In biblical literature, "marrow" is often used metaphorically to represent the innermost, most vital part of a person or thing, symbolizing strength, nourishment, and vitality. The term appears in several passages throughout the Bible, conveying both physical and spiritual significance.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, "marrow" is mentioned in the context of physical health and well-being. Proverbs 3:7-8 states, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones." Here, "refreshment to your bones" is understood to mean a renewal or strengthening akin to the nourishing quality of marrow within bones. The imagery suggests that spiritual obedience and reverence for God result in physical and spiritual vitality.

Isaiah 25:6 also uses the imagery of marrow in a metaphorical sense: "On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine." The "choice meat" can be understood as rich and satisfying, akin to marrow, symbolizing the abundance and richness of God's provision and blessing.

New Testament References

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention "marrow," the concept is echoed in passages that discuss the Word of God and its penetrating power. Hebrews 4:12 states, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Here, "joints and marrow" symbolize the deepest parts of a person, illustrating the Word's ability to reach and transform the innermost being.

Theological Significance

Theologically, marrow represents the sustenance and life that God provides to His people. Just as marrow is essential for the physical health of bones, God's Word and His presence are essential for spiritual health and vitality. The metaphor of marrow underscores the depth and thoroughness of God's provision and care, as well as the transformative power of His Word.

In a broader sense, the use of "marrow" in Scripture highlights the importance of seeking spiritual nourishment and strength from God. It serves as a reminder of the profound connection between physical well-being and spiritual health, encouraging believers to pursue a life of obedience, reverence, and reliance on God's sustaining power.1. (n.) The tissue which fills the cavities of most bones; the medulla. In the larger cavities it is commonly very fatty, but in the smaller cavities it is much less fatty, and red or reddish in color.

2. (n.) The essence; the best part.

3. (n.) One of a pair; a match; a companion; an intimate associate.

4. (v. t.) To fill with, or as with, marrow of fat; to glut.

MARROW

mar'-o (moach, chelebh, shiqquy, machah, "to make fat," "to grease"; muelos): Marrow is the nourisher and strengthener of the bones; it is said to moisten the bones: "The marrow (moach) of his bones is moistened" (Job 21:24). The fear of Yahweh "will be health to thy navel, and marrow (shiqquy, margin "refreshing, Hebrew moistening") to thy bones" (Proverbs 3:8). Thus, the expression is used figuratively of the things which alone can satisfy the soul: "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow (chelebh, "fat") and fatness" (Psalm 63:5); "In this mountain will Yahweh of hosts make unto all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow (memuchayim, particle, plural, Pual of machah), of wines on the lees well refined" (Isaiah 25:6). In the Epistle to the Hebrews the writer speaks of the word of God, which is "living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow" (Hebrews 4:12).

H. L. E. Luering

3452. muelos -- marrow
... muelos. 3453 . marrow. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: muelos
Phonetic Spelling: (moo-el-os') Short Definition: marrow Definition: marrow. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3452.htm - 6k4221. moach -- marrow
... 4220, 4221. moach. 4222 . marrow. Transliteration: moach Phonetic Spelling:
(mo'-akh) Short Definition: marrow. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/4221.htm - 6k

2459. cheleb -- fat
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition fat NASB Word Usage best (5), fat (74),
fat portions (2), fatness (1), finest (2), finest* (1), marrow (1), portions ...
/hebrew/2459.htm - 6k

4229c. machah -- to be full
... to be full. Transliteration: machah Short Definition: marrow. Word Origin denominative
verb from moach Definition to be full NASB Word Usage marrow (1). ...
/hebrew/4229c.htm - 5k

4229. machah -- to wipe, wipe out
... abolish, blot out, destroy, full of marrow, put out, reach unto, utterly,
wipe away, A primitive root; properly, to stroke or rub ...
/hebrew/4229.htm - 5k

8250. shiqquy -- a drink
... drink, marrow. From shaqah; a beverage; moisture, ie (figuratively) refreshment --
drink, marrow. see HEBREW shaqah. 8249, 8250. shiqquy. 8251 . ...
/hebrew/8250.htm - 6k

Who, Now, Should Know Better the Marrow of the Scriptures than the ...
... Chapter XII. Who, now, should know better the marrow of the Scriptures
than the school of Christ? Who, now, should know better ...
/.../scorpiace antidote for the scorpions sting/chapter xii who now should.htm

On the Interior Man
... [Job 40:11]. The fat marrow is divine grace; in the psalm: my soul is filled
with marrow and fat. The same in a bad part: the marrow ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/vi on the interior man.htm

Hebrews iv. 13-Nov
... ie living] and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily vii hebrews iv 13-nov.htm

Psalm XLVI.
... are cut down and proved by the carpenters, sometimes in the surface they seem as
though injured and rotten; but the carpenter looks into the inner marrow as it ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlvi.htm

The Tenth Book Discusses the Unattainable and Incomprehensible
... regulated by vital organs like other animals, whether its body has a framework of
bones, whether the hollows of the bones are filled with marrow, whether its ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 1 the tenth book.htm

Questions About the Nature of the Body are Sufficiently Mysterious ...
... to inquire and consider when human seed is converted into blood, when into solid
flesh; when the bones begin to harden, and when to fill with marrow; how many ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 6 v questions about the.htm

Whether the Sorrow of Contrition Can be Too Great?
... lii): "Would that such were the exuberance of my inmost soul, as to dry up the marrow
of my body"; and Augustine [*De Contritione Cordis, work of an unknown ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sorrow of contrition.htm

Of the Excellence of Ghostly Song: and that it Neither Can be Said ...
... he is taken up thereto above all others; for in his mind melody abides and sweet
plenty of heat tarries; so that not only shall he offer a marrow offering in ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter iv of the excellence.htm

Shame
... In all great hymns and writings like this, the end is almost sure to be the strongest
part of all, to have the very pith and marrow of the whole matter in it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xviii shame.htm

Paul and his Praying
... Praying made up the substance, the bone, the marrow, and the very being of his
religious life. His conversion was a marvel of grace and power. ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/xiii paul and his praying.htm

Marrow (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) One of a pair; a match; a companion; an intimate associate. 4. (vt)
To fill with, or as with, marrow of fat; to glut. Int. ...MARROW. ...
/m/marrow.htm - 9k

Navel (4 Occurrences)
... Thus we find the word used, pars pro toto, for the whole being: "It (the fear of
Yahweh) will be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones" (Proverbs 3:8 ...
/n/navel.htm - 9k

Ossifrage (2 Occurrences)
... off any animal, he comes in at the end of the feast, and swallows the bones, or
breaks them, and swallows the pieces if he cannot otherwise extract the marrow. ...
/o/ossifrage.htm - 10k

Fatness (17 Occurrences)
... the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness?"; Job 36:16 (of food)),
"full of fatness"; of chelebh, "fat," "the best part," "the marrow" (Job 15 ...
/f/fatness.htm - 13k

Psychology
... of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing
even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick ...
/p/psychology.htm - 38k

Vulture (16 Occurrences)
... until smaller vultures, eagles and hawks stripped a carcass to the bone, then carried
the skeleton aloft and dashed it on the rocks until the marrow could be ...
/v/vulture.htm - 14k

Keener (2 Occurrences)
... It pierces even to the severance of soul from spirit, and penetrates between the
joints and the marrow, and it can discern the secret thoughts and purposes of ...
/k/keener.htm - 7k

Nourished (29 Occurrences)
... feet have not swelled. (YLT). Job 21:24 His pails are full of milk. The marrow
of his bones is moistened. (See NIV). Psalms 73:4 For ...
/n/nourished.htm - 15k

Operative (2 Occurrences)
... word of God is living and operative, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and
penetrating to the division of soul and spirit, both of joints and marrow, and a ...
/o/operative.htm - 7k

Joints (7 Occurrences)
... of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing
even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is ...
/j/joints.htm - 9k

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