גָּמַר
to end (in the sense of completion or failure)
Definition
The Hebrew verb גָּמַר (gâmar) fundamentally means 'to end' or 'to complete,' but this completion can have two distinct outcomes. It can signify a positive, successful finishing, as in Psalm 138:8, where the psalmist expresses confidence that God will 'perfect' or 'complete' (gâmar) what concerns him. Conversely, it can denote a negative ending, such as cessation or failure. In Psalm 12:1, the psalmist laments that the godly 'cease' (gâmar) and faithful people vanish. This dual sense of bringing something to a definitive conclusion, whether for good or ill, is central to its meaning.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used exclusively in the Psalms (five times), always in poetic and often lamenting contexts. It describes the definitive end of a state or action. In Psalms 7:9 and 57:2, it refers to the 'end' or 'cessation' of the wicked. In Psalm 77:8, it questions if God's favor has 'failed' forever. The positive sense of completion is found only in Psalm 138:8. The usage pattern shows it is a strong, decisive term for termination.
Etymology
As a primitive root, גָּמַר (gâmar) is the base word. It is related to the Aramaic and Syriac word for 'to end' or 'complete.' The root conveys the core idea of bringing something to its absolute finish. This concept of definitive conclusion is what allows for the dual semantic range of both successful perfection and utter failure.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights God's role as the ultimate completer of His purposes (Psalm 138:8). It contrasts human failure and cessation (Psalm 12:1, 77:8) with divine perfection and faithfulness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by clarifying that biblical 'ends' are not merely stops, but decisive completions that carry a moral weight—either the fulfillment of God's good work or the final failure of evil.
In the ancient Near Eastern poetic context of the Psalms, concepts of completion and failure were often seen as absolute and divinely orchestrated. The idea that an 'end' could be either perfect or a catastrophic failure reflects a worldview where outcomes were directly tied to covenant faithfulness or divine judgment.
כָּלָה (kālâ, H3615) — emphasizes a gradual finishing or consumption. תָּמַם (tāmam, H8552) — focuses on being complete, whole, or blameless. שָׁלַם (shālam, H7999) — conveys completion in the sense of making whole, peaceful, or paying in full.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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