Gom Jabbar
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The Gom Jabbar is a fictional device appearing in Frank Herbert's Dune universe. According to the Dune novel, the Gom Jabbar is "The high-handed enemy; that specific poison needle tipped with meta-cyanide used by Bene Gesserit Proctors in the death-alternative test of human awareness". Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam used one to test Paul Atreides just prior to his departure to Arrakis.
The Gom Jabbar is used to kill people who fail the "humanity test". The actual test is carried out with a box that produces pain by nerve induction, causing severe, but strictly mental, pain. Only a human was considered to be able to withstand the urge to take the hand out of the box. Any person who did withdraw their hand was stung with the Gom Jabbar, causing instant death.
Other uses of the term
The term can be used to describe a nemesis, "Meet the Atreides Gom Jabbar" says Paul Muad'Dib to Helen Mohiam, referring to himself with regard to him being a creation of the Bene Gesserit that they failed to bring to heel. Leto II, the God Emperor is either described as or describes himself as the human gom jabbar. This device was also referenced to in "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy" episode "My Fair Mandy". In the episode, Mandy's nemesis, Mindy, is subjected to the test as part of a beauty contest that both are taking part in. She claims that "It burns!" and withdraws her hand, only to lose points from the judges. In the webcomic "Questionable Content," main character Faye uses the term "Mom Jabbar" to describe the experience of a dinner with her roommate's particularly intimidating mother.In the Massive Multiplayer Online Game, World of Warcraft, A trinket named "Jom Gabbar" can be found after killing Ouro the Sandworm in the Temple of Ahn'Qiraj. http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6070/jomgabb1zr.jpg
Origin of the term
The origin of the first part "gom" does not seem to be clear. It might be come from Arabic "qaum" which can be pronunciated in dialects, especially the Egyptian one, as "gom". This mean "mass", in general "a mass of people". In the Egyptian dialect it denotes as well a heap of soil or a mound. Derivatives of the root "QWM", can mean something which stands up (qā'im), resistance (muqāwama) or pillar (qiwām). In Frank Herbert's application of Arabic it might be the tool, the needle, which stands straight against something.
The second part "Jabbar" comes clearly from Arabic word "jabbār", the one who uses coercion to force something. "jabr" means coercion. That is exactly what the "Gom Jabbar" should achieve in the Dune universe.
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