שֹׁר

# Analysis of שֹׁר (shor) The Hebrew word *shor* denotes the umbilical cord, the physical structure connecting a fetus to its mother during pregnancy. Based on its limited attestation in the biblical text—appearing only twice—this term represents a specialized anatomical vocabulary item in Hebrew, used to describe a specific biological feature rather than appearing as a common or symbolically elaborated concept. The rarity of this word's occurrence (just two instances) suggests that biblical Hebrew had limited occasion to reference the umbilical cord explicitly. This contrasts with other biological or medical terms that appear more frequently throughout scripture. The word's narrow definition—specifically the umbilical cord rather than pregnancy or birth more broadly—indicates that when biblical authors needed to identify this particular anatomical structure, they employed this precise term rather than using metaphorical or indirect language. The minimal usage provides little basis for understanding symbolic significance or theological development of this concept in biblical thought. The word remains straightforwardly descriptive: it names a physical reality without apparent figurative elaboration in the texts where it appears.