גֵּב (gev)
gev
cistern; beam
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gev is rare, appearing only three times in the Old Testament, and carries two distinct meanings depending on context: a dug-out pit or a structural beam. In most instances, it refers to a cistern, trench, or ditch used for storing water or marking boundaries. This sense appears prominently in historical accounts of building projects, such as when King Solomon’s builders prepared materials for the Temple (1 Kings 5:17). The word evokes the practical labor of digging into the earth to secure resources.
In a single passage, however, the same word describes a wooden beam or rafter within a structure. This usage occurs in 2 Kings 12:13, where workers dismantle parts of the Temple’s framework to retrieve silver for repairs. The shift from an underground pit to an overhead support highlights the word’s flexibility, yet both meanings share a core idea of containment or support—whether holding water in the ground or holding up a roof above.
Its rarity makes each occurrence significant. Translators must carefully weigh the context to decide between "pit" and "beam," as the root does not appear frequently enough to establish a fixed pattern. This ambiguity reflects the limited vocabulary of ancient construction and excavation terminology, where a single term might cover both the hole dug for water and the timber used in building.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gev appears only three times in Scripture, carrying two distinct meanings that reflect the realities of ancient life: a cistern dug into the earth to hold water, or a wooden beam supporting a roof. In 1 Kings 6:9, builders used cedar beams to cover Solomon’s temple, showing how this word describes the structural integrity of sacred spaces. This reminds us that God values both the hidden foundations and the visible structures that support our worship.
In Jeremiah 14:3, nobles search for water in cisterns but find none, illustrating human vulnerability when resources run dry. These empty vessels mirror moments in our own lives when we feel spiritually parched or unsupported. Yet, even in scarcity, the word points to God’s provision—He is the source that fills what we cannot fill ourselves.
Whether as a beam holding up a roof or a cistern storing rain, gev speaks of containment and support. In your faith journey, consider how God sustains you through both visible strengths and hidden reserves of grace. Trust that He provides what you need, whether in abundance or in waiting.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ditches2×
- beams1×
- [the] cisterns1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גֵּבִֽים\׃1×
- גֵּבִ֥ים\׀1×
- גֵּבִ֞ים1×
- גֵּבִ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 6:9
So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.
This verse uses gev to describe the cedar beams covering Solomon's temple, highlighting the word's structural meaning in a sacred building context.
-
II Kings 3:16
He said, “Yahweh says, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’
Here gev refers to trenches or cisterns dug into the valley, showing its practical use in military and agricultural preparation for water storage.
-
Jeremiah 14:3
Their nobles send their little ones to the waters. They come to the cisterns, and find no water. They return with their vessels empty. They are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads.
The nobles find no water in these cisterns, emphasizing the word's association with drought and spiritual disappointment when divine provision seems absent.