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גְּשׁוּרִי

𐤂𐤔𐤅𐤓𐤉

Gᵉshûwrîy

H1651 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גשר to bridge, to join (although here the root is likely irrelevant; the term is gentilicial, based on the place name Geshur)

Definition

Demonym designating an inhabitant of Geshur, a small Aramean kingdom or district located northeast of the Israelite territories during the monarchic period. Used in the Hebrew Bible to refer both to individual Geshurites and collectively to the people-group or polity of Geshur. The term identifies persons by their political, geographic, and sometimes ethnic association with Geshur rather than indicating religious or broader cultural identity.

Semantic Range

inhabitant of Geshur, person from Geshur, polity member of Geshur, collective: the Geshurites

Root / Etymology

Formed from the place-name גְּשׁוּר (Geshur) by adding the characteristic gentilic suffix יִ ('-i'), indicating origin or affiliation. The underlying root for גְּשׁוּר is uncertain, and its meaning is unclear; it likely bears no connection to native Hebrew roots beyond foreign toponym adoption.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גְּשׁוּרִי refers exclusively to people associated with Geshur, notably in references to the territory's neighboring status (e.g., Josh 12:5; 13:2, 11, 13) and its interactions or relationships with Israel (e.g., marriage alliances, see 2 Sam 3:3; 13:37-38). The region's population is distinct from Israelites, and the term never denotes Israelites inhabiting Geshur nor does it carry later religious connotations. The designation functions strictly as a territorial or ethnopolitical label, not a religious or tribal identifier, and is used in the context of the First Temple period's geopolitical landscape. English translations often render as 'Geshurite' or 'inhabitant of Geshur,' which accurately reflects the term's contextual scope.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

patrial from גְּשׁוּר; a Geshurite (also collectively) or inhabitants of Geshur; Geshuri, Geshurites.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גשר (g-š-r) — to bridge, to join (root meaning likely unrelated to the gentilic use)

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1651-01 הַ/גְּשׁוּרִ֖י hageshuri HTd/Ngmsa the Geshurites the Geshurite 6

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1651-01 Deuteronomy 3:14 הַ/גְּשׁוּרִ֖י hageshuri HTd/Ngmsa Geshurite the Geshurite
H1651-01 Joshua 12:5 הַ/גְּשׁוּרִ֖י hageshuri HTd/Ngmsa of the Geshurite the Geshurite
H1651-01 Joshua 13:2 הַ/גְּשׁוּרִֽי hageshuri HTd/Ngmsa the Geshurites the Geshurite
H1651-01 Joshua 13:11 הַ/גְּשׁוּרִ֣י hageshuri HTd/Ngmsa of the Geshurites the Geshurite
H1651-01 Joshua 13:13 הַ/גְּשׁוּרִ֖י hageshuri HTd/Ngmsa the Geshurite the Geshurite
H1651-01 1 Samuel 27:8 הַ/גְּשׁוּרִ֥י hageshuri HTd/Ngmsa the Geshurites the Geshurite
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