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גֵּרְשׁוֹן

𐤂𐤓𐤔𐤅𐤍

Gereshon

H1648 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גרש to drive out, expel, banish

Definition

Gershon (also Gershom), a proper personal name referring to a male individual in ancient Israelite tradition, specifically the eldest son of Levi and progenitor of the clan of Gershonites. The name likely carries the sense of 'expulsion' or 'exile,' possibly signifying 'one who is driven out' or 'expelled.' Used as a genealogical designation and in clan identification, especially in reference to divisions among the Levitical families responsible for sanctuary duties.

Semantic Range

proper personal name (Gershon/Gershom, eldest son of Levi), clan designation (Gershonites), genealogical referent, literary reference to expelled or displaced status (by extension; not a title)

Root / Etymology

From the root גָּרַשׁ (garash), 'to drive out, expel, banish.' The form גֵּרְשׁוֹן (Gershon) is a masculine proper noun with a suffixed nominal ending, likely indicating a person characterized by being 'expelled' or 'driven out.' Parallel or variant spelling appears as גֵּרְשֹׁם (Gershom).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical texts, Gershon is identified as the firstborn son of Levi (Num 3:17; 1 Chr 6:1), founding ancestor of the Gershonite clan of Levites. Gershonites were charged with specific ceremonial responsibilities within the sanctuary, particularly regarding the tabernacle's curtains and coverings (Num 3:21–26; 4:24–28). The name occasionally appears in alternate form as Gershom. Although some English translations render both forms as 'Gershon' or 'Gershom,' they may represent the same individual or reflect distinct traditions concerning Levi's descendants. Importantly, the biblical Gershon/Gershom is not to be confused with Gershom son of Moses (Exod 2:22), a different personal name deriving from a slightly different etymology. The rendering 'refugee' or 'expelled one' is not a title but an explanation of the presumed meaning of the name. Later Jewish interpretive tradition sometimes conflated or associated these names, but in the context of the Torah and Chronicles, Gershon designates the distinct Levitical family line.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or גֵּרְשׁוֹם; from גָּרַשׁ; a refugee; Gereshon or Gereshom, an Israelite; Gershon, Gershom.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גרש (g-r-sh) — drive out, expel, banish, cast out

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1644 גָּרַשׁ I will forcefully expel
H1647 גֵּרְשֹׁם sojourner there
H1649 גֵּרְשֻׁנִּי the Gershon-descendant
H4054 מִגְרָשׁ outlying pasture-land of

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1648-02 גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן gereshon HNp Gershon Driven-Out One 14
H1648-03 לְ/גֵ֣רְשׁ֔וֹן legereshon HR/Np of Gershon to Driven-Out One 2
H1648-01 גֵּרְשׁ֑וֹם gereshom HNp Gershom Sojourner-There 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1648-02 Genesis 46:11 גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן gereshon HNp Gershon Driven-Out One
H1648-02 Exodus 6:16 גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן gereshon HNp Gershon Driven-Out One
H1648-02 Exodus 6:17 גֵרְשׁ֛וֹן gereshon HNp Gershon Driven-Out One
H1648-02 Numbers 3:17 גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן gereshon HNp Gershon Driven-Out One
H1648-02 Numbers 3:18 גֵרְשׁ֖וֹן gereshon HNp of Gershon Driven-Out One
H1648-03 Numbers 3:21 לְ/גֵ֣רְשׁ֔וֹן legereshon HR/Np To Gershon to Driven-Out One
H1648-02 Numbers 3:25 גֵרְשׁוֹן֙ gereshon HNp of Gershon Driven-Out One
H1648-02 Numbers 4:22 גֵרְשׁ֖וֹן gereshon HNp of Gershon Driven-Out One
H1648-02 Numbers 4:38 גֵרְשׁ֑וֹן gereshon HNp Gershon Driven-Out One
H1648-02 Numbers 4:41 גֵרְשׁ֔וֹן gereshon HNp Gershon Driven-Out One
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