Hebrew word · H1649

גֵּרְשֻׁנִּי

hagereshuni

Gershonite

The adjective naming the descendants of Gershon (also spelled Gershom in Chronicles), Levi's eldest son. It is used as a group name.

Appears 13 times in 12 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

Someone descended from Gershon who was a man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.46.11;

son of: Levi (H3878);

brother of: Kohath (H6955), Merari (H4847) and Jochebed (H3115);

father of: Libni (H3845) and Shimei (H8096); also called Gershom at 1Ch.6.16,17,20,43,62,71; 15.7;

Group of ge.re.shon (גֵּרְשׁוֹן "Gershon" H1648)

§ Gershonite , of Geshur

a descendant of Gershon, firstborn son of Levi

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Joshua 21:33

Range of meaning

The adjective naming the descendants of Gershon (also spelled Gershom in Chronicles), Levi's eldest son. It is used as a group name.

Against the English

English versions agree on 'Gershonite(s).'

Used elsewhere in the period

Num 3:21–26 and 4:22–28 give the Gershonites charge of carrying the tabernacle's fabrics: curtains, coverings, the tent screen and the courtyard hangings. 1 Chr 6:62, 71–76 gives their towns again, with some names spelled differently.

From the study of 1 Chronicles 26:21

Range of meaning

A clan name formed from Gershon (also spelled Gershom in Chronicles), Levi's firstborn. With the article it can mean "the Gershonite" as an individual or as a collective, "the Gershonites."

Against the English

BSB and WEB make it plural ("Gershonites"). KJV and YLT keep the singular "the Gershonite." Both are grammatically defensible, since the singular is often used for a whole clan.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Numbers 3–4 the Gershonites carried the tabernacle's curtains and coverings. In Chronicles some of them are reassigned to temple music (Asaph is a Gershonite, 1 Chr 6:39–43) and, in this verse, to the treasuries.

Where it appears

Numbers · 7

  1. Numbers 3:21 הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּֽי׃ the Gershonite[s]

    From Gershon came the Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan; these were the Gershonite clans.

  2. Numbers 3:23 הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י the Gershonite[s]

    The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle,

  3. Numbers 3:24 לַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י of the Gershonite[s]

    and the leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.

  4. Numbers 4:24 הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י the Gershonite[s]

    This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:

  5. Numbers 4:27 הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֔י the Gershonite[s]

    All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry.

  6. Numbers 4:28 הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֖י the Gershonite[s]

    This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

  7. Numbers 26:57 הַגֵּ֣רְשֻׁנִּ֔י the Gershonite[s]

    Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari.

Joshua · 1

  1. Joshua 21:33 הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֖י the Gershonite[s]

    In all, thirteen cities, together with their pasturelands, were given to the Gershonite clans.

    Here: Literally 'the Gershonite,' a singular word standing for the whole group: everyone descended from Gershon, Levi's firstborn son (Exod 6:16–17; Num 3:17–18).

1 Chronicles · 4

  1. 1 Chronicles 23:7 לַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֖י of the Gershonite[s]

    The Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.

  2. 1 Chronicles 26:21 הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֜י הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֖י the Gershonite[s], the Gershonite

    From the descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and heads of the families of Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli,

    Here: A clan name ("Gershon-ite") with the article, used here as a group label: those descended from Gershon, Levi's firstborn, one of the three great Levitical divisions alongside Kohath and Merari.

  3. 1 Chronicles 29:8 הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּֽי׃ the Gershonite

    Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, under the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.

2 Chronicles · 1

  1. 2 Chronicles 29:12 הַגֵּ֣רְשֻׁנִּ֔י the Gershonite[s]

    Then the Levites set to work: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah from the Kohathites; Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel from the Merarites; Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah from the Gershonites;

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.