What does גַּיְא (gayĕʾ) mean in the Bible?
גַּיְא (gayĕʾ): A deep, narrow valley defined by steep sides rather than flowing water or seasonal drainage
Hebrew · H1516
גַּיְא
A gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
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גַּיְאH1516
Pronunciationgayĕʾ
What does גַּיְא (gayĕʾ) mean in the Bible?
גַּיְא (gayĕʾ): A deep, narrow valley defined by steep sides rather than flowing water or seasonal drainage
Full entry for גַּיְא (H1516) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1516?
The BSB source-word alignment has 60 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include in the valley (10), the Valley (8), valley (6), and valleys (3), through the Valley (3).
Where does גַּיְא (gayĕʾ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 21:20. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (10), Jeremiah (8), Joshua (7), 2 Chronicles (5).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itin the valley10×Deuteronomy 3:29, 2 Kings 14:7, 2 Kings 23:10, 1 Chronicles 18:12
the Valley8×1 Samuel 13:18, 2 Chronicles 26:9, Nehemiah 3:13, Nehemiah 11:30
valley6×Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:4, Isaiah 40:4, Ezekiel 31:12
and valleys3×Ezekiel 6:3, Ezekiel 36:4, Ezekiel 36:6
through the Valley3×Nehemiah 2:13, Nehemiah 2:15, Psalms 23:4
. . .2×Ezekiel 39:11, Ezekiel 39:15
in the Valley of Ben-hinnom2×Jeremiah 7:31, Jeremiah 32:35
of the valley2×1 Chronicles 4:39, Ezekiel 7:16
the Valley of Ben-hinnom2×Joshua 15:8, Joshua 18:16
the Valley of Hinnom2×Joshua 15:8, Joshua 18:16
with the valley2×Joshua 8:11, 1 Samuel 17:3
[it]1×Zechariah 14:5
against the Valley1×Isaiah 22:1
and in the Valley1×Nehemiah 11:35
and the Valley1×Joshua 19:27
and the Valley of Ben-hinnom1×Jeremiah 7:32
at the Valley1×Joshua 19:14
in a valley1×Deuteronomy 34:6
in the Valley of Salt1×2 Samuel 8:13
in your valleys1×Ezekiel 35:8
into the valley1×Micah 1:6
of Gath1×1 Samuel 17:52
of the valleys1×2 Kings 2:16
of those living in1×1 Chronicles 4:14
or the Valley1×Jeremiah 19:6
the valleys1×Ezekiel 32:5
to the valley1×Numbers 21:20
to the Valley of Salt1×2 Chronicles 25:11
while they were in the valley1×Deuteronomy 4:46
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 21:20הַגַּיְא֙toto the valleyArticle | Noun - common singularDeuteronomy 3:29בַּגָּ֔יְאtoin the valleyPreposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularDeuteronomy 4:46בַּגַּ֗יְאtowhile they were in the valleyPreposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularDeuteronomy 34:6בַגַּיְ֙toin a valleyPreposition-b, Article | Noun - common singularJoshua 8:11וְהַגַּ֖יtowith the valleyConjunctive waw, Article | Noun - common singularJoshua 15:8גֵּ֣יtothe Valley of Ben-hinnomNoun - proper - feminine singularJoshua 15:8גֵֽי־tothe Valley of HinnomNoun - proper - feminine singularJoshua 18:16גֵּ֣יtothe Valley of Ben-hinnomNoun - proper - feminine singularJoshua 18:16גֵּ֨יtothe Valley of HinnomNoun - proper - feminine singularJoshua 19:14גֵּ֖יtoat the ValleyNoun - proper - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowNumbers 21:20
Aligned rows60
Books represented15
Numbers1Deuteronomy3Joshua71 Samuel32 Samuel12 Kings31 Chronicles32 Chronicles5Nehemiah5Psalms2Isaiah5Jeremiah8Ezekiel10Micah1Zechariah3
Source forms
גֵּ֣יא6xgê1 Chronicles 4:14, 2 Chronicles 25:11, Isaiah 22:1, Isaiah 28:4
בְּגֵ֣יא5xbə·ḡê1 Chronicles 18:12, 2 Chronicles 28:3, Isaiah 22:5, Jeremiah 7:31
בְּגֵיא־3xbə·ḡê-2 Samuel 8:13, 2 Kings 14:7, Psalms 60:1
גֵּ֖יא3xgêEzekiel 39:11, Ezekiel 39:15, Zechariah 14:4
גֵּֽיא־3xgê-Nehemiah 11:30, Isaiah 28:1, Zechariah 14:5
בְּגֵ֣י2xbə·ḡê2 Kings 23:10, 2 Chronicles 33:6
גֵּ֣י2xgêJoshua 15:8, Joshua 18:16
גֵּ֥י2xgê1 Samuel 13:18, Nehemiah 11:35
Parsing patterns
Noun - proper - feminine singular14xJoshua 15:8, Joshua 18:16, Joshua 19:14, 1 Samuel 13:18
Noun - common singular construct10xIsaiah 22:1, Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:4, Isaiah 40:4
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular10x2 Samuel 8:13, 2 Kings 14:7, 2 Kings 23:10, 1 Chronicles 18:12
Article | Noun - common singular4xNumbers 21:20, 1 Chronicles 4:39, 2 Chronicles 26:9, Nehemiah 2:15
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular4xDeuteronomy 3:29, Deuteronomy 4:46, Deuteronomy 34:6, Jeremiah 2:23
Article | Noun - common plural3x2 Kings 2:16, Ezekiel 7:16, Ezekiel 32:5
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common plural3xEzekiel 6:3, Ezekiel 36:4, Ezekiel 36:6
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular2xJeremiah 7:32, Jeremiah 19:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. A deep, narrow valley defined by steep sides rather than flowing water or seasonal drainage
Source Gloss
a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
A deep, narrow valley defined by steep sides rather than flowing water or seasonal drainage
a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) BDB: valley Usage: valley.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
A narrow gorge used as a place of judgment and idolatrous practices
Showing 1 selected witness from 62 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
גַּיְא is built from this root:
גֵּוָהH1466
Cross-Language Connections
Greek words that correspond to or develop the meaning of this Hebrew word in the New Testament.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.