What does גָּנַב · אִישׁ mean in the Bible?
גָּנַב · אִישׁ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "steal a man, kidnap".
Hebrew · H1589, H376
גֹּנֵב אִישׁ
To thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive · a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
גָּנַבH1589to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive
Pronunciationgānab
Theft that conceals and removes—whether property or truth—carrying away what belongs to another through stealth.
Open lexicon entry →אִישׁH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Pronunciationish
Individual male person functioning as a foundational unit of social identity, kinship, and covenantal responsibility in Hebrew thought
Open lexicon entry →What does גֹּנֵב אִישׁ (gonev ish) mean in the Bible?
גָּנַב · אִישׁ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "steal a man, kidnap".
Full entry for גֹּנֵב אִישׁ (H1589, H376) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H1589, H376?
H1589, H376 is connected to 2,227 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. steal a man, kidnap
Source Gloss
steal a man, kidnap
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 groups5Aligned forms21
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense15×
ImperfectDeut 5:19 · Exod 20:15 · Exod 21:37 · Prov 6:30 · Gen 44:8 · Lev 19:11 · Obad 1:57×
Participle passiveGen 30:33 · Gen 31:39 · Prov 9:173×
Perfect2Sam 21:12 · Josh 7:11 · Gen 31:303×
Participle activeDeut 24:71×
Infinitive absoluteExod 22:111×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others1×
Imperfect2Sam 19:41×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectExod 22:111×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject3×
Infinitive absoluteGen 40:151×
PerfectGen 40:151×
ImperfectJob 4:121×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
Participle activeJer 23:301×
Word Origins
גֹּנֵב אִישׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.