Lexical Summary gay: Valley Original Word: גַּיְא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance valley Or (shortened) gay {gah'-ee}; probably (by transmutation) from the same root as gevah (abbreviated); a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) -- valley. see HEBREW gevah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a valley NASB Translation Ge-harashim* (1), Valley (8), valley (43), valleys (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs גַּיְא noun masculineIsaiah 40:4 (feminineZechariah 14:4) valley — absolute גַּיְא Numbers 21:20 8t. + 1 Samuel 17:52 (compare below), גָּ֑יְא 1 Chronicles 4:39, גֵּיא Zechariah 14:4, גֶּיא Isaiah 40:4, גַּי Deuteronomy 34:6 2t.; construct גֵּיא Isaiah 22:1 21t.; גֵּי Joshua 15:8 13t.; plural absolute גֵּאָיוֺת Ezekiel 31:12; Ezekiel 36:4,6 + Ezekiel 7:16; Ezekiel 32:5 (strike out Co) + Ezekiel 6:3; 2 Kings 2:16 Qr (so Co Ezekiel 6:3; Kt גיאות); suffix גֵּיאוֺתֶיךָ Ezekiel 35:8; — valley Joshua 8:11 (E) Micah 1:6; 1 Samuel 17:3; 2 Kings 2:16 (opposed to הַר) Isaiah 40:4 (opposed to גִּבְעָה, הַר), Ezekiel 6:3; Ezekiel 35:8; Ezekiel 36:4,6 (in all with גבעות אפיקים, הרים), Ezekiel 31:12 (opposed to הַר), compare Ezekiel 7:16 (strike out B Co) Ezekiel 32:5; specifically, valley in Moab, a station of Israel Numbers 21:20 (E); over against Beth-Peor Deuteronomy 3:29; Deuteronomy 4:46; Deuteronomy 34:6; a valley near גְּדוֺר 1 Chronicles 4:39; חִזָּיוֺן ׳ג Isaiah 22:1,5 near Jerusalem; שְׁמָנִים ׳ג Isaiah 28:1,4 valley of fatness, fertility, the valley surrounding Samaria; ׳שַׁעַר הַגּ2Chronicles 26:9; Nehemiah 2:13,15; Nehemiah 3:13; apocalyptic valley Zechariah 14:4, made by cleaving Mt. of Olives, compare הרים ׳ג Zechariah 14:5; Zechariah 14:5; valley of slaughter ההרגה ׳ג, a future name of valley of Hinnom Jeremiah 7:32; Jeremiah 19:6; 1 Samuel 17:52 (גַּיְא) ᵐ5 reads גַּת compare We Dr; Jeremiah 2:23 of valley of Hinnom, see below; figurative Psalm 23:4 צלמות ׳ג compare צלמות; Ezekiel 39:11 הָעֹבְרִים ׳ג, Co הָעֲבָרִים proper name compare below; elsewhere in combination with proper names: — a. יִפְתַּחאֵֿל ׳ג Joshua 19:14,27 perhaps = Jotapata JosBJ iii. 7, 7; Rabbin. גופתתא RelandPal 816; — Tell Jefât RobBR iii. 107. GuérinGal. i. 476 f. compare BdPal 243. b. הַצְּבֹעִים ׳ג 1 Samuel 13:18. c. הַֿמֶּלַךְ׳ג 2 Kings 14:7 (Kt; Qr omits article) 1 Chronicles 18:12; 2Chronicles 25:11 = מֶֿלַךְ׳ג 2 Samuel 8:13; Psalm 60:2 (title); south of Dead Sea, in or bordering on Edom; el-Ghôr RobBR ii. 109. d. הֶחָרָשִׁים ׳ג 1 Chronicles 4:14; Nehemiah 11:35, apparently near Lod & Ono, northwest of Jerusalem, not far from the sea. e. צְפַ֖תָֿה לְמָרֵשָׁה ׳ג2Chron 14:9 (? read צָפֹנַה, ᵐ5 κατὰ βορρᾶν, to the north of M.) probably near the great plain of Judah, west of Jerusalem, toward the sea; הָעֹבְרִים ׳ג Ezekiel 39:11, east of Dead Sea (Hi Sm), Co reads הָעֲבָרִים ׳ג f. name to be changed to הֲמוֺןגּֿוֺג ׳ג Ezekiel 39:11,15. Most frequently g. גֵּי הִנֹּם Joshua 15:8; Joshua 18:16; Nehemiah 11:30, גֵּי בֶןהִֿנֹּם Joshua 15:8; Joshua 18:16; 2 Kings 23:10 Qr (Kt ׳גי בני ה) 2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31,32; Jeremiah 19:2,6; Jeremiah 32:35; valley southwest & south of Jerusalem (RobBR ii. 273 f.), where incense was burned, and children were offered in sacrifice to 'Molech.' Others identify with the TyropÊon valley, compare RSSemitic i. 353; see further הִנֹּם, תֹּפֶת. Topical Lexicon Overview of Usageגַּיְא (valley, ravine) appears about sixty times, spanning the historical books, poetic literature, and prophets. When Scripture depicts a literal depression in the landscape, it often layers that setting with spiritual meaning: conflict, refuge, judgment, or hope. The word is flexible enough to describe narrow gorges such as Hinnom, wide basins like Elah, and dramatic prophetic chasms such as the future valley opened on the Mount of Olives. Israel’s Physical Topography 1. Southern Highlands 2. Shephelah and Coastal Foothills 3. Central and Northern Regions Battles and Deliverance Valleys in the biblical narrative become theatres of war that magnify divine intervention: Idolatry and Judgment The Valley of Hinnom, or Ge-Hinnom, epitomizes defilement. Kings Ahaz and Manasseh burned their children there (2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6). Josiah desecrated the site (2 Kings 23:10), making it a symbol of final judgment that Jesus later evokes (Gehenna). Jeremiah labels the same locale “Valley of Slaughter” (Jeremiah 19:6) because the rebellion of Judah will turn their sacred grove into a mass grave. Comfort and Presence The same noun frames the believer’s deepest consolation: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4). The valley is not an obstacle to communion with God; it becomes the arena where His shepherding care is most palpable. Prophetic Hope 1. Reversal of Topography “Every valley shall be lifted up” (Isaiah 40:4). Exile ends not only with a highway of return but with cosmic leveling that signals the arrival of divine glory. 2. Door of Hope Hosea’s pledge, “make the Valley of Achor a door of hope” (Hosea 2:15), reinterprets a scene of ancient defeat as the threshold of covenant renewal. 3. Eschatological Escape Zechariah’s split mountain forms a new valley so that “you will flee by My mountain valley” (Zechariah 14:5). What once trapped armies now affords deliverance for the faithful remnant. Worship and Spiritual Formation Psalmists and prophets employ גַּיְא to cultivate humility: valleys symbolize lowliness before God, inviting Him to “lift up the humble” (cf. Psalm 147:6). Corporate worship texts remember historic valleys—Achor, Elah, Hinnom—to confess past failures and celebrate present mercy. Applications for Ministry • Shepherding: Valleys represent seasons of vulnerability; leaders model God’s presence by accompanying believers through grief, doubt, or trial. Key References Genesis 26:17; Deuteronomy 8:7; Joshua 7:24–26; Joshua 10:11–12; Judges 7:8; 1 Samuel 17:2; 2 Samuel 5:22; 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 60:1; Isaiah 40:4; Jeremiah 7:31; Ezekiel 32:5; Hosea 2:15; Joel 3:12; Zechariah 14:4–5. Forms and Transliterations בְּגֵ֣י בְּגֵ֣יא בְּגֵ֥יא בְּגֵ֪יא בְּגֵיא־ בַּגַּ֔יְא בַּגַּ֗יְא בַּגָּ֔יְא בַגַּיְ֙ בגי בגיא בגיא־ גֵּ֖י גֵּ֖יא גֵּ֣י גֵּ֣יא גֵּ֤י גֵּ֥י גֵּ֥יא גֵּ֨אָי֜וֹת גֵּ֨י גֵּֽיא־ גֵּי־ גֵֽי־ גֶּיא֙ גַ֔יְא גאיות גי גי־ גיא גיא־ הַגֵּאָי֖וֹת הַגֵּאָי֛וֹת הַגַּ֖יְא הַגַּ֜יְא הַגַּ֜יא הַגַּיְא֙ הַגָּ֑יְא הַגֵּאָיֹ֑ות הגאיות הגיא וְגֵ֣יא וְגֵאוֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ וְהַגַּ֖י וְהַגַּ֖יְא וְלַגֵּאָי֗וֹת וְלַגֵּאָי֜וֹת וְלַגֵּאָיֹ֗ות וּבְגֵ֨י ובגי וגאותיך וגיא והגי והגיא ולגאיות לַגַּי֙ לגי bag·gay bag·gāy ḇag·gay baggay baggāy ḇaggay bə·ḡê bə·ḡê- bəḡê bəḡê- begei Gay ḡay ge gê gê- ḡê- gê’āyōwṯ gê·’ā·yō·wṯ geaYot gei hag·gay hag·gāy hag·gê·’ā·yō·wṯ hagGai haggay haggāy haggê’āyōwṯ haggeaYot lag·gay lagGai laggay ū·ḇə·ḡê ūḇəḡê uveGei vaggaY veGei vegeoTeicha vehagGai vehagGay velaggeaYot wə·ḡê wə·ḡê·’ō·w·ṯe·ḵā wə·hag·gay wə·lag·gê·’ā·yō·wṯ wəḡê wəḡê’ōwṯeḵā wəhaggay wəlaggê’āyōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 21:20 HEB: וּמִבָּמ֗וֹת הַגַּיְא֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה NAS: and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the land KJV: And from Bamoth [in] the valley, that [is] in the country INT: Bamoth to the valley is in land Deuteronomy 3:29 Deuteronomy 4:46 Deuteronomy 34:6 Joshua 8:11 Joshua 15:8 Joshua 15:8 Joshua 18:16 Joshua 18:16 Joshua 19:14 Joshua 19:27 1 Samuel 13:18 1 Samuel 17:3 1 Samuel 17:52 2 Samuel 8:13 2 Kings 2:16 2 Kings 14:7 2 Kings 23:10 1 Chronicles 4:14 1 Chronicles 4:39 1 Chronicles 18:12 2 Chronicles 14:10 2 Chronicles 25:11 2 Chronicles 26:9 2 Chronicles 28:3 60 Occurrences |
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