גַּחַר
𐤂𐤇𐤓
Gachar
H1515 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Gachar is a personal name referring to one of the families among the Nethinim—temple servants or associates—who returned from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem. The underlying meaning of the name is uncertain due to the root being unattested elsewhere; only the personal name is preserved in biblical texts. The name carries no inherent lexical meaning beyond denoting lineage or family association.
Semantic Range
personal name only; denotes a family or clan among the Nethinim; no extended lexical usage
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain. The spelling suggests derivation from an unused root, possibly גחר, but such a verb or noun is unattested in extant Hebrew sources. Strong's conjecture of a connection to 'hide' or 'lurker' is speculative and unsupported by evidence. The word appears exclusively as a personal name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The only appearance of גַּחַר (Gachar) is in the post-exilic lists (Ezra 2:47, Nehemiah 7:49), naming a family among the Nethinim, a group affiliated with temple service in the Second Temple period. The precise status and origin of the Nethinim are debated, but they are generally understood as hereditary temple servants, distinct from priests, Levites, and Israelites proper. The translation 'Gahar' in some English Bibles is a result of transliteration conventions. No known Semitic cognates or etymological parallels clarify the sense or origin of this name. There is no evidence that the name denotes a particular role, character trait, or origin, nor is there any connection to the later terms 'Jew' or 'Judean' in this context. The suggested meaning 'lurker' is not established; the name's function is solely as an identifier of a clan within the Nethinim.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to hide; lurker; Gachar, one of the Nethinim; Gahar.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גחר (g-ḥ-r) — uncertain; unattested root; possibly to hide, to lurk (conjectural)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1515-01 |
גַ֖חַר | gachar | HNp |
Gahar | Gachar | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1515-01 |
Ezra 2:47 | גַ֖חַר | gachar | HNp |
Gahar | Gachar |
H1515-01 |
Nehemiah 7:49 | גָֽחַר | gachar | HNp |
Gahar | Gachar |