גֹּעָה
Goah, a place near Jerusalem
Definition
Goah is a proper noun referring to a specific location near Jerusalem mentioned only in Jeremiah 31:39. It appears in a prophetic oracle describing the future boundaries of a rebuilt Jerusalem, where the measuring line will run 'to the hill Gareb and shall turn about to Goah.' The name itself, meaning 'lowing' (like the sound of cattle), likely describes the topography or character of the place, possibly a hill or area associated with livestock. Its sole biblical function is as a geographical marker in a vision of restoration.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 31:39. It is used strictly as a proper place name within a detailed, prophetic description of Jerusalem's future boundaries. The context is God's promise of restoration and the city's holy expansion after the exile.
Etymology
The name גֹּעָה (Gôʻâh) is the feminine active participle of the root verb גָּעָה (gāʻâ, H1600), meaning 'to low, bellow' (like an ox). Thus, the place name literally means 'Lowing' or 'Bellowing,' likely derived from a local geographical feature or its use as pastureland.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple place name, its single occurrence in Jeremiah 31:39 is theologically significant. It serves as a precise marker in God's detailed promise of Jerusalem's future restoration and sanctification. Understanding that even this obscure, mundane location is included in the prophetic blueprint underscores the completeness and specificity of God's covenantal promises to rebuild and redeem.
As a place name meaning 'Lowing,' Goah was likely understood by the original audience as a recognizable landmark, probably a hill or area on the outskirts of Jerusalem associated with the sound or presence of livestock. Its inclusion in a boundary list reflects the ancient practice of defining territories by concrete, local features known to the community.
No direct synonyms as a proper noun. Related topographical terms in the same verse include גָּרֵב (Gārēḇ, H1620) — another hill name in the boundary description.
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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