Lexical Summary gaar: To rebuke, to reprove, to chide Original Word: גָּעַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance corrupt, rebuke, reprove A primitive root; to chide -- corrupt, rebuke, reprove. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to rebuke NASB Translation rebuke (9), rebuked (4), rebukes (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs גָּעַר verb rebuke (Aramaic גְּעַר  id., Ethiopic  cry out, Sabean יגער proper name, SabDenkmp. 29.30) — Isaiah 17:13; גָּעַרְתָּ Psalm 9:6 2t., etc.; Imperfect יִגְעַר Zechariah 3:2 3t., תִּגְעֲרוּ Ruth 2:16; Imperative גְּעַר Psalm 68:31; Infinitive מִגְּעָרֿ Isaiah 54:9; Participle גּוֺעֵר Nahum 1:4, גֹּעֵר Malachi 2:3; — with בְּ except Psalm 9:6; Psalm 68:31; Psalm 119:21; Malachi 2:3 where accusative; — 1 rebuke, father his son Genesis 37:10 (E), reapers Ruth Ruth 2:16, priest Jeremiah Jeremiah 29:27. 2 of God rebuking nations Psalm 9:6; Isaiah 17:13, proud Psalm 119:21, Satan Zechariah 3:2 (twice in verse), חית קנה Psalm 68:31, בָּאֹכֵל (the devouring swarm of locusts, restraining them) Malachi 3:11, the sea drying it up Psalm 106:9; Nahum 1:4, Zion Isaiah 54:9; הַזֶּרַע the seed (prevent the usual harvest) Malachi 2:3 (ᵐ5 Aq ᵑ9 הַזְּרֹעַ, the arm, namely, of priests, that they may not extend it to bless). Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope of גָּעַרגָּעַר conveys the authoritative act of “rebuking,” “reproving,” or “threatening” with the intent of restraining evil, correcting error, or asserting sovereign control. Its occurrences move along a continuum from ordinary human correction to the overwhelming, universe-shaking voice of the Lord. Familial and Social Rebuke Genesis 37:10 records the first occurrence, where Jacob “rebuked” Joseph for his dream. The context highlights parental responsibility to regulate youthful zeal while still discerning God’s unfolding plan (see verses 11–12). In Ruth 2:16 Boaz orders his men not to “rebuke” Ruth, protecting the vulnerable and modeling compassionate leadership. These passages ground גָּעַר in everyday relationships, teaching that rebuke, when righteous, safeguards order and dignity, and when withheld in mercy, upholds grace. Divine Rebuke in Worship and Warfare The Psalms present גָּעַר as a liturgical declaration of God’s victory: • Psalm 9:5 – “You have rebuked the nations; You have destroyed the wicked.” Here God’s rebuke is inseparable from covenant faithfulness. He subdues political powers, natural forces, and personal pride. Worshipers thus celebrate not only what God has done but what He continues to do whenever evil threatens His redeemed people. Prophetic Rebuke: Judgment and Restoration Isaiah and Jeremiah underscore God’s prerogative to silence nations and prophets alike. Isaiah 17:13 envisions hostile peoples scattering “as chaff before the wind” at the Lord’s rebuke, while Isaiah 54:9 assures post-exilic Israel that, as in Noah’s day, He will never again “rebuke” them in wrath—a promise of enduring peace fulfilled ultimately in the gospel. Jeremiah 29:27 exposes the failure of Shemaiah to “rebuke Jeremiah,” illustrating that refusing to confront error invites God’s censure. The prophetic books therefore treat גָּעַר as both the corrective voice within the covenant community and the thunderous decree over the nations. Priestly Rebuke and the Cosmic Courtroom Zechariah 3:2 twice records the Angel of the LORD declaring, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan!” The setting is a heavenly tribunal where Joshua the high priest stands polluted yet chosen. Divine rebuke silences the Accuser and anticipates the New Testament proclamation of justification by grace through the cross. Malachi applies the concept to priestly negligence and agricultural blight. In 2:3 God threatens, “I will rebuke your descendants,” exposing spiritual leadership to stern discipline. Conversely, Malachi 3:11 promises, “I will rebuke the devourer,” attaching material blessing to faithful tithes and demonstrating that God’s rebuke can both punish and protect. Rebuke over Creation Nahum 1:4 parallels Psalm 106:9: “He rebukes the sea and dries it up.” Whether the Nile in Egypt or the Red Sea at the Exodus, nature obeys. These texts foreshadow Jesus Christ, who “rebuked the wind and the raging waters” (Luke 8:24), revealing the same divine authority invested in the incarnate Son. New Testament Continuity Though גָּעַר is Hebrew, its theological thread continues in Greek with epitimaō (e.g., Mark 1:25; 2 Timothy 4:2). The pattern remains: rebuke restrains demons, sickness, false doctrine, and moral decay. The church’s pastoral mandate to “reprove, rebuke, and encourage” stands on the Old Testament foundation of God’s holy confrontation with sin. Practical Ministry Application 1. Authority: Rebuke derives legitimacy from alignment with God’s character and Word, never mere personal irritation. The fourteen appearances of גָּעַר thus weave a unified testimony: the almighty God confronts disorder, protects His purposes, and shepherds His people through authoritative, effective, and ultimately redemptive rebuke. Forms and Transliterations גְּעַ֨ר גָּ֭עַרְתָּ גָּעַ֣רְתָּ גָעַ֔רְתָּ גֹעֵ֤ר גּוֹעֵ֤ר גוער גער גערת וְגָ֥עַר וְגָעַרְתִּ֤י וְיִגְעַ֤ר וַיִּגְעַ֣ר וַיִּגְעַר־ וּמִגְּעָר־ וגער וגערתי ויגער ויגער־ ומגער־ יִגְעַ֨ר יגער תִגְעֲרוּ־ תגערו־ gā‘artā ḡā‘artā gā·‘ar·tā ḡā·‘ar·tā gaArta gə‘ar gə·‘ar geAr ḡō‘êr ḡō·‘êr gō·w·‘êr goEr gōw‘êr ṯiḡ‘ărū- ṯiḡ·‘ă·rū- tigaru ū·mig·gə·‘ār- ūmiggə‘ār- umiggeor vaiyigar veGaar vegaarTi veyigAr way·yiḡ·‘ar way·yiḡ·‘ar- wayyiḡ‘ar wayyiḡ‘ar- wə·ḡā·‘ar wə·ḡā·‘ar·tî wə·yiḡ·‘ar wəḡā‘ar wəḡā‘artî wəyiḡ‘ar yiḡ‘ar yiḡ·‘ar yigArLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 37:10 HEB: וְאֶל־ אֶחָיו֒ וַיִּגְעַר־ בּ֣וֹ אָבִ֔יו NAS: and his father rebuked him and said KJV: and his father rebuked him, and said INT: and to his brothers rebuked and his father and said Ruth 2:16 Psalm 9:5 Psalm 68:30 Psalm 106:9 Psalm 119:21 Isaiah 17:13 Isaiah 54:9 Jeremiah 29:27 Nahum 1:4 Zechariah 3:2 Zechariah 3:2 Malachi 2:3 Malachi 3:11 14 Occurrences |
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