גֵּרָא
𐤂𐤓𐤀
Gera
H1617 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Gera (proper noun): a personal name borne by several individuals in Israelite genealogies, possibly meaning 'a grain' or 'kernel' (botanical sense). The name itself does not transparently carry a specific lexical sense beyond use as a name, but may be associated with the idea of 'grain' or 'seed' if connected with the root גֵּרָה (gērāh, 'grain, kernel, bean').
Semantic Range
personal name (Gera); possibly 'grain,' 'kernel' by nominal derivation; proper noun applied to several individuals in Israelite genealogies
Root / Etymology
Derived perhaps from the noun גֵּרָה (gērāh), meaning 'grain, kernel, bean,' but the etymology is not certain. The underlying root is ג-ר-ה (גרה), 'to chew, to ruminate,' but as a proper name the connection is likely by nominal derivation rather than an active participle or verbal noun. As a personal name, its exact formation is ambiguous — it may simply have originated as a theophoric or descriptive label, a common practice in ancient Israelite naming.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Gera is found in genealogical lists, notably as a descendant of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21; 1 Chronicles 8:3,5) and as the ancestor or father of Shimei, who is described as a Benjamite during the United Monarchy era (2 Samuel 16:5). The name does not convey any specific narrative or cultic role beyond personal and ancestral identity. In English, these individuals are sometimes grouped or transliterated as 'Gera' without attempt at translation since the meaning as a common noun ('grain') is not prominent in narrative or non-genealogical contexts. It is distinct from the common noun גֵּרָה (gērāh), which refers to a unit of weight or a seed/bean, indicating that any semantic link is likely secondary or etymological rather than functional in the text. The use of the name appears stable between monarchic and later biblical sources, with no significant shifts in connotation. English renderings sometimes obscure the possibility that the name is connected to physical characteristics (e.g., size, origin) or family associations, but the text does not explicitly develop these.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps from גֵּרָה; a grain; Gera, the name of six Israelites; Gera.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גרה (g-r-h) — to chew, to ruminate, to gnaw
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1624 | גָּרָה | you stirred yourself up to contend |
| H8409 | תִּגְרָה | from a legal contention |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1617-01 |
גֵּרָ֥א | gera | HNp |
Gera | Gera | 6 |
H1617-02 |
וְ/גֵרָ֖א | vegera | HC/Np |
and Gera | and Gera | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1617-01 |
Genesis 46:21 | גֵּרָ֥א | gera | HNp |
Gera | Gera |
H1617-01 |
Judges 3:15 | גֵּרָא֙ | gera | HNp |
Gera | Gera |
H1617-01 |
2 Samuel 16:5 | גֵּרָ֔א | gera | HNp |
Gera | Gera |
H1617-01 |
2 Samuel 19:17 | גֵּרָא֙ | gera | HNp |
Gera | Gera |
H1617-01 |
2 Samuel 19:19 | גֵּרָ֗א | gera | HNp |
of Gera | Gera |
H1617-01 |
1 Kings 2:8 | גֵּרָ֥א | gera | HNp |
Gera | Gera |
H1617-02 |
1 Chronicles 8:3 | וְ/גֵרָ֖א | vegera | HC/Np |
and Gera | and Gera |
H1617-02 |
1 Chronicles 8:5 | וְ/גֵרָ֥א | vegera | HC/Np |
and Gera | and Gera |
H1617-02 |
1 Chronicles 8:7 | וְ/גֵרָ֖א | vegera | HC/Np |
and Gera | and Gera |