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
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh.
The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
When he saw that he did not prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled.
Therefore the children of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip.
These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls were seven.
The time drew near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt,
All the souls who came out of Jacob's body were seventy-five, and Joseph was in Egypt already.
He said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.'"
then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, 'The LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people, when the LORD allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell;
Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it under his clothing on his right thigh.
Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body:
Gideon had seventy sons conceived from his body; for he had many wives.
He struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and lived in the cleft of the rock of Etam.
They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.
Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I struck on my thigh: I was ashamed, yes, even confounded, because I bore the reproach of my youth.'
Cry and wail, son of man; for it is on my people, it is on all the princes of Israel: they are delivered over to the sword with my people; strike therefore on your thigh.
He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, "King of kings, and Lord of lords."