גָּהַר
𐤂𐤄𐤓
gâhar
H1457 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To crouch or bow down low, especially in a posture of submission or humility; to stretch oneself over or upon something, often in a gesture of deep emotion or intercession. The verb frequently describes a physical act of lowering oneself, sometimes with urgency or intensity, such as falling upon another person or lying face-down.
Semantic Range
to bow low over someone or something, to stretch oneself upon, to prostrate oneself, to crouch in desperation or supplication
Root / Etymology
Root: גהר. The root does not appear elsewhere in Hebrew, making its precise meaning uncertain. The attested verb likely denotes the act of bending or lowering oneself. This root is distinct from others like שָׁחָה (to bow down) or נָפַל (to fall), and its concrete meaning is inferred primarily from context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
גָּהַר occurs in a limited number of narratives in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in contexts describing physical prostration or acts of extreme emotion (e.g., the acts of Elijah and Elisha when stretching themselves over a deceased child, 1 Kings 17:21; 2 Kings 4:34–35). The action depicts not ritual bowing (as in worship) but rather an intense physical gesture often linked to intercession or desperation. In later periods, related roots are not evident in Hebrew or Aramaic, and the word did not become a technical term for worship posture. English translations often use 'prostrate' or 'stretch oneself,' but modern readers should note the nuance of intense, purpose-driven physical engagement, not merely the act of lying down. Related Hebrew verbs for bowing (שָׁחָה) or falling prostrate (נָפַל) have a broader semantic range, while גָּהַר is more specific to a dramatic and physical gesture, often upon another person.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to prostrate oneself; cast self down, stretch self.
Bantu Hebrew
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גהר (g-h-r) — to crouch, to bow low, to bend oneself, to lower oneself
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1457-01 |
וַ/יִּגְהַ֣ר | vayigehar | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he bowed down | and he bowed low | and he bowed low | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1457-01 |
1 Kings 18:42 | וַ/יִּגְהַ֣ר | vayigehar | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he bowed down | and he bowed low | and he bowed low |
H1457-01 |
2 Kings 4:34 | וַ/יִּגְהַ֖ר | vayigehar | HC/Vqw3ms |
and stretched himself | and he bowed low | and he bowed low |
H1457-01 |
2 Kings 4:35 | וַ/יִּגְהַ֣ר | vayigehar | HC/Vqw3ms |
and stretched | and he bowed low | and he bowed low |