Lexical Summary gasham: To rain, to cause rain, to shower Original Word: גָּשַׁם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cause to rain A primitive root; to shower violently -- (cause to) rain. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from geshem Definition to rain NASB Translation give rain (1), rained (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [גשׁם] verb denominative (compare Late Hebrew Qal Passive participle & Hoph`al) — Pu`al Perfect3feminine singular גֻּשְׁמָ֯ה Ezekiel 22:24 be rained upon (גֻּשְׁמָהּ Baer, but see Ke Sm). Hiph`il cause or send rain, Participle מַגְשִׁמִים Jeremiah 14:22. Topical Lexicon Scriptural Occurrence The verb גָּשַׁם surfaces only once in the Old Testament, Jeremiah 14:22. In that drought–lament the prophet asks, “Are there any among the idols of the nations who can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are You not the LORD our God? Therefore we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things”. By choosing this rarely used term, Jeremiah sharpens the contrast between powerless idols, impersonal ‘heavens,’ and the living covenant God who alone can command the skies. Divine Sovereignty over the Natural Order Rain was—and remains—an uncontrollable element of creation. In Scripture it becomes a signature of God’s sovereignty. The unique appearance of גָּשַׁם underscores that no secondary power can duplicate Yahweh’s authority. Leviticus 26:4 and Deuteronomy 11:14 speak of rain as a covenant blessing, dispensed according to obedience; conversely, its withholding is a covenant curse (Deuteronomy 28:24). Jeremiah’s generation, suffering drought because of national sin (Jeremiah 14:1), is driven back to this foundational truth: repentance, not ritual, restores the rain. Prophetic and Historical Context Jeremiah ministered during the last decades of Judah’s monarchy. Political alliances and syncretistic worship proliferated, yet none of the surrounding nations’ gods could end the drought. The single use of גָּשַׁם functions as a literary spotlight in the prophet’s plea. By invoking the verb, Jeremiah condemns idolatry and reiterates that the fate of Judah’s crops, economy, and even survival hangs on covenant fidelity, not international treaties or agricultural techniques. Rain as Eschatological Signpost Several prophets extend the motif of divinely controlled rain toward future hope. Joel 2:23 promises “the autumn and spring rains as before,” linking physical precipitation with spiritual outpouring (Joel 2:28). Zechariah 10:1 urges post-exilic Judah, “Ask the LORD for rain,” reinforcing dependence even after return from exile. Jeremiah’s lone use of גָּשַׁם is thus a seed that later prophets cultivate into a broader eschatological vision. Christological and New-Covenant Implications The New Testament continues the theme. Jesus affirms in Matthew 5:45 that the Father “sends rain on the righteous and the wicked,” embedding common grace in daily weather. Paul’s sermon at Lystra credits God, “giving you rains from heaven” (Acts 14:17). James 5:7–18 welds patience in suffering with prayer for rain, recalling Elijah’s example. Each passage rests on the premise highlighted by גָּשַׁם: only God brings rain, and He does so for moral and redemptive purposes. Ministry Applications 1. Intercessory Prayer: Congregations in agrarian or drought-prone regions may follow Jeremiah’s model, uniting confession with petitions for rain. Conclusion Though גָּשַׁם appears only once, its placement in Jeremiah 14:22 crystallizes a biblical worldview: heaven’s waters answer solely to the Lord. From Sinai’s covenant stipulations to the prophetic hope of latter rains, and from Christ’s teaching to the apostolic witness, Scripture consistently portrays rainfall as both a physical necessity and a spiritual barometer. The verb therefore invites believers of every age to humble dependence on the God who “opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16). Forms and Transliterations מַגְשִׁמִ֔ים מגשמים maḡ·ši·mîm magshiMim maḡšimîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 14:22 HEB: בְּהַבְלֵ֤י הַגּוֹיִם֙ מַגְשִׁמִ֔ים וְאִם־ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם NAS: of the nations who give rain? Or KJV: of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens INT: the idols of the nations give can the heavens 1 Occurrence |
    |