גִּיחַ
𐤂𐤉𐤇
gîyach
H1518 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To burst forth, break out, or emerge with force, often used for the sudden emergence of water (as from a spring), the bringing forth of offspring, or the coming out of something into view. In extended usage, it can refer to the act of issuing forth or being brought up from a source or depth.
Semantic Range
to burst forth (of water); to break forth (as in birth); to emerge or issue out; to come forth with force (of anything rising or being brought up or out); to be brought up (from a well or depth), to labor to bring forth (as in childbirth)
Root / Etymology
Root גִּיחַ (ג-י-ח) is a primitive Hebrew root meaning 'to burst forth,' especially with energy or liquid force. The lexical forms גִּיחַ (gîyach) and its shortened form גֹּחַ convey this sense of forceful emergence. The root is distinct from similar verbs such as יצא (yatsa, 'to go out'), which can refer to more general emergence, without the nuance of force or pressure inherent in גִּיחַ.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical Hebrew, גִּיחַ commonly describes water emerging from underground (as in springs or fountains, e.g., Genesis 8:3), childbirth (Job 38:8, 'Who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst out from the womb?'), or something coming up out of the ground. The verb connotes an energetic, sometimes violent, bursting forth, as opposed to a calm emergence. It is less frequent than other verbs of emergence, and its use may convey vivid, even primordial, imagery, especially in poetic or wisdom texts. English translations sometimes render it as 'break forth,' 'burst out,' or 'issue,' but these can fail to capture the concrete force and spontaneity of the Hebrew term. The noun form, גֵּיחַ (geyach), is rare and refers to a spring or fountain, relating back to the root's core semantic field. Its usage is concentrated in poetic, sapiential, and some narrative contexts, with little shift in meaning across Israelite historical periods.
Translation Consistency
Covers the primary, typical sense of sudden emergence or issuing forth (as water from a spring: ‘spring up/spring forth’), while naturally extending to things coming into view or being brought up. More natural and broader than ‘gush’ or ‘burst’ and fits the common Biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
lemma גּיחַ missing vowel, corrected to גִּיחַ; or (shortened) גֹּחַ; a primitive root; to gush forth (as water), generally to issue; break forth, labor to bring forth, come forth, draw up, take out.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גיח (g-y-ḥ) — bursting forth, breaking out, forceful emergence
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1512 | גָּחוֹן | ventral underside |
| H1519 | גִּיחַ | causing to gush forth |
| H1520 | גִּיחַ | Gushing-Place |
| H1521 | גִּיחוֹן | at Gushing-Spring |
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1518-01 |
בְּ֝/גִיח֗/וֹ | begicho | HR/Vqc/Sp3ms |
when it burst forth | in his bursting forth | when it burst forth | 1 |
H1518-03 |
מֵגִ֥יחַ | megicha | HVhrmsa |
broke forth | one who causes to burst forth | one who bursts forth | 1 |
H1518-05 |
וַ/תָּ֣גַח | vatagach | HC/Vhw2ms |
you burst forth | you caused to burst forth | you caused to burst forth | 1 |
H1518-04 |
וָ/גֹ֛חִי | vagochi | HC/Vqv2fs |
and labor | and burst forth! | and labor | 1 |
H1518-02 |
גֹחִ֣/י | gochi | HVqrmsc/Sp1cs |
are the one who drew me out | my bursting-forth one | my one bringing out | 1 |
H1518-06 |
יָגִ֖יחַ | yagicha | HVqi3ms |
rushes | he bursts forth | it bursts forth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1518-03 |
Judges 20:33 | מֵגִ֥יחַ | megicha | HVhrmsa |
broke forth | one who causes to burst forth | one who bursts forth |
H1518-05 |
Ezekiel 32:2 | וַ/תָּ֣גַח | vatagach | HC/Vhw2ms |
you burst forth | you caused to burst forth | you caused to burst forth |
H1518-04 |
Micah 4:10 | וָ/גֹ֛חִי | vagochi | HC/Vqv2fs |
and labor | and burst forth! | and labor |
H1518-02 |
Psalms 22:10 | גֹחִ֣/י | gochi | HVqrmsc/Sp1cs |
are the one who drew me out | my bursting-forth one | my one bringing out |
H1518-01 |
Job 38:8 | בְּ֝/גִיח֗/וֹ | begicho | HR/Vqc/Sp3ms |
when it burst forth | in his bursting forth | when it burst forth |
H1518-06 |
Job 40:23 | יָגִ֖יחַ | yagicha | HVqi3ms |
rushes | he bursts forth | it bursts forth |