The term "navel" appears in the Bible as a metaphorical expression, often symbolizing the center or core of something, particularly in relation to health, vitality, and well-being. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the navel was considered a vital part of the body, representing life and sustenance. This understanding is reflected in the biblical text, where the navel is used to convey spiritual and physical health.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 3:8 : "This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones." In this verse, the Hebrew word translated as "body" is often understood to mean "navel" in other translations. The passage emphasizes the importance of wisdom and fear of the Lord, suggesting that such spiritual pursuits lead to physical health and vitality. The navel, as a symbol of the body's center, represents the holistic well-being that comes from living in accordance with divine wisdom.

2. Ezekiel 16:4 : "On the day of your birth, your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths." Here, the navel is indirectly referenced through the mention of the umbilical cord. This passage is part of a larger allegory where God describes the origins and condition of Jerusalem. The uncut cord symbolizes neglect and abandonment, contrasting with the care and attention that God later provides. The navel, in this context, underscores the idea of origin and dependency, highlighting the transformation from neglect to divine care.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In biblical literature, the navel is more than just a physical part of the body; it serves as a symbol of life, nourishment, and connection. It is the point through which a child receives sustenance from the mother, making it a powerful metaphor for dependence on God for spiritual nourishment and life. The navel's centrality in the body mirrors the centrality of God in the believer's life, emphasizing the need for a deep, sustaining relationship with the Creator.

The use of the navel in Proverbs and Ezekiel reflects a broader biblical theme of health and wholeness. In Proverbs, the connection between wisdom and physical health suggests that spiritual well-being is intrinsically linked to physical vitality. In Ezekiel, the imagery of the uncut cord and the neglected navel serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of God's love and care.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israelite culture, as in many ancient societies, the navel was seen as a life-giving center. The practice of cutting the umbilical cord and caring for the newborn was a significant ritual, symbolizing the beginning of independent life. This cultural understanding informs the biblical use of the navel as a metaphor for life, health, and divine provision.

Overall, the navel in the Bible serves as a rich symbol of the interconnectedness of physical and spiritual health, the necessity of divine wisdom, and the transformative power of God's care and provision.1. (n.) A mark or depression in the middle of the abdomen; the umbilicus; the bellybutton.

2. (n.) The central part or point of anything; the middle.

3. (n.) An eye on the under side of a carronade for securing it to a carriage.

NAVEL

na'-v'l (shor. The Septuagint in Proverbs 3:8 suggests a different reading, namely, instead of shorrekha, sherekha equals she'erkha, "thy flesh")): The King James Version translates the Hebrew sharir in the description of Behemoth (Job 40:16) by "navel," where modern translators have substituted "muscles"; similarly in the translation of shorer (Songs 7:2) it has been replaced by "body.", There remain two passages of the Revised Version (British and American) where "navel" is retained as the translation of shor. 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). The uttermost neglect which a new-born babe can experience is expressed by Ezekiel: "In the day thou wast born thy navel (i.e. umbilical cord) was not cut neither wast thou washed in water to cleanse thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all" (Ezekiel 16:4).

H. L. E. Luering

8326. shorer -- navel
... 8325, 8326. shorer. 8327 . navel. Transliteration: shorer Phonetic Spelling:
(sho'-rer) Short Definition: navel. Word Origin the same as shor, qv. navel ...
/hebrew/8326.htm - 6k

8270. shor -- umbilical cord
... body. Word Origin from an unused word Definition umbilical cord NASB Word Usage
body (1), navel (1), navel cord (1). navel. From sharar ...
/hebrew/8270.htm - 6k

8306. sharir -- sinew, muscle
... navel. From sharar in the original sense as in shor (compare shorer); a cord, ie
(by analogy) sinew -- navel. see HEBREW sharar. see HEBREW shor. ...
/hebrew/8306.htm - 6k

Thy Navel is Like a Round Goblet which Wanteth not Liquor; Thy ...
... CHAPTER VII. 2. Thy navel is like a round goblet which wanteth not liquor;
thy belly is like a heap of wheat set about with lilies. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/2 thy navel is like.htm

Simon's Interpretation of the Mosaic Hexaemeron; his Allegorical ...
... be the womb, and Edem the after-birth, [630] "a river flowing forth from Edem, for
the purpose of irrigating Paradise," [631] (meaning by this) the navel. ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter ix simons interpretation of the.htm

On the Interior Man
... The navel is the center of desire; in Job: and his strength is above the navel of
the stomach, that is, because the female genitals here mean the same as the ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/vi on the interior man.htm

Whether the Parts to be Anointed are Suitably Assigned?
... Now spiritual sickness is most virulent in the loins in men, and in the navel in
women, according to Job 40:11: "His strength is in his loins, and his force in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the parts to be.htm

The Sethians Support their Doctrines by an Allegorical ...
... For their doctrine concerning the womb is also the tenet of Orpheus; and the (idea
of the) navel, [539] which is harmony, [540] is (to be found) with the same ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xv the sethians support their.htm

Letter xxii. To Eustochium.
... was dear to God, perfect and upright before Him; [412] yet hear what he says of
the devil: "His strength is in the loins, and his force is in the navel." [413]. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xxii to eustochium.htm

Acts of Saint Philip the Apostle when He Went to Upper Hellas.
... magic tricks. And Philip, enraged, said: O earth, lay fast hold of him,
even to the navel. And immediately it dragged him down. And ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the acts of philip/acts of saint philip the.htm

The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour (Nt Apocrypha)
... And the old Hebrew woman took the piece of skin; but some say that she took the
navel-string, and laid it past in a jar of old oil of nard. ...
/.../the arabic gospel of the infancy of the saviour/the arabic gospel of the.htm

section ii.
... Tis that unruly regiment [170] within me, that will destroy me; tis I that do infect
my self; the man without a Navel [171] yet lives in me; I feel that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/religio medici/section ii 2.htm

Tiberias.
... place while the Gemarists deduce elsewhere, namely, either from Tob reja, because
it was fair to behold, or "because it was Betiborah, in the navel, or middle ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 72 tiberias.htm

Navel (4 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) An eye on the under side of a carronade for securing it to a carriage.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NAVEL. na'-v'l (shor. ...
/n/navel.htm - 9k

Nave (19 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The block in the center of a wheel, from which the spokes radiate, and through
which the axle passes; -- called also hub or hob. 2. (n.) The navel. ...
/n/nave.htm - 12k

Marrow (5 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/m/marrow.htm - 9k

Nativity (9 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not
cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted ...
/n/nativity.htm - 11k

Naves (1 Occurrence)

/n/naves.htm - 6k

Liquor (5 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS DBY WBS). Song of Songs 7:2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth
not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. ...
/l/liquor.htm - 9k

Weren't (25 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:4 As for your birth, in the day you were born your navel was not cut,
neither were you washed in water to cleanse you; you weren't salted at all ...
/w/weren't.htm - 13k

Wanteth (7 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS DBY WBS). Song of Songs 7:2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth
not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. ...
/w/wanteth.htm - 8k

Rounded (7 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV RSV). Song of Songs 7:2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, wherein no mingled
wine is wanting; thy belly is like a heap of wheat set about with lilies. ...
/r/rounded.htm - 8k

Rubbed (10 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not
cut, neither wast thou washed in water for cleansing; thou wast not rubbed ...
/r/rubbed.htm - 9k

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Navel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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