גָּמַר (ga.mar)
ga.mar
to cease
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb gamar means to bring something to an end or to complete it. In the Old Testament, it describes the finality of a process, whether that is the conclusion of a period of time or the finishing of a task. The word carries a sense of definitive closure, marking the point where an action reaches its intended limit.
Although this verb appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, its usage in Psalm 104:30 is significant. There, it describes God sending forth His Spirit to renew the face of the ground. The text uses gamar not for destruction, but for the completion of a cycle that allows for new creation. This single occurrence highlights how the word can mark the end of one state as the necessary precursor to another.
Its Aramaic counterpart, gemar, shares this root meaning of completion. While the Hebrew form is rare, the concept it expresses is central to biblical theology: every beginning has an ending, and every ending makes way for what follows. The word reminds readers that divine actions are purposeful and reach their full measure.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gamar carries a quiet sense of finality. It marks the point where a process reaches its intended limit, bringing a cycle to a close so that something new may begin. In Psalm 104:30, this verb describes God sending His Spirit to renew the earth. The ending of one season is not an end in itself, but the necessary precursor to new creation.
This truth offers comfort when we face transitions. Whether you are completing a difficult task or waiting for a long-awaited change, your work is seen. God’s actions are purposeful and reach their full measure. He brings things to completion with care, ensuring that nothing is left unfinished in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he will avenge1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִגְמֹ֪ר1×
Key Verses
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Psalms 138:8
Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
This verse highlights God's faithful commitment to complete His work in your life, assuring you that He will not abandon what He has begun.