Lexical Definition
גַּיְא gayʼ (gah'-ee) Valley H:N
or (shortened) גַּי gay (gah'-ee); probably (by transmutation) from the same root as גֵּוָה (abbreviated)
valley.
- a gorge (from its lofty sides
- hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
1) valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge
See Greek: γῆ · φάραγξ · γέεννα
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| גֵּ֣יא | Ge | 1Chr.4.14 |
Brown-Driver-Briggs
גַּיְא noun masculineIsa 40:4 (feminineZech 14:4) valley — absolute גַּיְא Num 21:20 + 8 t. + 1Sam 17:52 (compare below), גָּ֑יְא 1Chr 4:39, גֵּיא Zech 14:4, גֶּיא Isa 40:4, גַּי Deut 34:6 + 2 t.; construct גֵּיא Isa 22:1 + 21 t.; גֵּי Josh 15:8 + 13 t.; plural absolute גֵּאָיוֺת Ezek 31:12; Ezek 36:4; Ezek 36:6 + Ezek 7:16; Ezek 32:5 (strike out Co) + Ezek 6:3; 2Kgs 2:16 Qr (so Co Ezek 6:3 Kt גיאות); suffix גֵּיאוֺתֶיךָ Ezek 35:8 — valley Josh 8:11 (E) Mic 1:6; 1Sam 17:3; 2Kgs 2:16 (opposed to הַר) Isa 40:4 (opposed to גִּבְעָה, הַר), Ezek 6:3; Ezek 35:8; Ezek 36:4; Ezek 36:6 (in all with גבעות אפיקים, הרים), Ezek 31:12 (opposed to הַר), compare Ezek 7:16 (strike out B Co) Ezek 32:5 specifically, valley in Moab, a station of Israel Num 21:20 (E); over against Beth-Peor Deut 3:29; Deut 4:46; Deut 34:6 a valley near גְּדוֺר 1Chr 4:39 חִזָּיוֺן ׳ג Isa 22:1; Isa 22:5 near Jerusalem; שְׁמָנִים ׳ג Isa 28:1; Isa 28:4 valley of fatness, fertility, the valley surrounding Samaria; ׳שַׁעַר הַגּ 2Chr 26:9; Neh 2:13; Neh 2:15; Neh 3:13 apocalyptic valley Zech 14:4, made by cleaving Mt. of Olives, compare הרים ׳ג vZech 14:5 vZech 14:5 valley of slaughter ההרגה ׳ג, a future name of valley of Hinnom Jer 7:32; Jer 19:6; 1Sam 17:52 (גַּיְא) ᵐ5 reads גַּת compare We Dr; Jer 2:23 of valley of Hinnom, see below; figurative Ps 23:4 צלמות ׳ג compare צלמות; Ezek 39:11 הָעֹבְרִים ׳ג, Co הָעֲבָרִים proper name compare below; elsewhere in combination with proper names: —
a. יִפְתַּחאֵֿל ׳ג Josh 19:14; Josh 19:27 perhaps = Jotapata JosBJ «JOSEPHUS:Wars of the Jews 3:7»iii. 7, 7; Rabbin. גופתתא RelandPal 816; — Tell Jefât RobBR iii. 107. GuérinGal. i. 476 f. compare BdPal 243.
b. הַצְּבֹעִים ׳ג 1Sam 13:18.
c. הַֿמֶּלַךְ׳ג 2Kgs 14:7 (Kt; Qr omits article) 1Chr 18:12; 2Chr 25:11 = מֶֿלַךְ׳ג 2Sam 8:13; Ps 60:2* (title); south of Dead Sea, in or bordering on Edom; el-Ghôr RobBR ii. 109.
d. הֶחָרָשִׁים ׳ג 1Chr 4:14; Neh 11:35, apparently near Lod & Ono, northwest of Jerusalem, not far from the sea.
e. צְפַ֖תָֿה לְמָרֵשָׁה ׳ג 2Chr 14:9* (? read צָפֹנַה, ᵐ5 κατὰ βορρᾶν, to the north of M.) probably near the great plain of Judah, west of Jerusalem, toward the sea; הָעֹבְרִים ׳ג Ezek 39:11, east of Dead Sea (Hi Sm), Co reads הָעֲבָרִים ׳ג feminine name to be changed to הֲמוֺןגּֿוֺג ׳ג Ezek 39:11; Ezek 39:15. Most frequently
g. גֵּי הִנֹּם Josh 15:8; Josh 18:16; Neh 11:30, גֵּי בֶןהִֿנֹּם Josh 15:8; Josh 18:16; 2Kgs 23:10 Qr (Kt ׳גי בני ה) 2Chr 28:3; 2Chr 33:6; Jer 7:31; Jer 7:32; Jer 19:2; Jer 19:6; Jer 32:35 valley southwest & south of Jerusalem (RobBR ii. 273 f.), where incense was burned, and children were offered in sacrifice to 'Molech.' Others identify with the TyropÊon valley, compare RSSemitic i. 353; see further הִנֹּם, תֹּפֶת.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Numbers | 21:20 |
| Deuteronomy | 3:29 · 4:46 · 34:6 |
| Joshua | 8:11 · 15:8 · 18:16 · 19:14 · 19:27 |
| 1 Samuel | 13:18 · 17:3 · 17:52 |
| 2 Samuel | 8:13 |
| 2 Kings | 2:16 · 14:7 · 23:10 |
| 1 Chronicles | 4:14 · 4:39 · 18:12 |
| 2 Chronicles | 14:9* · 25:11 · 26:9 · 28:3 · 33:6 |
| Nehemiah | 2:13 · 2:15 · 3:13 · 11:30 · 11:35 |
| Psalms | 23:4 · 60:2* |
| Isaiah | 22:1 · 22:5 · 28:1 · 28:4 · 40:4 |
| Jeremiah | 2:23 · 7:31 · 7:32 · 19:2 · 19:6 · 32:35 |
| Ezekiel | 6:3 · 7:16 · 31:12 · 32:5 · 35:8 · 36:4 · 36:6 · 39:11 · 39:15 |
| Micah | 1:6 |
| Zechariah | 14:4 · 14:5 |
Profile
Valley of craftsmen; inhabited by Benjamites after the exile
Ge-harashim, the Valley of Craftsmen, was inhabited by some Benjamites after the return from the Babylonian exile.
- A location first mentioned at 1Ch.4.14;
- referred to as Ge-harashim גַּיְא גַּיְא, or "valley/ of craftsmen" (NIV= Ge-harashim) חֲרָשִׁים גַּיְא.
Ge-harashim, which means "Valley of Craftsmen" in Hebrew, is mentioned in two passages in the Bible. In 1 Chronicles 4:14, Joab, the father of Ge-harashim, is listed among the descendants of Judah, specifically from the clan of Othniel. This suggests that the valley was associated with skilled artisans and craftsmen from the tribe of Judah.
In Nehemiah 11:35, Ge-harashim is mentioned again, this time in the context of the resettlement of Jerusalem and the surrounding towns after the Babylonian exile. The passage states that some of the Benjamites, along with people from Judah, settled in various towns, including Ge-harashim.
The mention of Benjamites settling in Ge-harashim during the post-exilic period indicates that the valley had become a place of residence for people from different tribes, particularly those known for their craftsmanship and artisanal skills.
The exact location of Ge-harashim is not specified in the Bible, but based on its association with the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, it is believed to have been situated somewhere in the Judean hill country, possibly near Jerusalem or in the Shephelah region.
The name "Valley of Craftsmen" suggests that the area was known for its concentration of skilled artisans, possibly including metalworkers, potters, weavers, and other craftsmen. The presence of such a community would have been important for the economic and cultural life of the region, both before and after the Babylonian exile.