Lexical Summary gamar: come to an end, accomplish, accomplishes Original Word: גָּמַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cease, come to an end, fail, perfect, perform A primitive root; to end (in the sense of completion or failure) -- cease, come to an end, fail, perfect, perform. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to end, come to an end, complete NASB Translation accomplish (1), accomplishes (1), ceases (1), come to an end (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs גָּמַר verb end, come to an end, complete (only Psalms) (Late Hebrew id. complete; Assyrian gamâru LotzTP.Register & derivatives COTGloss and others; Aramaic גְּמַר,  ; Ethiopic  (II); compare also Arabic  collect, assemble) — Qal Perfect ׳גּ Psalm 12:2; Psalm 77:9; Imperfect יִגְמֹר Psalm 138:8; יִגְמָרֿ Psalm 7:10; Participle גֹּמֵר Psalm 57:3; — 1 come to an end, be no more Psalm 7:10; Psalm 12:2 ("" [מָּסַס]); Psalm 77:9 ("" אָפֵס). 2 transitivebring to an end, complete, אֵל גֹּמֵר עָלָ֑י Psalm 57:3 God that completeth, accomplisheth, for me (ᵐ5 Gr Bi גמל, & so Che doubtfully), יִגְמֹר בַּעֲדִי ׳י Psalm 138:8 . Topical Lexicon Root Idea and Range of Meaning The verb גָּמַר points to bringing something to its full and finished state. In Scripture it is used of ending evil, completing a purpose, or fulfilling a covenantal promise. The nuance is not merely cessation, but consummation: what God—or men—began is carried through to its intended outcome. Canonical Distribution All five occurrences appear in the Psalms, a book that repeatedly contrasts the transience of human endeavor with the steadfast faithfulness of God. The concentration in this hymnbook underscores the word’s devotional character, inviting worshipers to trust the Lord who both initiates and completes His works. Usage in Individual Psalms • Psalm 7:9 – David entreats, “Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous”. Here גָּמַר expresses the plea that God bring wickedness to its definitive conclusion. Evil will not simply diminish; it will reach its terminus under divine judgment. Theological Themes 1. Divine Faithfulness: Two texts (Psalm 57:2; Psalm 138:8) explicitly join גָּמַר to God’s “purpose” (גְּמַר, feminine noun; cf. Psalm 57:2) showing that the Lord’s plans are self-effecting. Historical Setting Four of the five psalms are Davidic, composed in contexts ranging from personal peril (Psalm 57) to corporate worship (Psalm 138). Psalm 77 comes from Asaph’s later Levitical line. Each setting shares a common backdrop of crisis—political threat, moral decay, national calamity—where the psalmist looks beyond immediate realities to the ultimate finish God guarantees. Christological Foreshadowing The New Testament repeatedly affirms that in Jesus Christ every divine purpose is brought to completion (John 17:4; Philippians 1:6). When on the cross He declared, “It is finished,” He employed the Greek counterpart (τετέλεσται) to גָּמַר, sealing the redemptive work anticipated in these psalms. Thus, each Old Testament occurrence subtly gestures forward to the Messiah who consummates the Father’s will. Practical Ministry Applications • Assurance in Prayer: Like David, believers can plead for the ending of evil and trust that God will consummate righteousness. Conclusion גָּמַר serves as a concise theological witness: the Creator who inaugurates history and redemption will assuredly see them through to their ordained consummation, silencing evil, sustaining His people, and fulfilling every promise. Forms and Transliterations גָּ֥מַר גָמַ֣ר גֹּמֵ֥ר גמר יִגְמָר־ יִגְמֹ֪ר יגמר יגמר־ gā·mar ḡā·mar gaMar gāmar ḡāmar gō·mêr goMer gōmêr yiḡ·mār- yiḡ·mōr yiḡmār- yigmor yiḡmōrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 7:9 HEB: יִגְמָר־ נָ֬א רַ֨ע ׀ NAS: of the wicked come to an end, but establish KJV: of the wicked come to an end; but establish INT: come O the evil Psalm 12:1 Psalm 57:2 Psalm 77:8 Psalm 138:8 5 Occurrences |
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