a primitive root; to bear off violently; sweep away.
Transliteration:gâraph
Pronunciation:gaw-raf'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H1640 (גָּרַף, gâraph) is a primitive root, denoting a fundamental action of forceful removal. Its core meaning encompasses the ideas "to bear off violently" and "to sweep away." This implies an act of powerful, often irresistible, displacement, where something is carried away against its will or natural state. The term suggests a thorough and decisive removal, akin to the action of a flood or a strong current that clears an area. The inherent "violence" in the definition does not always imply malicious intent, but rather an overwhelming and forceful application of power, resulting in a complete and immediate change of location or state for the object in question. The semantic range is focused on this forceful, often urgent, act of removal.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root H1640 (גָּרַף) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in [[2 Chronicles 35:22]]. The context is the tragic battle between King Josiah of Judah and Pharaoh Neco of Egypt at Megiddo. The verse reads: "Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, 'Carry me away; for I am sore wounded.'" Here, the verb gâraph is used in the imperative ("Carry me away!"), a desperate plea from the mortally wounded king. While the root's base definition includes "violently" and "sweep away," in this specific context, it conveys the urgent and immediate necessity of being "borne off" or "carried away" from the battlefield to safety, or at least out of the immediate danger. The "force" or "violence" is not an act *against* Josiah, but the urgency and decisiveness required to move him quickly due to his severe injury. This singular usage highlights the application of H1640 to a rapid, decisive extraction from a perilous situation.
### Related Words & Concepts
Given its unique occurrence, direct lexical parallels for H1640 are scarce. However, the concept of forceful removal or being carried away resonates with broader themes in the Hebrew lexicon. Terms that describe overwhelming natural phenomena or acts of divine judgment, such as `{{H5498}}` (shetaph, "overflow, flood") or `{{H7857}}` (shataph, "to overflow, wash away"), share a conceptual link in their depiction of an irresistible force that sweeps things away. Similarly, the idea of being "driven away" or "thrust out" by an external power can be seen in words like `{{H5087}}` (nadach, "to drive away, thrust out") or `{{H5254}}` (nasach, "to pour out, cast off"). While H1640 in [[2 Chronicles 35:22]] is a human command for urgent removal, its underlying sense of being overwhelmed and needing decisive action connects it to these broader concepts of being moved by a powerful, often uncontrollable, force.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of H1640 (גָּרַף) in the account of King Josiah's death carries profound theological weight. Josiah was a righteous king who diligently sought to restore true worship in Judah. His death, however, occurred in a battle he was warned against by Pharaoh Neco, whose words are explicitly stated to be "from the mouth of God" ([[2 Chronicles 35:22]]). The king's plea, "Carry me away!" (using H1640), underscores the sudden, overwhelming, and ultimately fatal nature of his wound. It signifies an abrupt end, a decisive removal from the realm of the living and from his kingly duties. Theologically, this moment highlights human vulnerability in the face of destiny or divine will, even for a devout leader. While not a direct act of divine "sweeping away" in judgment, the urgency and decisiveness of the action implied by H1640 reflect the finality of death and the unyielding consequences of certain choices. It serves as a poignant reminder that even the most righteous are subject to the swift and forceful transitions of life and death.
### Summary
The Hebrew root H1640 (גָּרַף, gâraph) conveys the powerful and decisive action of "bearing off violently" or "sweeping away." Its sole biblical occurrence is in [[2 Chronicles 35:22]], where King Josiah, mortally wounded, commands his servants to "Carry me away!" from the battlefield. This context highlights the verb's application to an urgent, forceful extraction from a perilous situation, emphasizing speed and decisiveness rather than mere destruction. While conceptually related to terms describing overwhelming forces or divine judgment (e.g., `{{H5498}}`, `{{H7857}}`), H1640 in its biblical instance underscores human vulnerability, the suddenness of life-altering events, and the immediate, compelling need for action in the face of overwhelming circumstances, even for a righteous king facing his end.
TRV