from גָּשַׁם; equivalent to גֶּשֶׁם; {a shower}; rained upon.
Transliteration:gôshem
Pronunciation:go'-shem
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word H1656 (gôshem), transliterated as גֹּשֶׁם, is primarily understood as a noun meaning "shower" or "rain." It is directly derived from the verb גָּשַׁם (gasham, `{{H1657}}`), meaning "to rain," and is explicitly stated to be equivalent to גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, `{{H1653}}`), the more common Hebrew term for "rain" or "downpour." While its base definition points to "a shower," its sole biblical occurrence manifests as a passive participle, "rained upon," highlighting the state or condition resulting from precipitation. This duality underscores a semantic range that encompasses both the active phenomenon of rain and its passive effect on the land or object. The nuance often implies a specific, perhaps heavy or cleansing, fall of water, rather than general ambient moisture.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H1656 (gôshem) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in [[Ezekiel 22:24]]. In this passage, the term is used in the feminine singular passive participle form, גָּשְׁמָה (gāshmāh), meaning "rained upon." The full verse reads: "Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation."
The context of [[Ezekiel 22:24]] is a prophetic indictment against Jerusalem (symbolized as "the land") for its widespread corruption, idolatry, and injustice. The land is described as "not cleansed," implying a state of ritual and moral impurity. The subsequent phrase, "nor rained upon in the day of indignation," is crucial. In biblical thought, rain is often a symbol of divine blessing, provision, and even cleansing. The *absence* of rain, or the state of *not being rained upon*, particularly "in the day of indignation," signifies divine judgment, a withholding of favor, and a perpetual state of uncleanness. It suggests that the land, because of its sin, has been deprived of the very means by which it might be purified or refreshed by God. This lack of divine "rain" leaves the land barren, defiled, and exposed to God's wrath.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related Hebrew words are:
* גָּשַׁם (gasham, `{{H1657}}`): The verbal root from which H1656 is derived, meaning "to rain." This verb describes the act of precipitation itself.
* גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, `{{H1653}}`): A common noun for "rain" or "heavy shower." This word is explicitly stated to be equivalent to H1656 in its noun form, emphasizing their shared core meaning. גֶּשֶׁם often appears in contexts of divine provision and blessing, as in [[Deuteronomy 11:14]] where God promises "the rain of your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain."
Other related concepts and words for rain include:
* מָטָר (matar, `{{H4306}}`): The most general and frequent Hebrew word for "rain," often associated with God's control over the heavens and His covenant faithfulness.
* רְבִיבִים (revivim, `{{H7241}}`): Refers to "heavy showers" or "copious rains," often signifying abundant blessing.
The conceptual network surrounding H1656 thus involves divine sovereignty over nature, the giving and withholding of sustenance, and the symbolic connection between physical cleansing by water and spiritual purification from sin.
### Theological Significance
Though H1656 appears only once, its theological significance is profound, primarily through its negative application in [[Ezekiel 22:24]]. Rain in the ancient Near East was synonymous with life, fertility, and divine favor. Its absence meant drought, famine, and death, often interpreted as a sign of divine displeasure or judgment.
In [[Ezekiel 22:24]], the land's state of "not being rained upon" underscores God's active withdrawal of blessing due to unrepentant sin. The lack of rain is not merely a natural phenomenon but a direct consequence of divine indignation. It signifies that the land, and by extension its people, remain in a state of defilement, unpurified and unrefreshed by God's grace. This stands in stark contrast to the promise of rain as a sign of covenant blessing (e.g., [[Leviticus 26:4]], [[Deuteronomy 28:12]]). The specific mention of "the day of indignation" highlights that this withholding of rain is a punitive measure, leaving the land exposed to the full force of God's wrath without any mitigating divine intervention. The passage thus illustrates God's justice and His sovereign control over creation as a means of both blessing and judgment.
### Summary
The Hebrew word H1656 (gôshem), while conceptually meaning "shower" or "rain," uniquely appears in the Bible as a passive participle, גָּשְׁמָה, meaning "rained upon," in [[Ezekiel 22:24]]. This singular occurrence is highly significant, portraying Jerusalem as a land "not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation." This absence of divine "rain" signifies a profound state of spiritual impurity and the withdrawal of God's blessing and cleansing power due to persistent sin. Rooted in גָּשַׁם (to rain) and closely related to גֶּשֶׁם (rain), H1656, despite its rarity, powerfully conveys the theological truth of God's sovereign control over nature as an instrument of both life-giving provision and righteous judgment, leaving the unrepentant in a state of unmitigated defilement.
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