What does גָּוַע mean in the Bible?
e. (by implication) expire".
Hebrew · H1478
גָּוַע
To breathe out , i.e. (by implication) expire
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גָּוַעH1478
What does גָּוַע mean in the Bible?
גָּוַע is a Hebrew word meaning "to breathe out , i.e. (by implication) expire".
Full entry for גָּוַע (H1478) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1478?
The BSB source-word alignment has 24 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and die (2), perished (2), . . . (1), [and] perish (1), and breathed his last (1).
Where does גָּוַע appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 6:17. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (8), Genesis (6), Numbers (5), Psalms (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand die2×Job 13:19, Job 36:12
perished2×Genesis 7:21, Lamentations 1:19
. . .1×Numbers 20:3
[and] perish1×Zechariah 13:8
and breathed his last1×Genesis 49:33
and near death1×Psalms 88:15
breathed his last1×Genesis 35:29
breathes his last1×Job 14:10
going to perish1×Numbers 17:13
had died1×Numbers 20:29
he breathed his last1×Genesis 25:8
I die1×Job 27:5
I will die1×Job 29:18
Oh, that I had died1×Job 10:18
Then he breathed his last1×Genesis 25:17
they die1×Psalms 104:29
we are perishing1×Numbers 17:12
we had perished1×Numbers 20:3
who perished1×Joshua 22:20
why did I not die1×Job 3:11
will perish1×Genesis 6:17
would perish1×Job 34:15
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 6:17יִגְוָֽע׃towill perishVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 7:21וַיִּגְוַ֞עtoperishedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 25:8וַיִּגְוַ֨עtohe breathed his lastConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 25:17וַיִּגְוַ֣עtoThen he breathed his lastConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 35:29וַיִּגְוַ֨עtobreathed his lastConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 49:33וַיִּגְוַ֖עtoand breathed his lastConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 17:12גָּוַ֛עְנוּtowe are perishingVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralNumbers 17:13לִגְוֺֽעַ׃סtogoing to perishPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructNumbers 20:3גָוַ֛עְנוּtowe had perishedVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralNumbers 20:3בִּגְוַ֥עto. . .Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 6:17
Aligned rows24
Books represented7
Genesis6Numbers5Joshua1Job8Psalms2Lamentations1Zechariah1
Source forms
אֶגְוָ֑ע2x’eḡ·wā‘Job 27:5, Job 29:18
גָוַ֖ע2xḡā·wa‘Numbers 20:29, Joshua 22:20
וְאֶגְוָֽע׃2xwə·’eḡ·wā‘Job 3:11, Job 13:19
וַיִּגְוַ֨ע2xway·yiḡ·wa‘Genesis 25:8, Genesis 35:29
וַיִּגְוַ֖ע2xway·yiḡ·wa‘Genesis 49:33, Job 14:10
אֶ֝גְוַ֗ע1x’eḡ·wa‘Job 10:18
בִּגְוַ֥ע1xbiḡ·wa‘Numbers 20:3
גָּוָ֑עוּ1xgā·wā·‘ūLamentations 1:19
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular6xGenesis 7:21, Genesis 25:8, Genesis 25:17, Genesis 35:29
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular3xJob 10:18, Job 27:5, Job 29:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular2xJob 3:11, Job 13:19
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xGenesis 6:17, Job 34:15
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural2xNumbers 17:12, Numbers 20:3
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xNumbers 20:29, Joshua 22:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xJob 36:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xPsalms 88:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to breathe out , i.e. (by implication) expire
Source Gloss
to breathe out , i.e. (by implication) expire
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to breathe out, i.e. (by implication) expire BDB: expire Usage: die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms11
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense11×
ImperfectJob 10:18 · Job 27:5 · Job 29:18 · Gen 6:17 · Job 34:15 · Zech 13:86×
PerfectJosh 22:20 · Num 20:29 · Num 17:27 · Num 20:3 · Lam 1:195×
Word Origins
גָּוַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.