גָּעַשׁ
𐤂𐤏𐤔
gâʻash
H1607 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To shake with force, to quake or tremble; used of violent physical movement or agitation, typically concerning the earth (earthquake), but can also extend metaphorically to intense agitation or upheaval. The verb can describe literal physical shaking (such as that of the ground), or more figurative forms of turmoil.
Semantic Range
to shake violently (earthquake), to agitate with force, to tremble, to cause upheaval or turbulent disturbance (literal or figurative)
Root / Etymology
Root: געש. The root conveys the sense of strong and forceful movement, particularly shaking or quaking. The verb גָּעַשׁ is derived directly from this root and represents the act of vigorous shaking or agitation, most often applied to the earth but can be applied to other contexts of disturbance.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, גָּעַשׁ primarily appears in poetic and prophetic texts to denote the earth shaking, often as a manifestation of divine power, wrath, or cosmic disturbance (e.g., Judges 5:4; 2 Samuel 22:8; Psalms 18:7). Though occasionally used in non-literal contexts to describe turmoil or agitation among peoples (cf. Isaiah 24:19), it is overwhelmingly associated with seismic, natural events. The term is part of a word family that also includes nouns for 'quake' or 'earthquake.' Modern English translations usually render it as 'quake' or 'shake,' which adequately covers the semantic field when physical movement is intended, but may underrepresent its metaphorical richness in some contexts. It is distinct from similar roots such as רָעַשׁ (ra'ash), which can also mean 'to quake' but more often emphasizes noise or tumult.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to agitate violently; move, shake, toss, trouble.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
געש (g-ʿ-š) — to shake, to quake, to agitate violently
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1608 | גַּעַשׁ | Quaking Hill |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1607-03 |
וַ/יִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ | vayitegaashu | HC/Vtw3mp |
and they quaked | and they shook themselves violently | 3 |
H1607-07 |
יִֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ | yitegaashu | HVti3mp |
churn | they will shake themselves violently | 1 |
H1607-08 |
יִתְגֹּ֣עֲשׁוּ | yitegoashu | HVri3mp |
churn | they will quake violently | 1 |
H1607-04 |
וְ/הִֽתְגֹּֽעֲשׁ֖וּ | vehitegoashu | HC/Vrq3cp |
and they shall stagger | and they shook themselves violently | 1 |
H1607-06 |
יְגֹעֲשׁ֣וּ | yegoashu | HVPi3mp |
they are shaken | they will be violently shaken | 1 |
H1607-02 |
וַ/יִּתְגָּעַ֤שׁ | vayitegaash | HC/Vtw3ms |
and it shook | and he violently shook himself | 1 |
H1607-05 |
ו/תגעש | vtgsh | HC/Vqw3fs |
and it quaked | and she quaked violently | 1 |
H1607-01 |
וַ/תִּגְעַ֬שׁ | vatigeash | HC/Vqw3fs |
and it quaked | and she quaked violently | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1607-05 |
2 Samuel 22:8 | ו/תגעש | vtgsh | HC/Vqw3fs |
and it quaked | and she quaked violently |
H1607-02 |
2 Samuel 22:8 | וַ/יִּתְגָּעַ֤שׁ | vayitegaash | HC/Vtw3ms |
and it shook | and he violently shook himself |
H1607-03 |
2 Samuel 22:8 | וַ/יִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ | vayitegaashu | HC/Vtw3mp |
and they quaked | and they shook themselves violently |
H1607-03 |
Jeremiah 5:22 | וַ/יִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁוּ֙ | vayitegaashu | HC/Vtw3mp |
and-they-toss | and they shook themselves violently |
H1607-04 |
Jeremiah 25:16 | וְ/הִֽתְגֹּֽעֲשׁ֖וּ | vehitegoashu | HC/Vrq3cp |
and they shall stagger | and they shook themselves violently |
H1607-07 |
Jeremiah 46:7 | יִֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ | yitegaashu | HVti3mp |
churn | they will shake themselves violently |
H1607-08 |
Jeremiah 46:8 | יִתְגֹּ֣עֲשׁוּ | yitegoashu | HVri3mp |
churn | they will quake violently |
H1607-01 |
Psalms 18:8 | וַ/תִּגְעַ֬שׁ | vatigeash | HC/Vqw3fs |
and it quaked | and she quaked violently |
H1607-03 |
Psalms 18:8 | וַ֝/יִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁ֗וּ | vayitegaashu | HC/Vtw3mp |
and they quaked | and they shook themselves violently |
H1607-06 |
Job 34:20 | יְגֹעֲשׁ֣וּ | yegoashu | HVPi3mp |
they are shaken | they will be violently shaken |