:22 warns about the nature of gossip, likening the words of a gossip to sweet morsels that are consumed, indicating that while they may seem appealing, they penetrate deeply into a person's inner being. This verse is part of a larger discourse on the consequences of quarrelsome behavior, as seen in the surrounding verses, which emphasize the strife that such words can cause.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 18:8 | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. |
| 2 | Proverbs 20:19 | He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 22:9 | Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — דִּבְרֵ֣י, div.Reigenerated
The word דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The parsing as a masculine plural construct indicates a collective or general sense of words.
In this verse, it specifically refers to the words of a gossip, suggesting that these words are not merely casual talk but have the potential to influence and affect the listener deeply.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
One finite verb governs the whole verse — יָרְד֥וּ, they go down — with two noun phrases: the subject phrase דִּבְרֵי נִ֭רְגָּן the words of a gossip and the predicate phrase חַדְרֵי־ בָֽטֶן the chambers of the belly. The structure emphasizes the relationship between the words and their deep impact.
The Hebrew word order places the subject before the verb, highlighting the focus on the words of the gossip as the main concern of the verse.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates דִּבְרֵי as λόγοι (logoi), meaning 'words.' This choice reflects a straightforward rendering of the Hebrew term, maintaining its focus on speech.
For נִ֭רְגָּן, the LXX uses κερκώπων, which suggests a more specific interpretation of the gossip as one who stirs up trouble, possibly indicating a more negative connotation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 26:22 tells us that the words of a gossip are like tasty morsels that are consumed deeply. This suggests that while gossip may seem appealing, it can have a harmful effect on the inner being.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It suggests that gossip may be tempting and enjoyable to hear, but it can lead to negative consequences for those who consume it.
The comparison highlights how gossip can be enticing and satisfying to the ears, much like delicious food, but ultimately harmful.
The 'inmost being' refers to the deepest parts of a person, indicating that gossip affects one's emotions and inner life.
Being mindful of the words we speak and choosing to share uplifting and truthful information can help us avoid gossip.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen gossip affect relationships around me?
- How can I be more mindful of my words and avoid spreading gossip?
- What are some positive ways to communicate that can replace gossip?
- How does understanding the impact of gossip change the way I interact with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on the nature of gossip, illustrating how it instigates strife and discord among people.
The words of a whisperer are as simple, etc. He calls the whisperer an instigator of strife and double-tongued, who pretends to praise words and seeks to hear that from which he can sow discord.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 26 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 26:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Read John Gill on Proverbs 26 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. (Note, Proverbs 18:8.)
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 26 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThis was delivered before, , and is here repeated, as being a point of great concernment to the peace and welfare of all societies, and fit to be oft and earnestly pressed upon the consciences of men, because of their great and general proneness to this sin.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 26 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 26:22 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.Ver. 22. The words of a talebearer, &c.] See Proverbs 18:8.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 26 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(22) The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds.—See above on Proverbs 18:8.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 26 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 22. The words of a tale-bearer] The same with Proverbs 18:8, where see the note. See Clarke on Proverbs 18:8.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 26 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges22. wounds] Rather, dainty morsels; λόγοιμαλακοί, LXX. The proverb is repeated from Proverbs 18:8, where see note.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 26 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible22. Words of a talebearer — See Proverbs 18:8. As wounds — Rather, as dainty morsels: hence, he is fond of repeating them.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 26 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person’s innermost being.
Tyndale line
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.
Strictly literal
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, || And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
From the Latin
The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
Simplified
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, they go down into the inner parts of the stomach.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text across these traditions.
דִּבְרֵ֣י נִ֭רְגָּן כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִ֑ים וְ֝הֵ֗ם יָרְד֥וּ חַדְרֵי־ בָֽטֶן׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 26:22
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רָגַן (ragan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to murmur or whisper, often in a context of rebellion or grumbling. It can refer to individuals who murmur (Qal) or backbite (Niphal). The entries highlight its use in both a general sense of complaint and more malicious whispering.
רָגַן vb. murmur, whisper
murmur (rebelliously)
Qal murmurers;
Niph. and they murmured in their tents
whisper (maliciously), backbite, slander:
Niph. backbiter
base
H7279 רָגַן murmur, whisper
7279 ragan raw-gan'
a primitive root; to grumble, i.e. rebel:--murmur.
רָגַן (ra.gan) — to grumble.
1) to murmur, whisper
1a) (Qal) murmurer (participle)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to murmur
1b2) backbiter (participle)
Also means: nir.gan (נִרְגָּן "whisperer" H5372)
HVNrmsa — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine singularHVNrmsa
לָהַם (laham) is a Hebrew verb that means to swallow greedily. It is primarily noted in the Hithpael form, indicating an action of being gulped. The entries suggest a focus on the act of swallowing, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
[לָהַם] vb. swallow greedily;—only Hithp.
base
H3859 לָהַם
3859 laham law-ham'
a primitive root; properly, to burn in, i.e. (figuratively)
to rankle:--wound.
לָהַם (la.ham) — to swallow.
1) to gulp, swallow greedily
1a) (Hithpael) to be gulped
Prep | V-Hithpael — Preposition · verb hithpael participle (active) masculine pluralHR/Vtrmpa
הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.
הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they
base
H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they
1992 hem haym
or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from
1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)
many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,
their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.
see HEBREW for 01981
הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).
they, these, the same, who
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pp3mp
The Hebrew word יָרַד (yarad) means to come or go down, covering various contexts such as descending from mountains, going to battle, or sinking in water. It can also refer to divine manifestations descending or being prostrated. The word has different forms including Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, which indicate various nuances of bringing down or being brought down.
יָרַד 380 vb. come or go down, descend
Qal 306
come or go down
go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
from Jerusalem
from altar
go down
= sink, in water
go down to She’ôl
fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
= be prostrated
of divine manifestations: descend
of inanimate things
Hiph.
cause to come or go down
bring down
send down rain = cause to flow down
= lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
bring down to She’ôl
take down (from cart)
let down
Hoph.
be brought down
be taken down
base
H3381 יָרַד come or go down, descend .. . come or go down
. go down (usu. from mountain or hill-country into plain), to battle
. go down to (acc.) threshing-floor
. go down (abs.) from Palestine to Egypt
. from Jerusalem
. from altar
. go down
. = sink, in water
. go down to She’ôl
. fig. going down (dissolving) in tears
. = be prostrated
. of divine manifestations: descend
. of inanimate things
. . cause to come or go down . bring down
. send down rain = cause to flow down
. = lay prostrate to (acc.) threshing-floor
. bring down to She’ôl
. take down (from cart)
. let down
. . be brought down
. be taken down
3381 yarad yaw-rad'
a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or
conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary,
the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to
bring down (in all the above applications); -X abundantly,
bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down,
fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, X
indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to,
let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
יָרַד (ya.rad) — to go down.
1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go or come down
1a2) to sink
1a3) to be prostrated
1a4) to come down (of revelation)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to bring down
1b2) to send down
1b3) to take down
1b4) to lay prostrate
1b5) to let down
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be brought down
1c2) to be taken down
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
חֶ֫דֶר (cheder) refers to a chamber or room, often indicating an inner or innermost space. It is derived from a related term and encompasses meanings like parlour and inward part. The entries consistently highlight its literal use in contexts referring to physical spaces.
חֶ֫דֶר n.m. chamber, room
base
H2315 חֶ֫דֶר chamber, room
2315 cheder kheh'-der
from 2314; an apartment (usually literal):--((bed)
inner)chamber, innermost(-ward) part, parlour, + south, X
within.
see HEBREW for 02314
חֶ֫דֶר (che.der) — chamber.
chamber, room, parlour, innermost or inward part, within
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word בֶּ֫טֶן (*beten*) primarily means 'belly,' 'body,' or 'womb.' It is derived from a root suggesting hollowness and encompasses various uses, including the physical abdomen and metaphorical meanings, such as the seat of hunger or mental faculties. The lexicons consistently highlight these aspects without significant disagreement.
בֶּ֫טֶן n.f. belly, body, womb
base
H990 בֶּ֫טֶן belly, body, womb
990 beten beh'-ten
from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly,
especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything:--
belly, body, + as they be born, + within, womb.
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: abdomen.
: abdomen
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: womb.
: womb/pregnancy
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: hump.
: hump
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: body.
: body
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
HNcfsa — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
bel'-i: gachon = "the external abdomen" (Ge 3:14; Le 11:42). qobhah = "the abdominal cavity" (Nu 25:8 the American Standard Revised Version "body"). beTen = "the internal abdomen," "the womb" (1Ki 7:20; Job 15:2,35 the King James Version; Job 20:15,23; 40:16; Ps 17,14; Pr 13:25; 18:20; Jer 1:5; Eze 3:3); also figuratively "the internal regions," "the body of anything" (
Belly
The seat of the carnal affections (Titus 1:12; Phil. 3:19; Rom. 16:18). The word is used symbolically for the heart (Prov. 18:8; 20:27; 22:18, marg.). The “belly of hell” signifies the grave or underworld (Jonah 2:2).