גָּשַׁשׁ
to feel about
Definition
The Hebrew verb גָּשַׁשׁ (gâshash) means 'to feel about' or 'to grope,' describing the act of searching with one's hands in darkness or blindness. It conveys a sense of uncertainty and helplessness, as one cannot see what they are trying to find. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 59:10, it depicts the spiritual and moral blindness of God's people, who 'grope along the wall like the blind' as a consequence of their sin. This imagery emphasizes a loss of divine guidance and direction.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 59:10. It appears in a prophetic context describing the severe consequences of Israel's iniquity and injustice. The usage is metaphorical, portraying the people's spiritual disorientation and helplessness—they are like blind men feeling their way, lacking clarity and security. This singular, powerful instance ties the physical act of groping directly to a state of judgment and separation from God.
Etymology
גָּשַׁשׁ is a primitive root verb in Hebrew. Its exact derivation is uncertain, but it is likely onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound or motion of a hand brushing or fumbling against surfaces. It is related by sense to other Hebrew words for touching or feeling, such as מָשַׁשׁ (mashash, H4959), though גָּשַׁשׁ carries a stronger connotation of searching in blindness or obscurity.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly illustrates the spiritual condition resulting from sin. In Isaiah 59, the act of groping is not merely physical but symbolizes the profound spiritual darkness and separation from God that occurs when justice and righteousness are abandoned (Isaiah 59:9). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the Bible's consistent metaphor of light for God's truth and darkness for sin and judgment—here, sin literally leaves people stumbling in the dark.
In the ancient Near East, blindness was a severe disability with limited remedies. The experience of groping in darkness—whether literal night or a windowless dwelling—was a common and feared reality, representing vulnerability, danger, and disorientation. Isaiah's audience would have immediately understood the desperation and helplessness conveyed by this verb, making the spiritual analogy all the more powerful and convicting.
מָשַׁשׁ (mashash, H4959) — also means to feel or grope, but can be used more generally for handling or touching, as in Judges 16:26 where Samson feels the pillars.
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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