גָּרַשׁ

to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce

Definition

The Hebrew verb גָּרַשׁ (gârash) fundamentally means to drive out, expel, or thrust away. Its primary sense is the forceful removal of people from a place, such as God driving Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24) or the Israelites being driven out of Egypt (Exodus 12:39). In legal and relational contexts, it specifically denotes the act of divorce, where a husband sends his wife away, as seen in the story of Hagar being cast out by Sarah (Genesis 21:10). The word consistently carries a sense of compulsion and severance, whether from land, community, or marriage.

Biblical Usage

גָּרַשׁ is used 44 times across the Old Testament, primarily in narrative books like Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy. It describes the expulsion of individuals (e.g., Cain in Genesis 4:14), the driving out of nations from the Promised Land (e.g., Exodus 34:11), and the legal act of divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). A key pattern is its use in contexts of divine judgment or covenant consequence, where God is the agent who drives out peoples, or where human actions lead to expulsion from a community or relationship.

Etymology

גָּרַשׁ is a primitive root, meaning its derivation is not from other Hebrew words. Cognates exist in related Semitic languages like Aramaic and Arabic, supporting the core meaning of 'to drive out.' The root conveys a sense of thrusting or pushing away, which developed into the specific legal and social meanings of expulsion and divorce in biblical Hebrew.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it often relates to themes of judgment, covenant, and holiness. God's act of driving out nations from Canaan (e.g., Exodus 23:28-31) is tied to His promises and justice, while the expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:24) underscores the consequence of sin and separation from God's presence. Understanding גָּרַשׁ enriches reading by highlighting the seriousness of divine judgment and the legal finality in relational breakdowns, reflecting God's standards for His people and their land.

In ancient Israelite culture, 'driving out' was a severe social and legal action. Divorce (גָּרַשׁ) was a unilateral act by a husband, effectively sending his wife away from the household, which carried significant social and economic consequences for the woman, as illustrated with Hagar (Genesis 21:14). Expulsion from land or community meant loss of identity, protection, and inheritance, differing from modern notions of relocation or simple eviction.

שָׁלַח (shalach, H7971) — a more general term for 'send out' or 'let go,' without the inherent force of expulsion. יָצָא (yatsa', H3318) — means 'to go out' or 'depart,' often voluntarily, whereas גָּרַשׁ implies compulsion. הוֹצִיא (hotsi', H3318) — 'to bring out' or 'lead out,' which can be neutral or positive (as in the Exodus), unlike the negative thrust of גָּרַשׁ.

Word Details

Scripture References