גָּרַע
𐤂𐤓𐤏
gâraʻ
H1639 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To decrease or diminish, to take away or subtract from a quantity, amount, or status; to reduce, withhold, or take away a portion or share, often in legal, ritual, or narrative contexts. Used for literal subtraction (quantities, resources) as well as metaphorical diminution (social status, rights, blessings).
Semantic Range
to diminish, to subtract, to take away, to reduce, to withhold, to cut back, to make less, to decrease (share, portion, quantity, rights, status)
Root / Etymology
From the root גָּרַע, which at the root level means 'to diminish, reduce, cut back.' The derived verb form continues this core sense, generally referring to the act of lessening, reducing, or subtracting in various contexts. No solid evidence of an older etymology; the root clearly denotes 'making smaller' in contrast to roots expressing 'increase' (e.g., יסף, רבה).
Historical & Contextual Notes
גָּרַע frequently appears in legislative or ritual contexts where it refers to not subtracting from something (such as commandments, Deuteronomy 4:2), or not decreasing a share, quota, or prescribed offering (Numbers 9:7, Exodus 5:8). It can also refer to the diminishing of status or rights (Leviticus 27:18). The verb appears in both concrete (physical removal, reduction of resources or portions) and abstract/legal contexts (withholding of birthright/rights/status). In the Israelite legal system, 'to diminish' a person's portion or rights could have familial or tribal implications. The nuance is always subtractive: not general removal or restraining (which other verbs, e.g., עצר or חסך, may express), but a making less, a deduction, or a reduction. English translations such as 'take away' or 'withhold' sometimes obscure this core idea of decreasing or subtracting; modern readers should note that the term emphasizes the lessening of what is due, allotted, or described. The word does not have significant semantic changes in post-exilic or late biblical periods, and is consistently used in both literal and legal/formulaic senses.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold; abate, clip, (di-) minish, do (take) away, keep back, restrain, make small, withdraw.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גרע (g-r-ʿ) — to diminish, reduce, subtract, take away
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4052 | מִגְרָעָה | setback ledges |
Word Forms
15 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1639-07 |
תִגְרְע֖וּ | tigereu | HVqi2mp |
shall you reduce | you will diminish | 3 |
H1639-02 |
גְּרוּעָֽה | geruah | HVqsfsa |
clipped | diminished | 2 |
H1639-11 |
וְ/תִגְרַ֥ע | vetigera | HC/Vqi2ms |
and diminish | and you will diminish | 2 |
H1639-15 |
יִגְרָֽע | yigera | HVqi3ms |
he shall diminish | he will diminish | 2 |
H1639-13 |
יִגָּרַ֤ע | yigara | HVNi3ms |
be taken away | he will be diminished | 2 |
H1639-06 |
תִגְרַ֖ע | tigera | HVqi2ms |
diminish | you diminish | 2 |
H1639-09 |
וְ/נִגְרַ֖ע | venigera | HC/VNq3ms |
and it shall be deducted | and he was diminished | 1 |
H1639-04 |
נִגָּרַ֗ע | nigara | HVNi1cp |
are we kept back | we are diminished | 1 |
H1639-08 |
וָ/אֶגְרַ֖ע | vaegera | HC/Vqw1cs |
and-I-diminished | and I reduced | 1 |
H1639-14 |
יִגָּרֵֽעַ | yigarea | HVNi3ms |
will be deducted | he will be diminished | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1639-07 |
Exodus 5:8 | תִגְרְע֖וּ | tigereu | HVqi2mp |
shall you reduce | you will diminish |
H1639-05 |
Exodus 5:11 | נִגְרָ֛ע | nigera | HVNrmsa |
will be reduced | being diminished |
H1639-07 |
Exodus 5:19 | תִגְרְע֥וּ | tigereu | HVqi2mp |
shall you reduce | you will diminish |
H1639-15 |
Exodus 21:10 | יִגְרָֽע | yigera | HVqi3ms |
he shall diminish | he will diminish |
H1639-09 |
Leviticus 27:18 | וְ/נִגְרַ֖ע | venigera | HC/VNq3ms |
and it shall be deducted | and he was diminished |
H1639-04 |
Numbers 9:7 | נִגָּרַ֗ע | nigara | HVNi1cp |
are we kept back | we are diminished |
H1639-13 |
Numbers 27:4 | יִגָּרַ֤ע | yigara | HVNi3ms |
be taken away | he will be diminished |
H1639-10 |
Numbers 36:3 | וְ/נִגְרְעָ֤ה | venigereah | HC/VNq3fs |
and will be taken away | and she was diminished |
H1639-14 |
Numbers 36:3 | יִגָּרֵֽעַ | yigarea | HVNi3ms |
will be deducted | he will be diminished |
H1639-13 |
Numbers 36:4 | יִגָּרַ֖ע | yigara | HVNi3ms |
it will be taken away | he will be diminished |