1619. Gareb

Lexical Summary

Gareb: Gareb

Original Word: גָּרֵב
Part of Speech: proper name, masculine; proper name, of a location
Transliteration: Gareb
Pronunciation: gah-REB
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-rabe')
KJV: Gareb
NASB: Gareb
Word Origin: [from the same as H1618 (גָּרָב - eczema)]

1. scabby
2. Gareb, the name of an Israelite, also of a hill near Jerusalem

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Gareb

From the same as garab; scabby; Gareb, the name of an Israelite, also of a hill near Jerusalem -- Gareb.

see HEBREW garab

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as garab
Definition
one of David's heroes, also a hill near Jer.
NASB Translation
Gareb (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

גָּרֵב 1. proper name, masculine (compare Palmyrene proper name, masculine גריבא Vog¹⁴¹) one of David's heroes 2 Samuel 23:38 = 1 Chronicles 11:40.

2. proper name, of a location (compare Sabean proper name, of a location גרבם Hal^{No. 379, 382}) only in גִּבְעַת גָּרֵב Jeremiah 31:39 hill of Gareb, apparently close to Jerusalem on the southwest compare Gf; see also Hi Che.

גַּרְגַּר, גַּרְגְּרוֺת see below גרר.

Topical Lexicon

Occurrences in Scripture

Gareb appears three times in the Old Testament: twice as the name of one of David’s elite soldiers (2 Samuel 23:38; 1 Chronicles 11:40) and once as a topographic landmark in a prophecy of restored Jerusalem (Jeremiah 31:39).

Gareb the Ithrite: A Mighty Man of Valor

In the catalog of “the Thirty,” David’s famed fighting force, Gareb is listed alongside warriors such as Uriah the Hittite and Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Though little biographical detail is given, the repetition of his name in both Samuel and Chronicles underscores his enduring reputation in Israel’s collective memory. The term “Ithrite” links him to a southern Judean clan, suggesting that Gareb hailed from the same rugged hill country where David himself once sought refuge from Saul (1 Samuel 23:14–18). Gareb’s inclusion among the Thirty testifies to his courage, loyalty, and proficiency in battle—qualities prized in the kingdom’s formative years.

Historical Significance

1. Military Cohesion: David’s mighty men represent a diverse mix of regions and ethnicities united under the anointed king. Gareb’s place among them illustrates how devotion to the Lord’s chosen leader transcended tribal boundaries, foreshadowing the nation’s later consolidation around Jerusalem.
2. Covenant-Loyalty: By standing with David during years of civil unrest and foreign aggression, Gareb embodied the covenant principle of ḥesed toward God’s appointed ruler (Psalm 18 superscription). His faithfulness models the steadfast allegiance God’s people owe to their divine King.
3. Legacy of the Remnant: Scripture preserves even lesser-known names to affirm that faithful service is never lost in God’s sight (Malachi 3:16). Gareb’s brief mention reminds readers that the Lord records every act of loyalty, whether public or obscure.

The Hill Gareb: Covenant Restoration Geography

Jeremiah foresees a future when Jerusalem will be rebuilt and its boundaries expanded: “The measuring line will once again stretch out straight to the hill Gareb and then turn toward Goah” (Jeremiah 31:39). This prophecy forms part of the celebrated New Covenant oracle (Jeremiah 31:31–34). The hill’s precise modern location remains uncertain, but its role within the vision is clear.

1. Symbol of Accurate Restoration: The measuring line denotes exactness and divine intention (Zechariah 2:1–2). By naming Gareb, the prophecy affirms that God’s renewed city will possess defined limits—not haphazard but architecturally ordered by the Lord.
2. Inclusion of Outlying Areas: The reference to Gareb—situated beyond the earlier walls—signals an enlargement of Jerusalem, prefiguring the global scope of redemptive blessing promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:3).
3. Assurance of Holiness: The hill is incorporated into a city that “will never again be uprooted or demolished” (Jeremiah 31:40). Spatial expansion mirrors spiritual renewal: the New Covenant people enjoy secure, perpetual fellowship with God.

Theological and Ministry Insights

• God Remembers the Faithful: Whether a celebrated commander like Joab or a lesser-known warrior like Gareb, every servant’s name is recorded when it is joined to God’s saving purposes. This encourages believers to labor “not for human masters but for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23–24).
• Particular Places Matter in God’s Plan: Hill Gareb exemplifies how geography can serve redemptive history. Landmarks become testimonies of divine promise, reminding believers that God’s salvation engages tangible realities, not merely abstract ideals.
• Unity Through Covenant: The Ithrite’s loyalty and the hill’s incorporation into restored Jerusalem both highlight God’s pattern of gathering diverse people and territories under one covenant headship, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:14–22).

Lessons for Contemporary Believers

1. Serve Faithfully in Anonymity: Gareb’s scant biography challenges modern disciples to embrace obscurity when the Lord assigns it, trusting that divine commendation outweighs human applause.
2. Expect Fulfilled Promises: Just as Jeremiah’s measuring line reached Gareb, so every divine promise in Scripture will find exact completion. Christians therefore labor with confidence, “knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
3. Engage Place and Community: Ministries today should value local contexts—cities, neighborhoods, even “hills” others overlook—believing that God embeds grace within actual places and communities destined for redemption.

Summary

Gareb links a valiant warrior of David’s monarchy with a prophetic hill in Jeremiah’s vision of renewed Jerusalem. Both appearances point to the Lord’s meticulous remembrance of His servants and His sovereign design for His people’s dwelling. By studying Gareb, readers glimpse the coherence of Scripture’s story: personal faithfulness and eschatological hope converge under God’s unfailing covenant purposes.

Forms and Transliterations

גָּרֵ֑ב גָּרֵ֖ב גרב gā·rêḇ gārêḇ gaRev

Englishman's Concordance

2 Samuel 23:38
HEB: עִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃ ס
NAS: Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
KJV: Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
INT: Ira the Ithrite Gareb the Ithrite

1 Chronicles 11:40
HEB: עִירָא֙ הַיִּתְרִ֔י גָּרֵ֖ב הַיִּתְרִֽי׃ ס
NAS: Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
KJV: Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
INT: Ira the Ithrite Gareb the Ithrite

Jeremiah 31:39
HEB: עַ֖ל גִּבְעַ֣ת גָּרֵ֑ב וְנָסַ֖ב גֹּעָֽתָה׃
NAS: to the hill Gareb; then it will turn
KJV: over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about
INT: unto the hill Gareb will turn to Goah

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1619
3 Occurrences

gā·rêḇ — 3 Occ.