Translations and Meanings: Sinew

As accompaniment to my study of the Doctrine and Covenants, I've started to look up the meaning of words, and try to learning what that meaning means.  It started out as a mediocre interest, and has summited to several exciting thoughts.

For example, D&C 19 begins with the following:

"I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world (DC 19:1)"

This phrase can have particularly more meaning if one knows that alpha and omega are the beginning and ending letters in the Greek alphabet. Greek doesn't run from 'a' to 'z.'  The Greek equivalent of 'z,' zeta, is in the middle of their alphabet.

I validate my time spent in such labors by recognizing that even (and especially!) the Prophet Joseph Smith agonized over the meaning of words.  For example, the Prophet had difficultly in understanding what was meant by the word 'Heaven' in the Bible.  Joseph Smith  expounded on what came of his inquiries of the Lord to understand more of it's meaning,

"Upon my return from Amherst [Ohio] conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures.  From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touch the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled.  It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term 'Heaven,' as intended for the Saints' eternal home must include more kingdoms than one.   Accordingly, on the 16th of February, 1832, while translating St. John's Gospel,  myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision: [D&C 76]. (History of the Church, 1:245)"

To aid in my studies, I've spent time in Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. You must check it out!  It is contemporary with Joseph Smith, may give an idea of, at least to Webster, the meaning of words in that era.  Interestingly, Webster took all of his definitions from the Bible, as he considered education useless without the bible.  One word that has additional meaning of which I was unaware is... sinew.  in addition to it's anatomical sense, the word sinew (in the plural) in 1828 meant: in the plural, strength; or rather that which supplies strength.

Alexander Louis Laloir, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel, 1865

Why study sinew?  It's by no sense of the word (get the pun!) ubiquitous in religious cannon.  However, it is discussed in Genesis 32, and it's implications today still invoke (mitzvoth) that Orthodox Jews do not eat the 'gid hanosheh,' or the displaced (sciatic) sinew of the hip joint (Israel National News, Nov. 30, 2012, Judaism: The Sinew's Significance, Shira Smiles).

Here's a quick recap of the history preceding the story.  It's important.  Take the time and go to the Bible and read at least Genesis 25-32.

Abraham's firstborn son was Isaac, to whom he gave all that he had.  Isaac married a Syrian wife, Rebekah, who was barren.  Isaac entreated the Lord for Rebekah, who conceived with twins, Esau and Jacob.  In a period of desperate hunger, Esau sold Jacob his birthright for bread and pottage of lentils.  In famine, Isaac headed to Gerar, and was stopped on the way by the Lord.  The Lord then conferred upon him the Abrahamic promise,

"And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. (Genesis 26:4-5)"

Isaac struggled to find a land in which his family could live (after the three wells).  He finally pitched tent near Beer-sheba, where he built an  altar and called upon the name of the Lord. In his old age, Isaac mistakenly blessed Jacob, the younger of the two brothers,

"Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. (Genesis 27:28-29)"

At the prompting of his mother, Jacob fled. Before his departure, he was blessed once again by his father,

 "And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give tee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. (Genesis 28:3-4)"

Jacob marries Leah and Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah, and begins to raise his posterity.  After the birth of Joseph, and the growing of his goods, Jacob took his family and journey back to his boyhood land at the command of the Lord. The father of Jacob's wives pursued after them, and eventually a peace was made.  Jacob left with full rights to his wives, children, and goods.

En route Jacob alerted Esau of his return, who came forth with 400 men.  In fear and distress Jacob plead with the Lord concerning his family.  Jacob knew the Lord had promised him numberless posterity, and could not see how the wrath of Esau's men upon his family could be compatible with such a blessing. He split all his goods, and sent them forward to Esau as a present.  Last, he sent forth his wives and children.
Left alone,  Jacob wrestled with a man until the breaking of day.

"And when he [the man] saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.  And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh.  And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

"And he said unto him, What is thy name?  And he said, Jacob.

"And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. (Genesis 32:24-28)"

Gustave Dore, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel, 1855

It is instructive that the angel with whom Jacob wrested bestowed upon him a new name which symbolized that with power Jacob had prevailed.  The only power which the angel could prevail over Jacob was the power over the hollow of Jacob's thigh, or the sinew.  Indeed, it was only the flesh which gave way to the might of the angel.  

If we, then, prove our prevalence through our spiritual might, we may become a prince that has power with God and men.  We must first have the blessings of Abraham conferred upon our head, as did Jacob.  To complete our prevalence, we need only that our sinews are healed, or in the least made strong.  Hence the beauty that sinews represent strength.