Lexical Summary gaah: To rise up, to be exalted, to triumph Original Word: גָּעָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance low A primitive root; to bellow (as cattle) -- low. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to low NASB Translation low (1), lowing (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs גָּעָה verb low (of cattle) (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic גְּעָא,  ) — יִגְעֶהשֿׁוֺר Job 6:5; הָלֹךְ וְגָעוֺ 1 Samuel 6:12. Topical Lexicon Overview of the TermThe verb גָּעָה (gaʿāh, Strong’s H1600) depicts the vocal “lowing” of cattle. In the Hebrew Scriptures it functions both as a concrete description of animal sound and as a vehicle for conveying deeper theological, emotional, and ethical themes. Pastoral Imagery and Everyday Life In an agrarian society, the lowing of oxen was familiar background noise. It signaled basic needs—hunger, separation, distress—and thus became a fitting metaphor for human emotion. By limiting the term to two carefully chosen contexts, Scripture frames the sound not as random but as purposeful, inviting readers to notice what prompts the animals’ cry. • 1 Samuel 6:12 records cows “lowing as they went” while drawing the cart that carried the Ark of the Covenant back from Philistia. Their persistent cry underscores the cost of obedience: the cows leave their calves behind, yet continue straight on the God-appointed path. Theological Significance in Salvation History 1. Divine Sovereignty and Guidance In 1 Samuel 6 the Philistine diviners set up a test: if the cows go against their maternal instincts and head toward Israel, it will prove the Lord’s hand was behind the plagues. Their lowing highlights the internal tension—natural desire pulling one way, divine direction another. The narrative proclaims that the Lord can overrule nature itself to accomplish His redemptive purposes. 2. Authenticity of Lament Job’s appeal to animal behavior validates his right to lament. Just as an ox lows only when deprived of fodder, so a righteous sufferer’s cry is not evidence of rebellion but of authentic pain. The verse affirms that honest lament is compatible with faith, foreshadowing the Psalms of complaint and ultimately the groaning of creation described in Romans 8:22. Ethical and Devotional Implications • Obedience Despite Cost The lowing cows illustrate costly submission. Believers are called to follow the Lord’s direction even when natural affections or personal interests would lead elsewhere (cf. Matthew 10:37–39). • Discernment of Legitimate Complaint Job 6:5 warns against dismissing the cries of those in distress. Compassionate ministry listens for “lowing” that signals genuine need and responds with practical care (James 2:15–17). Literary and Symbolic Echoes Though גָּעָה appears only twice, its sound imagery resonates with wider biblical motifs: – The “roaring” or “groaning” of creation longing for redemption (Romans 8:22). – The sacrificial ox whose voice is stilled only when the offering is complete, prefiguring the silent submission of Christ (Isaiah 53:7; John 19:30). Historical Reception Early Jewish commentators noted the miraculous nature of the cows’ journey as proof of God’s rule over instinct. Church Fathers such as Augustine treated the episode allegorically: the Ark returns to its rightful place on the backs of creatures guided by God, picturing the Gospel’s advance through unlikely vessels. Reformers highlighted Job 6:5 to defend the legitimacy of lament in prayer. Contemporary Application Pastors and teachers may draw on גָּעָה to: Conclusion Although גָּעָה surfaces only twice in the Old Testament, its strategic placement amplifies themes of obedience, suffering, and divine sovereignty. The lowing of oxen becomes a call for God’s people to heed His direction, honor authentic cries of distress, and trust the Lord who guides both beasts and saints along His ordained paths. Forms and Transliterations וְגָע֔וֹ וגעו יִגְעֶה־ יגעהש־ vegaO wə·ḡā·‘ōw wəḡā‘ōw yiḡ‘ehōšō- yiḡ·‘e·hō·šō- yigehoShoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 6:12 HEB: הָלְכ֤וּ הָלֹךְ֙ וְגָע֔וֹ וְלֹא־ סָ֖רוּ NAS: along the highway, lowing as they went, KJV: the highway, lowing as they went, INT: went went lowing and did not turn Job 6:5 2 Occurrences |
    |