English · KJV
H1572

גָּמָא

gâmâʼ /gaw-maw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root (literally or figuratively) to absorb
Meaningto absorb
KJV usageswallow, drink.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gâmâʼ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word gâmâʼ, represented by H1572, is a primitive root defined as to absorb, swallow, or drink. It appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, used to describe both a literal act of consumption and a figurative expression of immense speed.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two uses of H1572 provide a sharp contrast in context. In Genesis, the word denotes a simple, physical act. Abraham's servant H5650 runs H7323 to meet Rebekah and says, "Let me, I pray thee, drink a little H4592 water H4325 of thy pitcher H3537" Genesis 24:17. Here, the word signifies satisfying a basic thirst. In Job, the term is used poetically to describe the raw power of a war horse, stating that "He swalloweth the ground H776 with fierceness and rage" Job 39:24, creating a vivid metaphor for consuming distance in its eagerness for battle.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help frame the context of gâmâʼ:

  • H4325 mayim (water): The substance being absorbed in the Genesis narrative. The term is defined as water, often used to signify life and sustenance Genesis 24:17.
  • H3537 kad (pitcher): The vessel from which the water is offered. This word refers to an earthenware jar for domestic purposes, highlighting the domestic and hospitable setting of the request Genesis 24:17.
  • H776 ʼerets (ground): The object being figuratively swallowed in the Job passage. This word means the earth or land, and its use with gâmâʼ emphasizes the horse's incredible speed and power Job 39:24.

Theological Significance

The significance of H1572 is found in its flexibility to convey both simple need and overwhelming force.

  • An Act of Humble Need: In Genesis, the request to drink is a humble and essential act. It serves as the pivotal test in the servant's search for a wife for Isaac, linking a basic physical need to a moment of divine providence Genesis 24:17.
  • A Metaphor for Impatient Power: In Job, the word elevates from the literal to the figurative. To swallow the ground is to express unstoppable momentum and an untamable, fierce spirit, a key part of God's discourse on the power of His creation Job 39:24.

Summary

In summary, though rare, H1572 gâmâʼ demonstrates significant semantic range. It captures both the simple, life-sustaining act of drinking water from a pitcher and the poetic, powerful image of a war horse devouring the earth in its haste. Its two appearances showcase how a single Hebrew root can be applied to vastly different scales of action, from a quiet request to a description of awesome might.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • הַגְמִיאִי
  • יְגַמֶּא

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5650 עֶבֶד from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. H7323 רוּץ a primitive root; to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush); break down, divide speedily, footman, guard, bring h H4592 מְעַט or מְעָט; from מָעַט; a little or few (often adverbial or compar.); almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little H4325 מַיִם dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase H3537 כַּד from an unused root meaning to deepen; properly, a pail; but generally of earthenware; a jar for domestic purposes; bar H776 אֶרֶץ from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, e

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis and Job (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Genesis
1
Job

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.