What does גַּיְא · צַלְמָוֶת mean in the Bible?
גַּיְא · צַלְמָוֶת is a Hebrew phrase meaning "a ravine or valley of death-shadow, deep gloom, mortal threat".
Hebrew · H1516, H6757
גֵּיא צַלְמָוֶת
A gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) · shade of death , i.e. the grave (figuratively, calamity )
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
גַּיְא H1516 a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
Pronunciation gayĕʾ
A deep, narrow valley defined by steep sides rather than flowing water or seasonal drainage
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צַלְמָוֶת H6757 shade of death , i.e. the grave (figuratively, calamity )
Pronunciation ṣalmāweṯ
Metaphorical darkness evoking death's proximity; captures existential dread without naming death directly, used of grave dangers and divine judgment.
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What does גֵּיא צַלְמָוֶת (ge tsalmavet) mean in the Bible?
גַּיְא · צַלְמָוֶת is a Hebrew phrase meaning "a ravine or valley of death-shadow, deep gloom, mortal threat".
Full entry for גֵּיא צַלְמָוֶת (H1516, H6757) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H1516, H6757?
H1516, H6757 is connected to 80 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. a ravine or valley of death-shadow, deep gloom, mortal threat
Strong's H1516, H6757
Lexical occurrences 80 verses Source Gloss
a ravine or valley of death-shadow, deep gloom, mortal threat
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
גֵּיא צַלְמָוֶת is built from this root:
גֵּוָה H1466
Cross-Language Connections
Greek words that correspond to or develop the meaning of this Hebrew word in the New Testament.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain