how to say “to take shape” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/לקרום-עור-וגידים-#.m4a” /]לִקְרוֹם עוֹר וְגִידִים

Hebrew’s expression for to take shape may sound a bit like it’s taken from a sci-fi movie: לקרום עור וגידים[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/לקרום-עור-וגידים-#.m4a” /] – literally, to become covered (with) skin and tendons.

Yet as futuristic as the term may sound, it originates from media no later than Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones – in the Bible:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/לקרום-עור-וגידים-#.m4a” /]וְרָאִיתִי וְהִנֵּה עֲלֵיהֶם גִּדִים וּבָשָׂר עָלָה וַיִּקְרַם עֲלֵיהֶם עוֹר מִלְמָעְלָה. (יחזקאל ל”ז, ח’)

And I saw and behold upon them were tendons and flesh and they became covered with skin from above. (Ezekiel 37:8)

Here’s a modern usage of the expression:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/לקרום-עור-וגידים-#.m4a” /]בהתחלה היו רק דיבורים, אבל אחרי כמה זמן התוכנית התחילה לקרום עור וגידים.

In the beginning there was just talk, but after some time the plan started taking shape.

לקרום[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/לקרום-עור-וגידים-#.m4a” /] means to be covered or to crust. Likewise, קרום[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/לקרום-עור-וגידים-#.m4a” /] is a crust or membrane.