What does גָּרַע (gāraʿ) mean in the Bible?
גָּרַע (gāraʿ): Physical removal action extending to abstract diminishment: scraping away materializes into reducing, restraining, withholding.
Hebrew · H1639
גָּרַע
To scrape off; by implication, to shave , remove , lessen , withhold
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גָּרַעH1639
Pronunciationgāraʿ
What does גָּרַע (gāraʿ) mean in the Bible?
גָּרַע (gāraʿ): Physical removal action extending to abstract diminishment: scraping away materializes into reducing, restraining, withholding.
Full entry for גָּרַע (H1639) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1639?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include or subtract (2), reduce (2), and hinder (1), and reduced (1), be reduced (1).
Where does גָּרַע (gāraʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 5:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (5), Exodus (4), Job (4), Deuteronomy (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 Itor subtract2×Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32
reduce2×Exodus 5:19, Exodus 21:10
and hinder1×Job 15:4
and reduced1×Ezekiel 16:27
be reduced1×Exodus 5:11
disappear1×Numbers 27:4
He draws up1×Job 36:27
is clipped1×Jeremiah 48:37
is cut off1×Isaiah 15:2
omit1×Jeremiah 26:2
or limit1×Job 15:8
or taken1×Ecclesiastes 3:14
reduce it1×Exodus 5:8
should we be excluded1×Numbers 9:7
take1×Job 36:7
taken away1×Numbers 36:4
will be reduced1×Leviticus 27:18
will be withdrawn1×Numbers 36:3
will withdraw My favor1×Ezekiel 5:11
would be taken away1×Numbers 36:3
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 5:8תִגְרְע֖וּtoreduce itVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralExodus 5:11נִגְרָ֛עtobe reducedVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularExodus 5:19תִגְרְע֥וּtoreduceVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralExodus 21:10יִגְרָֽע׃toreduceVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 27:18וְנִגְרַ֖עtowill be reducedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 9:7נִגָּרַ֗עtoshould we be excludedVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common pluralNumbers 27:4יִגָּרַ֤עtodisappearVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 36:3וְנִגְרְעָ֤הtowill be withdrawnConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularNumbers 36:3יִגָּרֵֽעַ׃towould be taken awayVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 36:4יִגָּרַ֖עtotaken awayVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 5:8
Aligned rows22
Books represented9
Exodus4Leviticus1Numbers5Deuteronomy2Job4Ecclesiastes1Isaiah1Jeremiah2Ezekiel2
Source forms
תִגְרְע֖וּ2xṯiḡ·rə·‘ūExodus 5:8, Deuteronomy 4:2
אֶגְרַע֙1x’eḡ·ra‘Ezekiel 5:11
גְּרוּעָֽה׃1xgə·rū·‘āhIsaiah 15:2
גְּרֻעָ֑ה1xgə·ru·‘āhJeremiah 48:37
וָאֶגְרַ֖ע1xwā·’eḡ·ra‘Ezekiel 16:27
וְנִגְרַ֖ע1xwə·niḡ·ra‘Leviticus 27:18
וְנִגְרְעָ֤ה1xwə·niḡ·rə·‘āhNumbers 36:3
וְתִגְרַ֥ע1xwə·ṯiḡ·ra‘Job 15:4
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3xNumbers 27:4, Numbers 36:3, Numbers 36:4
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural3xExodus 5:8, Exodus 5:19, Deuteronomy 4:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - second person masculine singular2xJob 15:4, Job 15:8
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 12:32, Jeremiah 26:2
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xExodus 21:10, Job 36:7
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular2xIsaiah 15:2, Jeremiah 48:37
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular1xNumbers 36:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xLeviticus 27:18
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical removal action extending to abstract diminishment: scraping away materializes into reducing, restraining, withholding.
Source Gloss
to scrape off; by implication, to shave , remove , lessen , withhold
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical removal action extending to abstract diminishment: scraping away materializes into reducing, restraining, withholding.
to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold BDB: diminish Usage: abate, clip, (di-) minish, do (take) away, keep back, restrain, make small, withdraw.
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 groups3Aligned forms16
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense10×
ImperfectDeut 4:2 · Exod 5:8 · Exod 5:19 · Exod 21:10 · Job 36:7 · Deut 13:1 · Ezek 5:117×
Participle passiveIsa 15:2 · Jer 48:372×
JussiveJer 26:21×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action5×
ImperfectNum 27:4 · Num 36:3 · Num 36:4 · Num 9:74×
Participle activeExod 5:111×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
ImperfectJob 36:271×
Word Origins
גָּרַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.