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גַּיְא

𐤂𐤉𐤀

Gaye

H1516 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A geographical feature denoting a valley, ravine, or deep gorge, typically bounded by high sides and sometimes used as a location reference for settlements, travel, or significant events. The term often suggests steep or sharply-defined sides, in contrast to broader, open valleys (עֵמֶק, 'emeq'). The word may describe both arid and lush areas, depending on context, and is frequently associated with both positive and negative symbolism in biblical narrative and poetry.

Semantic Range

narrow valley, gorge, steep ravine, depression between hills, site of ritual or historical events, sometimes metaphorical for descent or danger

Root / Etymology

The word גַּיְא (gayʼ) derives from the root גוי/גיא, uncertainly connected etymologically but likely cognate with גֵּוָה (gevah, 'back, height') based on similar consonantal forms, possibly referring to the 'loftiness' or 'elevated sides' of such terrain. The root sense is uncertain; the form itself is only attested as a noun referring to a landform rather than an action or broad semantic field.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Across the Hebrew Bible, גַּיְא most often refers to steep-sided valleys or ravines, particularly in the Judean hill country (e.g., גֵּיא בֶן הִנֹּם, 'Valley of Ben Hinnom'). Unlike עֵמֶק ('emeq'), which generally describes broad, fertile plains, גַּיְא emphasizes topographical narrowness and depth. Over time, certain valleys with the term גַּיְא in their names accrued significant cultural or historical meaning (e.g., Gehenna as a later locus of eschatological judgment, though this association is post-biblical). Greek and English translations sometimes render גַּיְא with 'valley,' but this can obscure the steep, gorge-like nuance inherent in the Hebrew term. Usage is more common in the monarchic and later periods, and its distribution tends to be concentrated in reference to sites around Jerusalem and the hill country. The semantic overlap with נַחַל (naḥal, 'wadi, ravine') exists, but נַחַל typically refers to seasonal riverbeds or channels, while גַּיְא is a static feature. The 'valley' of גַּיְא is not strictly a watercourse and need not have a stream except in the rainy season.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) גַּי; probably (by transmutation) from the same root as גֵּוָה (abbreviated); a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent); valley.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

גיא (Gaye) — deep valley, gorge, ravine

Root גיא deep valley, gorge, ravine

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1516-05 גֵּ֣יא gey HNcbsc valley gorge of gorge of 23
H1516-02 בְּ/גֵ֣יא begey HR/Np in the valley in a deep ravine in a deep ravine 12
H1516-07 הַ/גָּ֑יְא hagaye HTd/Ncbsa of the valley the deep ravine the deep ravine 5
H1516-01 בַּ/גָּ֔יְא bagaye HRd/Ncbsa in the valley in the gorge in the gorge 3
H1516-08 הַ/גֵּאָי֑וֹת hageayot HTd/Ncbpa the valleys the deep ravines the valleys 3
H1516-17 וְ/לַ/גֵּאָי֗וֹת velageayot HC/Rd/Ncbpa and to the valleys and to the deep ravines and to the valleys 3
H1516-14 וְ/גֵ֣יא vegey HC/Ncbsc and valley and ravine of and Gaye 2
H1516-03 גַ֔יְא gaye HNcbsa the valley steep gorge steep gorge 1
H1516-04 גֵּ֨אָי֜וֹת geayot HNcbpa valleys steep ravines valleys 1
H1516-06 הַ/גַּ֜יא hagay HTd/Ncbsa of the valley the deep ravine the valley 1

Occurrences in Scripture

62 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1516-07 Numbers 21:20 הַ/גַּיְא֙ hagaye HTd/Ncbsa the valley the deep ravine the deep ravine
H1516-01 Deuteronomy 3:29 בַּ/גָּ֔יְא bagaye HRd/Ncbsa in the valley in the gorge in the gorge
H1516-01 Deuteronomy 4:46 בַּ/גַּ֗יְא bagaye HRd/Ncbsa in the valley in the gorge in the gorge
H1516-12 Deuteronomy 34:6 בַ/גַּיְ֙ vagaye HRd/Ncbsa in-the-valley in the gorge in the valley
H1516-15 Joshua 8:11 וְ/הַ/גַּ֖י vehagay HC/Td/Ncbsa and the valley and the deep gorge and the valley
H1516-05 Joshua 15:8 גֵּ֣י gey HNcbsc valley of gorge of gorge of
H1516-05 Joshua 15:8 גֵֽי gey-2 HNcbsc valley of gorge of gorge of
H1516-05 Joshua 18:16 גֵּ֣י gey HNcbsc valley of gorge of gorge of
H1516-05 Joshua 18:16 גֵּ֨י gey-2 HNcbsc the valley of gorge of gorge of
H1516-05 Joshua 19:14 גֵּ֖י gey HNcbsc valley of gorge of gorge of
H1516-11 Joshua 19:27 וּ/בְ/גֵ֨י uvegey HC/R/Ncbsc and to the valley and in the gorge of and in the valley of
H1516-05 1 Samuel 13:18 גֵּ֥י gey HNcbsc valley gorge of gorge of
H1516-16 1 Samuel 17:3 וְ/הַ/גַּ֖יְא vehagaye HC/Td/Ncbsa and the valley and the deep gorge and the deep gorge
H1516-03 1 Samuel 17:52 גַ֔יְא gaye HNcbsa the valley steep gorge steep gorge
H1516-02 2 Samuel 8:13 בְּ/גֵיא begey HR/Np in the valley in a deep ravine in Gaye
H1516-09 2 Kings 2:16 ה/גיאות hgyvt HTd/Ncbpa the valleys deep gorges of the valleys
H1516-08 2 Kings 2:16 הַ/גֵּאָי֑וֹת hageayot HTd/Ncbpa the valleys the deep ravines the valleys
H1516-02 2 Kings 14:7 בְּ/גֵיא begey HR/Np in-the-valley in a deep ravine in Gaye
H1516-02 2 Kings 23:10 בְּ/גֵ֣י begey HR/Ncbsc in the valley in a deep ravine in the valley
H1516-05 Isaiah 22:1 גֵּ֣יא gey HNcbsc of the valley gorge of valley of
H1516-02 Isaiah 22:5 בְּ/גֵ֣יא begey HR/Ncbsc in the valley in a deep ravine in a deep ravine
H1516-05 Isaiah 28:1 גֵּֽיא gey HNcbsc valley gorge of gorge of
H1516-05 Isaiah 28:4 גֵּ֣יא gey HNcbsc of valley gorge of gorge of
H1516-05 Isaiah 40:4 גֶּיא֙ gey HNcbsa valley gorge of valley
H1516-01 Jeremiah 2:23 בַּ/גַּ֔יְא bagaye HRd/Ncbsa in the valley in the gorge in the valley
H1516-02 Jeremiah 7:31 בְּ/גֵ֣יא begey HR/Ncbsc in-the-valley in a deep ravine in the valley
H1516-14 Jeremiah 7:32 וְ/גֵ֣יא vegey HC/Ncbsc and valley and ravine of and valley of
H1516-05 Jeremiah 7:32 גֵּ֣יא gey HNcbsc valley gorge of valley of
H1516-05 Jeremiah 19:2 גֵּ֣יא gey HNp valley gorge of Gaye
H1516-14 Jeremiah 19:6 וְ/גֵ֣יא vegey HC/Np and-Valley and ravine of and Gaye
H1516-05 Jeremiah 19:6 גֵּ֥יא gey HNcbsc Valley gorge of Valley
H1516-02 Jeremiah 32:35 בְּ/גֵ֣יא begey HR/Ncbsc in the valley in a deep ravine in a deep ravine
H1516-18 Ezekiel 6:3 ו/ל/גאית vlgyt HC/Rd/Ncbpa and-to-the-valleys and to deep ravines and to the valley
H1516-17 Ezekiel 6:3 וְ/לַ/גֵּאָי֗וֹת velageayot HC/Rd/Ncbpa and-to-the-valleys and to the deep ravines and to the valleys
H1516-08 Ezekiel 7:16 הַ/גֵּאָי֛וֹת hageayot HTd/Ncbpa of the valleys the deep ravines of the valleys
H1516-04 Ezekiel 31:12 גֵּ֨אָי֜וֹת geayot HNcbpa valleys steep ravines valleys
H1516-08 Ezekiel 32:5 הַ/גֵּאָי֖וֹת hageayot HTd/Ncbpa the valleys the deep ravines the deep ravines
H1516-13 Ezekiel 35:8 וְ/גֵאוֹתֶ֨י/ךָ֙ vegeoteykha HC/Ncbpc/Sp2ms and-your-valleys and your gorges and your valleys
H1516-17 Ezekiel 36:4 וְ/לַ/גֵּאָי֗וֹת velageayot HC/Rd/Ncbpa and to the valleys and to the deep ravines and to the deep ravines
H1516-17 Ezekiel 36:6 וְ/לַ/גֵּאָי֜וֹת velageayot HC/Rd/Ncbpa and to the valleys and to the deep ravines and to the valleys
H1516-05 Ezekiel 39:11 גֵּ֤י gey HNcbsc valley gorge of valley of
H1516-05 Ezekiel 39:11 גֵּ֖יא gey-2 HNcbsc valley gorge of valley of
H1516-05 Ezekiel 39:15 גֵּ֖יא gey HNcbsc the valley gorge of the valley
H1516-10 Micah 1:6 לַ/גַּי֙ lagay HRd/Ncbsa to-the-valley to the deep gorge to the gorge
H1516-05 Zechariah 14:4 גֵּ֖יא gey HNcbsc valley gorge of gorge of
H1516-05 Zechariah 14:5 גֵּֽיא gey HNcbsc valley gorge of gorge of
H1516-05 Zechariah 14:5 גֵּי gey-2 HNcbsc valley gorge of gorge of
H1516-02 Psalms 23:4 בְּ/גֵ֪יא begey HR/Ncbsc in the valley in a deep ravine in a deep ravine
H1516-02 Psalms 60:2 בְּ/גֵיא begey HR/Np in the Valley in a deep ravine in Gaye
H1516-06 Nehemiah 2:13 הַ/גַּ֜יא hagay HTd/Ncbsa of the valley the deep ravine the valley
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