גֹּ֫מֶא (go.me)
go.me
reed
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gomè refers to a tall, hollow-stemmed aquatic plant, commonly translated as reed, rush, or papyrus. These plants thrived along the banks of the Nile and other waterways in the ancient Near East, forming dense thickets that provided both shelter and raw materials. In Scripture, the word describes the physical environment of Egypt and the wild places where such vegetation grew abundant.
Its most famous appearance occurs in Exodus 1:14, where the Israelites are forced to make bricks using straw mixed with this plant material. The text notes they used gomè instead of straw, highlighting its role as a structural binder in construction. This practical use underscores the word’s connection to labor and survival in a harsh landscape.
Though simple in meaning, gomè carries symbolic weight. In Isaiah 36:6 and Job 8:11, it becomes a metaphor for fragility and instability. A reed is lightweight and easily broken, making it an unsuitable support for heavy burdens. This imagery warns against trusting in weak or unreliable sources, contrasting sharply with the steadfastness attributed to God.
Translators often choose between "reed," "rush," or "papyrus" depending on context. While these terms overlap in English, gomè specifically denotes the plant’s utility and its presence in wetlands. Its brevity in Scripture reflects its everyday familiarity to ancient readers, who would have recognized both its physical form and its symbolic implications.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gomè describes the tall, hollow plants that grew along the Nile’s banks. In Exodus, these reeds formed the setting for a mother’s desperate hope as she placed her baby in a basket among them. This image reminds us that even in places of danger or uncertainty, God can preserve what is precious to Him. The reed was not just scenery; it was part of the daily reality of survival and faith.
Yet Scripture also uses this fragile plant as a warning. In Job and Isaiah, the reed represents instability—something that bends with every wind and breaks under pressure. When we lean on human strength or fleeting circumstances, we risk standing on such shifting ground. The contrast is clear: while reeds sway in the current, God offers a foundation that does not move.
This duality invites reflection. We are called to trust in the One who stands firm, rather than relying on what appears strong but lacks depth. In seasons of vulnerability, remember that your safety rests not in the stability of the world, but in the steadfast love of God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- papyrus3×
- and/ papyrus1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וָ/גֹֽמֶא\׃1×
- גֹּ֭מֶא1×
- גֹּ֔מֶא1×
- גֹמֶא֮1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 2:3
When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.
This verse grounds the word in a moment of divine providence, where reeds become the hiding place for Moses, showing how God uses ordinary elements to protect His purposes.
-
Job 8:11
“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
Here the reed illustrates fragility, asking rhetorically if it can survive without water, thereby highlighting human dependence on God rather than self-sufficiency.
-
Isaiah 35:7
The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.
The transformation of dry ground into a place where reeds flourish signals God’s restorative power, turning desolation into life and abundance.