xlit gebe corrected to gebeʼ; from an unused root meaning probably to collect; a reservoir; by analogy, a marsh; marish, pit.
Transliteration:gebeʼ
Pronunciation:geh'-beh
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term H1360, *gebeʼ* (גֶּבֶא), derives from an unused root that likely conveys the idea of "to collect." This foundational meaning gives rise to its primary sense as a "reservoir" or a place where water is gathered, whether through natural accumulation or artificial construction. By extension and analogy, it also refers to a "marsh" or "swamp"—a low-lying area where water naturally collects and often stagnates. The English translations "marish" (an archaic term for marsh) and "pit" further delineate its semantic range, encompassing both designed water storage and naturally waterlogged, often unproductive, ground. Thus, *gebeʼ* signifies a body of collected water, ranging from a contained basin to a boggy, mire-filled landscape.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word *gebeʼ* appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both instances occurring within the same verse in the book of Ezekiel: [[Ezekiel 47:11]]. This passage describes the miraculous, life-giving river flowing from the temple in the eschatological vision. The verse states: "But its marshes (וּגְבָאָיו) and its swamps (בִּצֹּאתָיו) will not be healed; they will be given over to salt."
In this profound prophetic context, *gebeʼ* is paralleled with *bitstsah* (`{{H960}}`, "swamp" or "mire"), emphasizing a state of waterlogged unproductivity. While the river of life brings healing and abundance to everything it touches, transforming the desert into fertile land and making the Dead Sea fresh and teeming with life, these specific "marshes" and "swamps" remain untouched by its regenerative power. They are explicitly excluded from the healing and are instead "given over to salt," a symbol of barrenness, desolation, and judgment (cf. [[Deuteronomy 29:23]], [[Judges 9:45]], [[Jeremiah 17:6]]). The contrast is stark: life and fertility elsewhere, but stagnation and desolation in these designated areas. This singular biblical usage defines *gebeʼ* as a place of perpetual un-transformation, resistant to the divine flow.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding *gebeʼ* is enhanced by examining related terms and concepts:
* **Words for Water Collection/Storage:**
* `{{H953}}` *bor* (בּוֹר): "cistern," "pit," "well"—often an artificial excavation for water or a dungeon.
* `{{H875}}` *be'er* (בְּאֵר): "well," "spring"—a source of water, either natural or dug.
* `{{H4726}}` *miqveh* (מִקְוֶה): "collection of water," "hope"—used for natural bodies of water or ritual baths. These terms generally carry positive connotations of provision or ritual purity.
* **Words for Marsh/Swamp/Mire:**
* `{{H960}}` *bitstsah* (בִּצָּה): "swamp," "mire," "bog"—the direct parallel to *gebeʼ* in [[Ezekiel 47:11]], reinforcing the negative connotation of unproductive, stagnant water.
* `{{H2917}}` *tiyt* (טִיט): "mire," "clay," "mud"—often associated with distress or being stuck (e.g., [[Psalm 40:2]]).
* `{{H3121}}` *yaven* (יָוֵן): "mire," "mud"—frequently used in Psalms to describe deep, treacherous pits or distress (e.g., [[Psalm 69:2]]).
* **Concepts:** Stagnation, barrenness, unproductiveness, desolation, judgment, and the limits of divine grace in the face of persistent resistance or inherent unsuitability.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of *gebeʼ* is disproportionate to its rare occurrence, primarily due to its placement in the highly symbolic and eschatological vision of Ezekiel 47. In this context, *gebeʼ* represents areas that remain untouched by the transformative, life-giving power of God's presence and Spirit. The river from the temple symbolizes divine blessing, healing, and renewal, bringing life to all it reaches. However, the *gebeʼ* and *bitstsah* are explicitly excluded from this healing, remaining barren and "given over to salt."
This exclusion carries profound theological implications:
1. **Limits of Transformation:** It suggests that while God's grace is abundant and transformative, there are certain conditions or states—perhaps representing hardened hearts, persistent rebellion, or inherent unsuitability—that remain outside its redemptive reach, leading to a state of perpetual desolation.
2. **Consequences of Stagnation:** The marshes symbolize stagnation and unproductiveness, contrasting sharply with the vibrant life elsewhere. Theologically, this can be interpreted as a warning against spiritual apathy or a failure to embrace the life offered by God, leading to a state of spiritual barrenness.
3. **Divine Judgment:** Their designation "for salt" points to a form of judgment or a fixed state of barrenness, serving as a stark reminder that not all will partake in the full blessings of God's kingdom. It underscores the holiness and distinction of God's transformative work, highlighting areas that remain outside its sphere.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H1360, *gebeʼ*, meaning "reservoir," "marsh," or "pit," originates from a root suggesting "to collect." Its singular biblical appearance in [[Ezekiel 47:11]] is highly significant. Here, *gebeʼ* is used in parallel with *bitstsah* (swamp) to describe areas along the temple river that are uniquely *not* healed by its life-giving flow, but rather remain desolate and "given over to salt." Theologically, *gebeʼ* serves as a potent symbol of spiritual stagnation, barrenness, and a state untouched by God's transformative grace. It powerfully illustrates the distinction between areas blessed by divine intervention and those left to their desolate condition, underscoring the consequences of spiritual unfruitfulness and the limits of divine transformation in the face of persistent unresponsiveness or inherent unsuitability.
TRV