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גֶּשֶׁם

𐤂𐤔𐤌

geshem

H1653 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גשׁם to become dense, to materialize, to become bodily, to rain

Definition

A significant or heavy rainfall, used for literal heavy rain showers, particularly seasonal rains essential for agriculture; can occasionally refer metaphorically to an outpouring or abundance (of blessing, favor, etc.).

Semantic Range

heavy rain, rainstorm, shower, rainfall event, (rarely) abundance, figurative outpouring

Root / Etymology

גּשׁם derives from the root ג-ש-ם, which conveys the idea of something materializing, becoming substantial, or taking physical form. The noun גֶּשֶׁם is a nominal form meaning 'body,' 'substance,' or more specifically in biblical Hebrew, 'rain' as a tangible manifestation of atmospheric moisture. The root captures the transition from abstract to concrete, and the word reflects this by describing rain as a substantive event.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גֶּשֶׁם most frequently refers to the heavier, seasonal rains that occur in the late autumn or winter (as opposed to מָטָר, which is a more general term for rain and can cover minor rains, dew, and even metaphorical uses). גֶּשֶׁם is used in narrative and poetry to evoke the agricultural cycles crucial to ancient Israelite life, notably in contrast to the dryness of the summer months. The term is often connected to divine provision, emphasizing the dependence of the land and people on regular rains for sustenance. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, גֶּשֶׁם becomes the standard word for 'rain.' Unlike מָטָר, גֶּשֶׁם indicates the more tangible, outstanding downpour (cf. Ezek 13:11-13, where it is differentiated from less intense rain). English Bible translations typically render גֶּשֶׁם as 'rain' or 'shower,' but may not convey the nuance of 'substantial' or 'seasonal' rain. The root's nuance of corporeal, physical substance reflects a broader semantic field than just precipitation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from גָּשַׁם; a shower; rain, shower.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גשם (g-š-m) — to become dense, to materialize, to become bodily, to rain

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1652 גָּשַׁם rain-causing ones
H1654 גֶּשֶׁם and to Geshem
H1655 גֶּשֶׁם in their physical body
H1656 גֹּשֶׁם her downpour

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1653-03 גֶ֖שֶׁם geshem HNcmsa rain heavy rainstorm 11
H1653-08 הַ/גֶּ֖שֶׁם hageshem HTd/Ncmsa the rain the heavy rain 7
H1653-11 וְ/גֶ֥שֶׁם vegeshem HC/Ncmsa and shower and heavy rain 6
H1653-07 הַ/גָּֽשֶׁם hagashem HTd/Ncmsa the rain the heavy rain 4
H1653-06 גִשְׁמֵי/כֶ֖ם gishemeykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your rains your heavy rains 1
H1653-02 גְּשָׁמִ֔ים geshamim HNcmpa of rain heavy rains 1
H1653-10 וּ/מֵ/הַ/גְּשָׁמִֽים umehageshamim HC/R/Td/Ncmpa and because of the rains and from the heavy rains 1
H1653-09 כַ/גֶּ֨שֶׁם֙ khageshem HRd/Ncmsa like the rain like a heavy rain 1
H1653-04 גִּשְׁמֵ֥י gishemey HNcmpc showers heavy rains of 1
H1653-01 גָּ֑שֶׁם gashem HNcmsa rain heavy rainstorm 1

Occurrences in Scripture

35 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1653-08 Genesis 7:12 הַ/גֶּ֖שֶׁם hageshem HTd/Ncmsa the rain the heavy rain
H1653-08 Genesis 8:2 הַ/גֶּ֖שֶׁם hageshem HTd/Ncmsa the rain the heavy rain
H1653-06 Leviticus 26:4 גִשְׁמֵי/כֶ֖ם gishemeykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your rains your heavy rains
H1653-03 1 Kings 17:7 גֶ֖שֶׁם geshem HNcmsa rain heavy rainstorm
H1653-03 1 Kings 17:14 גֶּ֖שֶׁם geshem HNcmsa rain heavy rainstorm
H1653-07 1 Kings 18:41 הַ/גָּֽשֶׁם hagashem HTd/Ncmsa of rain the heavy rain
H1653-07 1 Kings 18:44 הַ/גָּֽשֶׁם hagashem HTd/Ncmsa the rain the heavy rain
H1653-03 1 Kings 18:45 גֶּ֣שֶׁם geshem HNcmsa rain heavy rainstorm
H1653-03 2 Kings 3:17 גֶ֔שֶׁם geshem HNcmsa rain heavy rainstorm
H1653-11 Isaiah 44:14 וְ/גֶ֥שֶׁם vegeshem HC/Ncmsa and rain and heavy rain
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