גָּוַע (ga.va)
ga.va
to die
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb gaʿa means to expire or give up the ghost, describing the physical act of breathing out one’s last breath. It appears twenty times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Genesis, Job, and Numbers. The word carries a vivid, concrete image of life ending not as an abstract concept, but as a final exhalation.
Its root sense is closely tied to the breath itself, implying that death is the moment when life’s wind leaves the body. This nuance is clear in Genesis 25:8 and 35:29, where patriarchs are said to have "given up the ghost," marking the end of their earthly journey with a specific focus on the cessation of breath.
In Job, the word takes on a more desperate tone. The protagonist uses it to express his longing for death as relief from suffering, asking why he did not simply perish at birth (Job 3:11) or why God does not allow him to give up the ghost (Job 10:18). Here, gaʿa is not just a biological event but a plea for release from pain.
Translators often render it as "die" or "perish," though these English terms can feel flat compared to the original’s sensory weight. The sources highlight that gaʿa emphasizes the process of dying, particularly the final moments when breath fails, making it a powerful word for describing the tangible reality of mortality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word gaʿa paints death not as a distant concept, but as a physical moment: the final exhalation of breath. In Genesis, we see patriarchs like Abraham and Isaac "giving up the spirit," marking the end of their earthly journey with a sense of completion. This imagery reminds us that life is a gift sustained by God’s breath, and its departure is a tangible return to Him.
In the Psalms and Job, this word carries the weight of human suffering. When Job asks why he did not give up his spirit at birth, he expresses a deep longing for relief from pain. This honest plea shows that faith does not require us to hide our despair. God hears even our cries for release, meeting us in our vulnerability rather than demanding stoic silence.
Ultimately, this word points to the fragility of human life and the certainty of mortality. Yet, it also highlights the intimacy of our relationship with the Creator, who gives breath and takes it away. Trusting in His sovereignty allows us to face the end of life not with fear, but with a quiet hope that our lives are held securely in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he expired5×
- I will expire2×
- when/ died1×
- we had died1×
- they will perish1×
- they perished1×
- they die/ !1×
- it will expire1×
- he had died1×
- did he die?1×
- and/ they may expire1×
- and/ it died1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּגְוַ֨ע2×
- וַ/יִּגְוַ֖ע2×
- וְ/אֶגְוָֽע\׃2×
- גָוַ֖ע2×
- אֶגְוָ֑ע2×
- יִגְוָע֑וּ/ן1×
- יִגְוָֽע\׃1×
- יִגְוָ֑עוּ1×
- יִגְוַ֣ע1×
- וַ/יִּגְוַ֣ע1×
- וַ/יִּגְוַ֞ע1×
- וְ֝/יִגְוְע֗וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 25:8
Abraham gave up his spirit, and died at a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
This verse uses gaʿa to describe Abraham's peaceful passing, framing death as a natural conclusion to a life fully lived and "gathered to his people."
-
Job 3:11
“Why didn’t I die from the womb? Why didn’t I give up the spirit when my mother bore me?
Here the word expresses Job’s desperate wish that he had perished at birth, highlighting its use for death as a potential release from intense suffering.
-
Psalms 104:29
You hide your face; they are troubled. You take away their breath; they die and return to the dust.
The psalmist connects the taking away of breath directly to returning to dust, emphasizing God’s active role in both sustaining and ending life.
-
Job 14:10
But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?
This occurrence contrasts the finality of man giving up his spirit with the question of where he goes, underscoring the mystery surrounding death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does gaʿa mean in Hebrew?
How is gaʿa different from other words for death?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (20 verses across 7 books)
Genesis 6 verses
I, even I, will bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the…
Genesis 7:21All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the…
Genesis 25:8Abraham gave up his spirit, and died at a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
Genesis 25:17These are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was…
Genesis 35:29Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons,…
Genesis 49:33When Jacob finished charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered…