Hebrew word · H1654

גֶּ֫שֶׁם

vegeshem

Geshem

A proper name, a fuller form of 'Geshem' (Neh 2:19; 6:1–2), probably reflecting the North Arabian or Aramaic form with a final -u.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.2.19

§ Geshem or Gashmu = "rain"

an Arabian foe of Nehemiah

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 Nehemiah 6:6

Range of meaning

A proper name, a fuller form of 'Geshem' (Neh 2:19; 6:1–2), probably reflecting the North Arabian or Aramaic form with a final -u.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, YLT and NASB keep 'Gashmu'. BSB, NIV and ESV normalise to 'Geshem', which hides the fact that the letter uses a more formal, native-sounding form.

Used elsewhere in the period

A silver bowl from Tell el-Maskhuta in the eastern Nile Delta, dedicated to the goddess han-'Ilat, names 'Qaynu son of Gashmu, king of Qedar' (5th century BC). An inscription from Dedan in northwest Arabia mentions 'Gashm son of Shahr'. Many scholars identify this figure with Nehemiah's Geshem, a powerful Arab ruler of the Qedarite confederation, which controlled the trade routes south and east of Judah.

Where it appears

Nehemiah · 4

  1. Nehemiah 2:19 וְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ and Geshem

    But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

    Here: A new member of the opposition, not named in 2:10. He is called Gashmu in 6:6. He is probably the Arab ruler known from inscriptions as Gashmu, king of Qedar.

  2. Nehemiah 6:1 וּלְגֶ֨שֶׁם and by Geshem

    When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates—

    Here: Geshem (called Gashmu in 6:6) is very probably the Qedarite Arab ruler known from inscriptions. He is the most powerful of the three, controlling the lands to the south and southeast of Judah.

  3. Nehemiah 6:2 וְגֶ֙שֶׁם֙ and Geshem

    Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.

    Here: Geshem 'the Arab' (v.1), called Gashmu in v.6, very likely the powerful ruler of the Qedarite Arabs who controlled the desert trade routes south and east of Judah. Tobiah, named in v.1, is not listed as a sender here.

  4. Nehemiah 6:6 וְגַשְׁמ֣וּ and Gashmu

    that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king,

    Here: Geshem the Arab (2:19; 6:1–2), given here in a fuller Arabian form of his name. He is offered as a corroborating witness, a powerful outsider who 'confirms' the rumour.

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