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גָּרַס

𐤂𐤓𐤎

gâraç

H1638 verb

SILEX Entry

Root גּרַס to grind, crush, break apart

Definition

To grind or crush by rubbing, to reduce a substance to small particles by mechanical action; in figurative contexts, to break down or dissolve something (often abstract, such as an argument or the opposition). The primary sense is to break down a solid substance into finer parts through persistent force or friction.

Semantic Range

to grind (as grain), to crush into small pieces, to break down by friction, to dissolve or crush (intransitively, figuratively), to subdue or destroy (figuratively)

Root / Etymology

Root גָּרַס (g-r-s); the root conveys the sense of grinding, crushing, or breaking down into smaller components through rubbing or friction. The verb form reflects the concrete action of grinding (as with grain or similar substances). There are no securely attested cognates in other Semitic languages, suggesting a primary or uniquely Hebrew nuance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

גָּרַס occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, typically in the context of grinding food substances, such as grain, by mechanical means like with mortar and pestle (e.g., Numbers 11:8). In some instances, it is used metaphorically for breaking down or destroying abstract things, such as ideas or pride. The term is distinct from other verbs of grinding or crushing (such as טחן, 'to grind at a mill'), as גָּרַס often highlights the act of reducing to smaller, consumable bits through friction rather than pulverization by impact. English translations sometimes render it with 'crush,' 'grind,' or 'break,' but 'grind' better captures the nuance of rubbing or persistent breaking down. In later Hebrew, the root develops further, appearing in Rabbinic and Modern Hebrew for both literal and figurative sense (e.g., 'to study intensively,' originally in the sense of 'to chew over' words or texts), but this is not attested in the biblical corpus.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to crush; also (intransitively and figuratively) to dissolve; break.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גרס (g-r-s) — to grind, crush, break apart

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1638-02 וַ/יַּגְרֵ֤ס vayageres HC/Vhw3ms and he ground and he caused to crush 1
H1638-01 גָּרְסָ֣ה garesah HVqp3fs is crushed she crushed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1638-01 Psalms 119:20 גָּרְסָ֣ה garesah HVqp3fs is crushed she crushed
H1638-02 Lamentations 3:16 וַ/יַּגְרֵ֤ס vayageres HC/Vhw3ms and he ground and he caused to crush
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