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גְּבֶרֶת

𐤂𐤁𐤓𐤕

gᵉbereth

H1404 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A woman of high social status or authority, especially one who exercises authority over other women or a household; often signifying a noblewoman or 'mistress' in the sense of the female head of a household or estate. The term can also refer to a female sovereign or lady of rank.

Semantic Range

mistress of a household, woman of authority, female superior or lady-in-charge, noblewoman, lady

Root / Etymology

גברת is formed from the root גבר (g-b-r), meaning 'to be strong, mighty,' combined with a feminine ending. The underlying root conveys strength or might, while the derived noun here denotes a woman possessing a high or commanding position, either by birth or acquired status.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Within the Hebrew Bible, גברת is used to describe women of elevated status, such as Sarai (Genesis 16:4, 8, 9), in relation to her servant Hagar. Its usage primarily appears in contexts where there is a clear social hierarchy among women—such as a matron or mistress exerting authority over bondswomen or domestics. The term is not interchangeable with more general words for 'woman' (such as אשה), nor with words denoting royal queens (such as מלכה, though there can be overlap if authority is the focus). In later Hebrew, the term evolved toward a generic 'lady' or polite term for a woman, but this usage is not present in the biblical texts. English translations often render גברת as 'mistress' or 'lady', but these can import post-biblical connotations; the original sense emphasizes social authority and household hierarchy. In all its biblical occurrences, the context is one of servitude versus authority—never an abstract or honorific use. The word does not denote religious or ethnic identity.

Translation Consistency

primary "lady" 4 occurrences

'Lady' best captures the typical sense of גְּבֶרֶת as a woman of rank or authority (mistress of a household, noblewoman, female superior) while avoiding the modern sexual connotations of 'mistress.' It is natural English, neutral, and fits the SILEX range; it also aligns with the majority renderings ('mistress'/'lady') but favors the clearer, less ambiguous term for consistent use.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"mistress" (5x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of גְּבִיר; mistress; lady, mistress.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

גבר (Gever) — to be strong, to prevail, to be mighty

Root גבר to be strong, powerful, prevail
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1368 גִּבּוֹר the mighty ones
H1369 גְּבוּרָה in mighty strength
H1370 גְּבוּרָה and the might
H1376 גְּבִיר mighty master
H1377 גְּבִירָה the ruling lady

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1404-03 גְּבִרְתָּ֔/הּ geviretah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her mistress her mighty lady her mistress 4
H1404-01 גְבָ֑רֶת gevaret HNcfsa mistress mighty lady mighty lady 1
H1404-02 גְּבֶ֖רֶת geveret HNcfsc lady mighty lady of lady 1
H1404-04 גְּבִרְתֵּ֑/ךְ geviretekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs your mistress your lady your lady 1
H1404-05 גְּבִרְתִּ֔/י gevireti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my mistress my lady my lady 1
H1404-06 כַּ/גְּבִרְתָּ֑/הּ kageviretah HRd/Ncfsc/Sp3fs so with her mistress like her lady as her mistress 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1404-03 Genesis 16:4 גְּבִרְתָּ֖/הּ geviretah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her mistress her mighty lady her mistress
H1404-05 Genesis 16:8 גְּבִרְתִּ֔/י gevireti HNcfsc/Sp1cs my mistress my lady my lady
H1404-04 Genesis 16:9 גְּבִרְתֵּ֑/ךְ geviretekhe HNcfsc/Sp2fs your mistress your lady your lady
H1404-03 2 Kings 5:3 גְּבִרְתָּ֔/הּ geviretah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her mistress her mighty lady her mistress
H1404-06 Isaiah 24:2 כַּ/גְּבִרְתָּ֑/הּ kageviretah HRd/Ncfsc/Sp3fs so with her mistress like her lady as her mistress
H1404-02 Isaiah 47:5 גְּבֶ֖רֶת geveret HNcfsc lady mighty lady of lady
H1404-01 Isaiah 47:7 גְבָ֑רֶת gevaret HNcfsa mistress mighty lady mighty lady
H1404-03 Psalms 123:2 גְּבִ֫רְתָּ֥/הּ geviretah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her mistress her mighty lady her mistress
H1404-03 Proverbs 30:23 גְּבִרְתָּֽ/הּ geviretah HNcfsc/Sp3fs her mistress her mighty lady her mistress
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