גַּם (gam)
gam
also
H:ConjQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 592 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Conj
Word Overview
The Hebrew adverb gam functions as a versatile tool for addition and emphasis, most commonly translated as "also" or "even." Its core sense involves gathering elements together, which allows it to link words or clauses with a sense of accumulation. In narrative texts like Genesis, it frequently appears to add detail or heighten the significance of an action, such as when God promises to accompany Abraham in Genesis 46:4.
Its range extends beyond simple addition into areas of stress and contrast. It can intensify a statement for emphasis, as seen in Genesis 20:5 where Abimelech insists on his innocence, or introduce a climactic point. In poetic and prophetic literature, including Jeremiah, it often carries an adversative force, meaning "yet" or "though," highlighting a surprising turn of events or a stubborn reality despite circumstances.
Translators must carefully discern the context to choose between "also," "even," or "yet." The word’s flexibility allows it to bridge logical connections that English might handle with separate conjunctions. This adaptability makes it a frequent and essential component in Hebrew storytelling, enabling writers to weave complex layers of meaning into concise phrases.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gam adds weight to what is already true. It does not introduce something entirely new but deepens our attention to a reality God has already spoken. When Scripture says God will also judge, or that He will also bless, the emphasis rests on the certainty and completeness of His action.
In Genesis 20:6, Abimelech acted with integrity, yet God adds that He also withheld him from sinning. This shows that human faithfulness meets divine protection. We are not left to manage our own righteousness alone; God’s grace surrounds our efforts with care.
This word reminds us that God’s promises accumulate rather than diminish. When He says He will also provide, it means His provision is thorough and reliable. You can rest in the knowledge that His word carries full weight, covering every detail of your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 592 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- also369×
- and/ also212×
- both36×
- as well as36×
- nor12×
- neither9×
- ¿/ also7×
- that/ also3×
- <and>/ as well as3×
- in/ that/ also1×
- and/ [are] both1×
- and/ [are] also1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גַּם\־277×
- וְ/גַם\־96×
- גַם\־58×
- גַּ֣ם36×
- וְ/גַם֙18×
- וְ/גַ֣ם16×
- גַּ֤ם15×
- וְ/גַ֨ם13×
- גַּ֥ם13×
- גַּ֚ם13×
- וְ/גַ֖ם12×
- וְ֠/גַם9×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 20:6
God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her.
The word emphasizes God's active intervention to protect Abimelech from sin despite his own integrity.
-
Genesis 15:14
I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth;
It extends the promise of deliverance to include the necessary judgment against the oppressing nation.
-
Genesis 21:13
I will also make a nation of the son of the servant, because he is your child.”
It confirms that God’s covenant faithfulness extends beyond Isaac to include Ishmael as well.
-
Genesis 3:22
Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever—”
It highlights the additional consequence of eating from the tree of life, underscoring the seriousness of human knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word gam mean?
How is gam different from the simple word for 'and'?
Where does gam appear most often?
Every Occurrence (592 verses across 35 books)
Genesis 72 verses
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be…
Genesis 3:22Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand,…
Genesis 4:4Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
Genesis 4:22Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister…
Genesis 4:26A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on Yahweh’s name.
Genesis 6:3Yahweh said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; so his days will be one hundred…
Genesis 6:4The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had…
Genesis 7:3Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth.
Genesis 10:21Children were also born to Shem (the elder brother of Japheth), the father of all the children of Eber.
Genesis 13:5Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents.
Genesis 13:16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your…
Genesis 14:7They returned, and came to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the…
Genesis 14:16He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the other…
Genesis 15:14I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth;
Genesis 16:13She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after…
Genesis 17:16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of…
Genesis 19:21He said to him, “Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of…
Genesis 19:34It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father.…
Genesis 19:35They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger went and lay with him. He didn’t know when she lay down,…
Genesis 19:38The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi. He is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.
Genesis 20:4Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?
Genesis 20:5Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the…
Genesis 20:6God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld…
Genesis 20:12Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
Genesis 21:13I will also make a nation of the son of the servant, because he is your child.”
Genesis 21:26Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear of it until today.”
Genesis 22:20After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor:
Genesis 22:24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
Genesis 24:14Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says,…
Genesis 24:19When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished…
Genesis 24:25She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.”
Genesis 24:44then she tells me, “Drink, and I will also draw for your camels,”—let her be the woman whom Yahweh has appointed for my…
Genesis 24:46She hurried and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink.’ So…
Genesis 26:21They dug another well, and they argued over that, also. So he called its name Sitnah.
Genesis 27:31He also made savory food, and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father arise, and eat of his…
Genesis 27:33Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of…
Genesis 27:34When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father,…
Genesis 27:38Esau said to his father, “Do you have just one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, my father.” Esau lifted up…
Genesis 27:45until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you…
Genesis 29:27Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for…
Genesis 29:30He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
Genesis 29:33She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me…
Genesis 30:3She said, “Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.”
Genesis 30:6Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore she called his name…
Genesis 30:8Rachel said, “I have wrestled with my sister with mighty wrestlings, and have prevailed.” She named him Naphtali.
Genesis 30:15Leah said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes,…
Genesis 30:30For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I…
Genesis 31:15Aren’t we considered as foreigners by him? For he has sold us, and has also used up our money.
Genesis 33:7Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed…
Genesis 35:17When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”
Genesis 37:7for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your…
Genesis 38:10The thing which he did was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and he killed him also.
Genesis 38:11Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown…
Genesis 38:22He returned to Judah, and said, “I haven’t found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute…
Genesis 38:24About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold,…
Genesis 40:15For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me…
Genesis 42:22Reuben answered them, saying, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘Don’t sin against the child,’ and you wouldn’t listen?…
Genesis 42:28He said to his brothers, “My money is restored! Behold, it is in my sack!” Their hearts failed them, and they turned…
Genesis 43:8Judah said to Israel, his father, “Send the boy with me, and we’ll get up and go, so that we may live, and not die,…
Genesis 44:9With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”
Genesis 44:10He said, “Now also let it be according to your words. He with whom it is found will be my slave; and you will be…
Genesis 44:16Judah said, “What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? How will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity…
Genesis 44:29If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.’
Genesis 46:4I will go down with you into Egypt. I will also surely bring you up again. Joseph’s hand will close your eyes.”
Genesis 46:34that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our…
Genesis 47:3Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we,…
Genesis 47:19Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be…
Genesis 48:11Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.”
Genesis 48:19His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great.…
Genesis 50:9Both chariots and horsemen went up with him. It was a very great company.
Genesis 50:18His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
Genesis 50:23Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on…