גֵּרָא (ge.ra)
ge.ra
Gera
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Gera, meaning "a grain," appears in the Hebrew Bible as a personal name rather than a common noun describing agriculture. It is listed among the sons of Benjamin, the patriarch whose family migrated to Egypt and later settled in the Promised Land (Genesis 46:21). In these genealogies, Gera serves as a link in the lineage that preserves the identity of the tribe.
Lexical sources note a slight variation in tradition regarding his parentage. While Genesis identifies him directly as a son of Benjamin, other records such as 1 Chronicles 8:1 and 1 Chronicles 9:35 list Gera as the son of Bela. Since Bela is also a son of Benjamin, this suggests Gera may be a grandson in those accounts or reflects a textual variant in how the family tree was recorded. This name appears seven times in Scripture, primarily in the books of Chronicles and Judges.
The occurrence of this name helps scholars trace the specific clans within the tribe of Benjamin. By distinguishing between different branches like the Gera family, the biblical text provides a detailed map of Israel’s tribal structure. The variations in how his generation is described highlight the complexity of ancient genealogical records, which sometimes compress generations or offer alternative traditions for the same ancestor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Gera appears in Scripture not as a description of faith, but as a link in a long chain of ancestors. In Genesis, he is listed among the sons of Benjamin, helping to preserve the identity of a family that would eventually become one of Israel’s twelve tribes. These genealogies remind us that God’s plan unfolds through real people, often unnamed or barely mentioned, whose lives contributed to a larger story.
Later, the name surfaces in more turbulent times. Ehud, a judge raised up to deliver Israel, is identified as the son of Gera. Shimei, who cursed King David, also carries this lineage. These instances show that the same family line could produce both deliverers and opponents. It highlights how God works through complex human histories, using ordinary names to mark significant moments in His redemptive work.
For believers today, these records offer comfort. We are part of a great cloud of witnesses, connected to a history that stretches back generations. Just as Gera’s name was preserved in Scripture, our lives too have meaning in God’s eyes. We can trust that He sees us and includes us in His ongoing story, even when our individual roles seem small.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Gera4×
- and/ Gera3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/גֵרָ֖א2×
- גֵּרָ֥א2×
- וְ/גֵרָ֥א1×
- גֵּרָא֙1×
- גֵּרָ֔א1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 46:21
The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
This verse establishes Gera’s place in the foundational genealogy of Benjamin, showing how his name helped preserve tribal identity during the migration to Egypt.
-
Judges 3:15
But when the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The children of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
Here, Gera is identified as the father of Ehud, a judge who delivered Israel from Moabite oppression, linking the name to a moment of divine rescue.
-
II Samuel 16:5
When King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came.
This occurrence introduces Shimei, son of Gera, whose cursing of David illustrates the political tensions and personal conflicts within Benjamin’s lineage during David’s reign.