Reference: Thigh
Hastings
The hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained as he wrestled at Peniel (Ge 32:25), and to this is attributed the Jewish custom (enjoined in the Mishna) of not eating 'the sinew of the hip' (Ge 32:32). On the thigh the sword was girded (Ex 32:27; Ps 45:3; Song 3:8); Ehud's on the right thigh because he was left-handed (Jg 3:16,21). Under the jealousy ordeal the woman's thigh falls away if she has been guilty of adultery (Nu 5:21 ff.). To smite 'hip and thigh' (lit. 'leg upon thigh') is a phrase denoting utter discomfiture accompanied by great slaughter (Jg 15:8). Its origin is unknown, and its meaning much disputed. Is Jer 31:19 and Eze 21:12 smiting upon one's thigh is a gesture of sorrow or terror. In Heb. (cf. Authorized Version margin) of Ge 46:25; Ex 1:5; Jg 8:30 a man's children are described as coming out of his thigh. This explains the oath taken by placing the hand under the thigh (Ge 24:2,9; 47:29), a special sacredness being ascribed to the organs of generation. In NT 'thigh' occurs only in Re 19:16, where perhaps the meaning is that the name was written on that part of the garment which covered the thigh.
J. C. Lambert.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
So Abraham said unto his servant, elder of his house, ruler of all that he had, - Place, I pray thee thy hand under my thigh;
So the servant placed his hand, under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, - and sware to him, over this thing.
And when he saw, that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, - and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
For this cause, the sons of Israel eat not of the nerve of the large hip-sinew, which is by the hollow of the thigh, until this day, - because he touched the hollow of the thigh of Jacob, in the nerve of the hip-sinew.
These, are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, - so she bare these to Jacob, - all the souls, were seven.
And the days of Israel drew near that he must die, so he called for his son for Joseph and said to him - If, I pray thee I have found favour in thine eyes, place, I pray thee thy hand under my thigh, - so shalt thou deal with me in lovingkindness and faithfulness - Do not I pray thee, bury me in Egypt.
And it came to pass that all the persons who were descended from Jacob were seventy souls, - but, Joseph, was already in Egypt.
And he said to them - Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, - pass through and return from gate to gate in the camp, and slay ye every man his brother and every man his friend and every man his neighbour.
then shall the priest put the woman on oath with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, Yahweh give thee up for a curse and for an oath in the midst of thy people, - in that Yahweh shall give up thy thigh to fall away, and thy womb to swell:
So Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length, - and girded it under his raiment, upon his right thigh.
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from off his right thigh, - and thrust it into his body;
And, Gideon, had seventy sons, sprung from his own loins, - for, many wives, had he.
So he smote them, leg on thigh, with a great smiting, - and went down and dwelt in a cleft of the crag Etam.
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, -- Tis thine honour and thy majesty;
All of them, grasping the sword, trained for war, - every man, with his sword upon his thigh, because of dread, in the night-time.
Surely after my return, I was filled with regret, And after I came to know myself, I smote upon the thigh, - I turned pale and was even confounded For I had borne the reproach of my youthful days.
Make an outcry and howl son of man, For the same hath come against my people, the same is against all the princes of Israel,- Who are thrown to the sword with my people, Therefore smite thou upon thy thigh.
And he hath, upon his mantle and upon his thigh, a name, written - King of kings, and Lord of lords.