גָּרַע
to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold
Definition
The Hebrew verb גָּרַע (gâraʻ) fundamentally means 'to scrape off' or 'to shave,' but its usage extends to various forms of reduction or removal. In a literal sense, it describes the physical act of scraping or cutting away, such as reducing a quota of bricks (Exodus 5:8, 5:11). More abstractly, it signifies diminishing, withholding, or lessening something, like reducing the value of a field (Leviticus 27:18) or withholding marital rights (Exodus 21:10). It can also imply restraining or keeping back, as seen when the Israelites were prevented from celebrating the Passover (Numbers 9:7).
Biblical Usage
גָּרַע appears 21 times, primarily in the Pentateuch (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers). Its usage spans legal, narrative, and cultic contexts. It often describes the act of diminishing a required amount or obligation, as in the brick-making demands of Pharaoh (Exodus 5:8, 5:11, 5:19). In legal settings, it addresses the reduction of property value (Leviticus 27:18) or the infringement of rights (Exodus 21:10). It also appears in petitions about inheritance rights being diminished (Numbers 27:4, 36:3).
Etymology
גָּרַע is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to scraping, cutting, or peeling off. Cognates in other Semitic languages support this sense of reduction or removal. The semantic development extended from the physical act of scraping to the broader concepts of diminishing, withholding, and restraining.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it often appears in contexts of justice, provision, and covenant obligations. It highlights the seriousness of diminishing what is rightfully due, whether in human relationships (Exodus 21:10) or in duties to God (Numbers 9:7). Understanding גָּרַע enriches reading by revealing the biblical concern for fairness and the negative consequences of withholding what is required, whether by oppressive authority or neglect.
In its ancient Near Eastern setting, גָּרַע often related to economic and social obligations. The examples in Exodus reflect a culture where taskmasters could arbitrarily reduce quotas, impacting survival. The legal use in Exodus 21:10 assumes a cultural understanding of a husband's material obligations to a wife. The concept of diminishing a field's value (Leviticus 27:18) is tied to the Jubilee and Israel's theology of land tenure, which differs from modern views of absolute property ownership.
כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut off or make a covenant, more severe and final. חָסַר (châçar, H2637) — to lack or decrease, often describing a state of need rather than an active act of reduction. הֵסִיר (hêsîyr, H5493) — to turn aside or remove, often with a sense of taking away entirely.
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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