1606. gearah
Lexical Summary
gearah: Gerah

Original Word: גְּעָרָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: g`arah
Pronunciation: gheh-aw-raw'
Phonetic Spelling: (gheh-aw-raw')
KJV: rebuke(-ing), reproof
NASB: rebuke, threat
Word Origin: [from H1605 (גָּעַר - rebuke)]

1. a chiding

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
rebukeing, reproof

From ga'ar; a chiding -- rebuke(-ing), reproof.

see HEBREW ga'ar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from gaar
Definition
a rebuke
NASB Translation
rebuke (13), threat (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
גְּעָרָה noun feminine rebukeProverbs 13:1 2t.; גַּעֲרַת Ecclesiastes 7:5 5t.; suffix גַּעֲרָֽתְךָ Psalm 18:16 + (suffixes 6 t.); —

1 of man Proverbs 13:1,8; Proverbs 17:10; Ecclesiastes 7:5; Isaiah 30:17 (twice in verse).

2 of God Job 26:11; Psalm 18:16 (= 2 Samuel 22:16) Psalm 76:7; Psalm 80:17; Psalm 104:7; Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 51:20; Isaiah 66:15.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Biblical Usage

The term occurs fifteen times, stretching from the historical books through Wisdom literature into the Prophets. It consistently conveys the idea of a forceful spoken intervention—whether by God, a human father, or a wise counselor—that arrests wrongdoing, halts chaos, and calls the hearer to account. The settings range from cosmic upheaval (2 Samuel 22:16) to household instruction (Proverbs 13:1), underscoring Scripture’s seamless portrayal of one Reality: the God whose word commands both galaxies and consciences.

Divine Authority Displayed through Rebuke

2 Samuel 22:16; Psalm 18:15; Job 26:11; Psalm 104:7 portray creation itself recoiling before God’s voice. “At the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils, the channels of the sea appeared” (Psalm 18:15). Such passages remind believers that the stability of the universe rests not on impersonal forces but on the personal sovereignty of its Creator.
Isaiah 50:2 announces the same power in redemptive history: “By My rebuke I dry up the sea; I turn rivers into a wilderness.” The Exodus pattern—chaos restrained for the sake of covenant mercy—previews the consummate deliverance wrought in Christ.

Judgment upon Nations and Armies

Psalm 76:6 records cavalry and chariot collapsing “at Your rebuke, O God of Jacob.” Isaiah 66:15 expands the scene: the coming Day of the Lord when “His rebuke” is executed “with flames of fire.” Rebuke here is not a mere verbal censure; it is the active judgment that dismantles military pride and vindicates divine holiness.

Corporate Discipline of the Covenant People

Isaiah 51:20 pictures Jerusalem’s sons “full of the LORD’s fury, the rebuke of your God,” explaining exile as paternal discipline. Psalm 80:16 pleads for mercy on the vine burned “at Your rebuke.” These texts frame national calamity as a severe mercy designed to restore covenant loyalty.

Cultivating Wisdom through Correction

Proverbs 13:1, 13:8, 17:10 and Ecclesiastes 7:5 relocate the term from battlefield to family room. “A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1). The righteous value corrective words more than entertainment (Ecclesiastes 7:5), revealing that teachability is a hallmark of godliness. The same voice that stills seas also reaches into daily relationships, shaping character through spoken truth.

Prophetic Warnings of Futility without Trust

Isaiah 30:17 twice forecasts Judah’s panic: “A thousand will flee at the threat of one.” When God’s people spurn His counsel, even minimal opposition triggers overwhelming fear. The passage exposes the emptiness of self-reliance and the inevitability of divine discipline for covenant breach.

Christological Echoes

In the Gospels, Jesus rebukes winds, fevers, and demons—acts resonant with the Old Testament portrait of Yahweh whose word stills oceans and routs enemies. The same authority that undid chaos in Genesis and silenced armies in Psalms is vested in the incarnate Son, validating His deity and assuring believers of ultimate victory.

Pastoral and Discipleship Implications

1. Proclaim the Word: God’s rebuke is His Word applied. Preaching that exposes sin and exalts grace mirrors the biblical pattern.
2. Embrace Correction: Congregations must prize godly admonition, seeing it as an instrument of love rather than shame (Proverbs 17:10).
3. Offer Hope after Discipline: Texts such as Isaiah 51:20–23 assure the penitent that rebuke is preparatory to comfort.
4. Intercede with Awe: Worship leaders can draw on Psalm 18 and Psalm 104 to awaken reverence for the divine voice that commands nature.

Guidelines for Personal Application

• Welcome Scripture’s searching voice; it is safer than the silence of divine withdrawal.
• Correct others with the goal of restoration, modeling the balance of firmness and compassion found in God’s own dealings.
• Anchor courage in the God whose single word can scatter thousands (Isaiah 30:17), confident that the battle is His.

Conclusion

From the trembling pillars of heaven to the humble hearth of family life, the biblical portrait of גְּעָרָה testifies that God’s spoken intervention is both terrifying and tender. It shatters resistance, purifies His people, and ultimately secures their salvation in Jesus Christ, in whom every divine rebuke finds its righteous resolution and every repentant heart finds rest.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּגַעֲרַ֣ת בְּגַעֲרָתִ֞י בגערת בגערתי גְּעָרָ֣ה גְּעָרָֽה׃ גַּעֲרַ֣ת גַּעֲרַ֥ת גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ גערה גערה׃ גערת גערתך וְגַעֲרָת֖וֹ וגערתו מִ֭גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ מִגַּעֲרַ֖ת מִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ מִגַּעֲרָתֽוֹ׃ מגערת מגערתו׃ מגערתך bə·ḡa·‘ă·rā·ṯî bə·ḡa·‘ă·raṯ bəḡa‘ăraṯ bəḡa‘ărāṯî begaaRat begaaraTi ga‘ăraṯ ga‘ărāṯəḵā ga·‘ă·rā·ṯə·ḵā ga·‘ă·raṯ gaaRat gaaRatecha gə‘ārāh gə·‘ā·rāh geaRah mig·ga·‘ă·rā·ṯə·ḵā mig·ga·‘ă·rā·ṯōw mig·ga·‘ă·raṯ migga‘ăraṯ migga‘ărāṯəḵā migga‘ărāṯōw miggaaRat miggaaRatecha miggaaraTo vegaaraTo wə·ḡa·‘ă·rā·ṯōw wəḡa‘ărāṯōw
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Samuel 22:16
HEB: מֹסְד֣וֹת תֵּבֵ֑ל בְּגַעֲרַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה מִנִּשְׁמַ֖ת
NAS: were laid bare By the rebuke of the LORD,
KJV: were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD,
INT: the foundations of the world the rebuke of the LORD the blast

Job 26:11
HEB: יְרוֹפָ֑פוּ וְ֝יִתְמְה֗וּ מִגַּעֲרָתֽוֹ׃
NAS: tremble And are amazed at His rebuke.
KJV: and are astonished at his reproof.
INT: tremble amazed his rebuke

Psalm 18:15
HEB: מוֹסְד֪וֹת תֵּ֫בֵ֥ל מִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה מִ֝נִּשְׁמַ֗ת
NAS: were laid bare At Your rebuke, O LORD,
KJV: were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD,
INT: and the foundations of the world your rebuke LORD the blast

Psalm 76:6
HEB: מִ֭גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב
NAS: At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
KJV: At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob,
INT: your rebuke God of Jacob

Psalm 80:16
HEB: בָאֵ֣שׁ כְּסוּחָ֑ה מִגַּעֲרַ֖ת פָּנֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵֽדוּ׃
NAS: They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
KJV: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
INT: fire is cut the rebuke of your countenance perish

Psalm 104:7
HEB: מִן־ גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְנוּס֑וּן מִן־
NAS: At Your rebuke they fled, At the sound
KJV: At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice
INT: At your rebuke fled At

Proverbs 13:1
HEB: לֹא־ שָׁמַ֥ע גְּעָרָֽה׃
NAS: does not listen to rebuke.
KJV: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
INT: does not listen to rebuke

Proverbs 13:8
HEB: לֹא־ שָׁמַ֥ע גְּעָרָֽה׃
NAS: hears no rebuke.
KJV: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
INT: no hears rebuke

Proverbs 17:10
HEB: תֵּ֣חַת גְּעָרָ֣ה בְמֵבִ֑ין מֵהַכּ֖וֹת
NAS: A rebuke goes deeper
KJV: A reproof entereth
INT: goes A rebuke has blows

Ecclesiastes 7:5
HEB: ט֕וֹב לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ גַּעֲרַ֣ת חָכָ֑ם מֵאִ֕ישׁ
NAS: to listen to the rebuke of a wise man
KJV: to hear the rebuke of the wise,
INT: is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise one

Isaiah 30:17
HEB: אֶחָ֗ד מִפְּנֵי֙ גַּעֲרַ֣ת אֶחָ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֛י
NAS: thousand [will flee] at the threat of one
KJV: [shall flee] at the rebuke of one;
INT: One at the threat of one at

Isaiah 30:17
HEB: אֶחָ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֛י גַּעֲרַ֥ת חֲמִשָּׁ֖ה תָּנֻ֑סוּ
NAS: [man]; You will flee at the threat of five,
KJV: at the rebuke of five
INT: of one at the threat of five will flee

Isaiah 50:2
HEB: לְהַצִּ֑יל הֵ֣ן בְּגַעֲרָתִ֞י אַחֲרִ֣יב יָ֗ם
NAS: up the sea with My rebuke, I make
KJV: to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up
INT: to deliver behold my rebuke dry the sea

Isaiah 51:20
HEB: חֲמַת־ יְהוָ֖ה גַּעֲרַ֥ת אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ׃
NAS: of the LORD, The rebuke of your God.
KJV: of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.
INT: of the wrath of the LORD the rebuke of your God

Isaiah 66:15
HEB: בְּחֵמָה֙ אַפּ֔וֹ וְגַעֲרָת֖וֹ בְּלַהֲבֵי־ אֵֽשׁ׃
NAS: with fury, And His rebuke with flames
KJV: with fury, and his rebuke with flames
INT: fury his anger and his rebuke flames of fire

15 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1606
15 Occurrences


bə·ḡa·‘ă·raṯ — 1 Occ.
bə·ḡa·‘ă·rā·ṯî — 1 Occ.
ga·‘ă·raṯ — 4 Occ.
ga·‘ă·rā·ṯə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
gə·‘ā·rāh — 3 Occ.
mig·ga·‘ă·raṯ — 1 Occ.
mig·ga·‘ă·rā·ṯə·ḵā — 2 Occ.
mig·ga·‘ă·rā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.
wə·ḡa·‘ă·rā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.

1605
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