גֵּרְשֹׁם (ge.re.shom)
ge.re.shom
Gershom
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 Gershom, derived from the Hebrew root meaning "stranger" or "sojourner," appears seven times in Scripture, primarily within Exodus and 1 Chronicles. It identifies the firstborn son of Moses and Zipporah, born while the family lived in Midian before the Exodus. The etymology serves as a personal memorial to Moses’s status as an alien in a foreign land, reflecting his separation from his own people during this period.
While the name is most famously associated with Moses’s son, the lexicon notes its broader usage within the tribe of Levi. It also designates a descendant of Levi and a grandson of Phinehas who returned from exile with Ezra. This variety of bearers highlights how a name rooted in displacement became part of the enduring lineage of Israel’s priestly family.
Translators consistently render Gershom as a proper noun, preserving the connection to the concept of foreignness without translating it literally in context. The recurrence of the name across different generations underscores its significance not just as an identifier, but as a theological marker of identity for those living between their homeland and their current residence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Gershom carries a quiet weight of displacement and divine provision. It comes from a Hebrew root meaning 'stranger' or 'sojourner,' marking the time Moses spent in Midian before leading Israel out of Egypt. For Moses, this name was more than a label; it was a reminder that he was living as an alien in a foreign land, separated from his own people yet held by God’s care.
Yet this story does not end with exile. The lineage of Gershom continues through generations, appearing in the records of priests and treasurers who served Israel faithfully. This shows how God can take moments of separation and weave them into a lasting legacy. If you ever feel like an outsider or are navigating a season of transition, remember that your current circumstances do not define your final place in God’s story.
There is comfort in knowing that even those who live as strangers are remembered and used for purpose. The faithfulness of Moses’s descendants points to a larger truth: God keeps His promises across generations, turning periods of waiting into foundations for future service.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Gershom6×
- [was] Gershom1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גֵּרְשֹׁ֨ם1×
- גֵּרְשֹׁ֖ם1×
- גֵּרְשֹׁ֑ם1×
- גֵּרְשׁ֣וֹם1×
- גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם\ \ס1×
- גֵּֽרְשֹׁ֔ם1×
- גֵרְשׁ֖וֹם1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 2:22
She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have lived as a foreigner in a foreign land.”
This verse establishes the etymology of the name, explicitly linking Gershom to Moses’s experience as a foreigner in Midian.
-
Judges 18:30
The children of Dan set up for themselves the engraved image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
This occurrence highlights the complex legacy of Moses’s family, showing how his grandson served as a priest in a context that later became problematic for Israel.
-
I Chronicles 26:24
Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasuries.
Here Gershom is identified as an ancestor of a treasuries ruler, demonstrating the enduring administrative role of his lineage within the temple service.