1642. Gerar
Lexical Summary
Gerar: Gerar

Original Word: גְּרָר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Grar
Pronunciation: guh-RAHR
Phonetic Spelling: (gher-awr')
KJV: Gerar
NASB: Gerar
Word Origin: [probably from H1641 (גָּרַר - drag them away)]

1. a rolling country
2. Gerar, a Philistine city

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Gerar

Probably from garar; a rolling country; Gerar, a Philistine city -- Gerar.

see HEBREW garar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from garar
Definition
a place S. of Gaza
NASB Translation
Gerar (10).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
גְּרָר proper name, of a location south of Gaza, usually identified with modern Umm Jerâr BdPal 159 GuérinJudée ii. 257 ff.; but Wady Jer¥r west of ±Ain †ad£s according to TrumbullKadesh Barnea 61 ff. compare GutheZPV viii 1885, 215; Genesis 20:2; Genesis 26:6,20,26; 2Chron 14:12; 2 Chronicles 14:13; גְּרָ֫רָה Genesis 10:19, 26:1; נַ֫חַל גְּרָר Genesis 26:17; וַיָּגָר בִּגְרָר Genesis 20:1.

גרשׂ (Arabic bray, pound, grind, coarse, Aramaic גְּרַס (rare) crush, , crushed, crush, destroy; compare following).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Gerar is a border town in the southwestern reaches of Canaan, set on the edge of the Negev and the coastal plain. In Scripture it marks the meeting point between patriarchal promise and Philistine power, a place where covenant faithfulness is tested, affirmed, and displayed. Gerar’s valley with its seasonal riverbed provided pastureland, making it attractive to both nomadic herdsmen and settled Philistines. Ten Old-Testament references trace Gerar’s role from the Table of Nations to the reign of King Asa.

Geographical Setting

• Lies south-southeast of Gaza, west of Beersheba, along the Wadi es-Shari‘ah (modern Nahal Gerar).
• Forms part of the southern border of Canaan (Genesis 10:19).
• Fertile valley supplied by intermittent streams, sustaining crops even in famine years (Genesis 26:12).
• Controlled in patriarchal times by Philistine rulers bearing the title Abimelech, guarded by the commander Phicol (Genesis 20:2; 26:26).

Patriarchal Encounters

1. Abraham in Gerar (Genesis 20): Fleeing famine, Abraham settles “between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar” (Genesis 20:1). His lapse regarding Sarah brings divine intervention, vindicating the sanctity of marriage and reminding Gentile rulers that Yahweh protects His covenant bearers.
2. Isaac in Gerar (Genesis 26): Another famine drives Isaac to the city. The LORD forbids Egypt and reaffirms the Abrahamic promise: “Stay in this land, and I will be with you and bless you” (Genesis 26:3). Isaac’s prosperity—“in that year he reaped a hundredfold” (Genesis 26:12)—provokes Philistine envy, leading to the dispute over wells and culminating in a covenant meal at Beersheba (Genesis 26:30–31). Gerar thus witnesses both hostility and peacemaking rooted in divine blessing.
3. The Wells of Gerar: Esek (“contention”) and Sitnah (“hostility”) symbolize human strife, while Rehoboth (“broad places”) points to the spaciousness of God’s provision (Genesis 26:20–22).

Covenant Affirmations and Blessing

At Gerar God twice certifies His promise to the patriarchs: first by preserving Sarah’s purity and seed, then by multiplying Isaac’s crops and herds. Human weakness does not nullify divine faithfulness. The oath sworn between Isaac and Abimelech models peaceful coexistence without compromise of identity.

Gerar and the Philistines

• Political Structure: A hereditary title “Abimelech” suggests dynastic rule; the presence of a standing army commander (Phicol) indicates organized governance.
• Cultural Interaction: The Philistines recognize the power of Yahweh (“We saw clearly that the LORD has been with you,” Genesis 26:28), foreshadowing later Gentile acknowledgment.
• Moral Boundaries: Abraham’s and Isaac’s deceptions expose the tension between fear-driven diplomacy and trusting obedience.

Gerar in the Divided Kingdom Period

During King Asa’s reign the Cushite host under Zerah advances into Judah. After earnest prayer Asa routs the invaders: “Asa and the people with him pursued them as far as Gerar. And so many Cushites fell that they could not recover” (2 Chronicles 14:13). The pursuit continues beyond Gerar, and the spoils taken from the surrounding towns (2 Chronicles 14:14) highlight the city’s strategic importance as a corridor to Egypt and Africa.

Theological and Ministry Themes

• God’s Sovereignty over Borders: Whether patriarchal wanderings or national warfare, Gerar demonstrates that boundaries are ultimately governed by the LORD.
• Integrity and Witness: The contrast between Abraham’s fear and Abimelech’s integrity underscores the believer’s call to truthful living.
• Prosperity and Persecution: Isaac’s material blessing amidst Philistine jealousy shows that divine favor may invite opposition; patience and negotiation can maintain witness without forfeiting blessing.
• Revival through Dependence: Asa’s victory illustrates that reliance on God, not military might, secures deliverance (cf. 2 Chronicles 14:11).

Prophetic and Typological Echoes

Gerar, situated between promised land and foreign territory, prefigures the Church’s mission field—living among the nations while holding covenant promises. The reopened wells mirror the restoration of gospel truth in times of drought, and the covenant meal anticipates table fellowship in Christ that reconciles former enemies.

Key References

Genesis 10:19; 20:1–2; 26:1, 6, 17, 20, 26

2 Chronicles 14:13–14

Forms and Transliterations
בִּגְרָֽר׃ בגרר׃ גְּרָ֔ר גְּרָ֖ר גְּרָֽרָה׃ גְרָ֖רָה גְרָ֗ר גרר גררה גררה׃ לִגְרָר֒ לגרר מִגְּרָ֑ר מגרר biḡ·rār bigRar biḡrār gə·rā·rāh ḡə·rā·rāh gə·rār ḡə·rār geRar gərār ḡərār geRarah gərārāh ḡərārāh liḡ·rār ligRar liḡrār mig·gə·rār miggeRar miggərār
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 10:19
HEB: מִצִּידֹ֔ן בֹּאֲכָ֥ה גְרָ֖רָה עַד־ עַזָּ֑ה
NAS: as you go toward Gerar, as far
KJV: as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza;
INT: Sidon go Gerar far Gaza

Genesis 20:1
HEB: שׁ֑וּר וַיָּ֖גָר בִּגְרָֽר׃
NAS: and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar.
KJV: and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
INT: and Shur sojourned Gerar

Genesis 20:2
HEB: אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ גְּרָ֔ר וַיִּקַּ֖ח אֶת־
NAS: king of Gerar sent
KJV: king of Gerar sent,
INT: Abimelech king of Gerar and took Sarah

Genesis 26:1
HEB: מֶֽלֶךְ־ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים גְּרָֽרָה׃
NAS: went to Gerar, to Abimelech
KJV: king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
INT: king of the Philistines to Gerar

Genesis 26:6
HEB: וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יִצְחָ֖ק בִּגְרָֽר׃
NAS: So Isaac lived in Gerar.
KJV: And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
INT: lived Isaac Gerar

Genesis 26:17
HEB: וַיִּ֥חַן בְּנַֽחַל־ גְּרָ֖ר וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב שָֽׁם׃
NAS: in the valley of Gerar, and settled
KJV: in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt
INT: and camped the valley of Gerar and settled there

Genesis 26:20
HEB: וַיָּרִ֜יבוּ רֹעֵ֣י גְרָ֗ר עִם־ רֹעֵ֥י
NAS: the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled
KJV: And the herdmen of Gerar did strive
INT: quarreled shipherd of Gerar with shipherd

Genesis 26:26
HEB: הָלַ֥ךְ אֵלָ֖יו מִגְּרָ֑ר וַאֲחֻזַּת֙ מֵֽרֵעֵ֔הוּ
NAS: came to him from Gerar with his adviser
KJV: went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath
INT: came to him Gerar Ahuzzath his adviser

2 Chronicles 14:13
HEB: עִמּוֹ֮ עַד־ לִגְרָר֒ וַיִּפֹּ֤ל מִכּוּשִׁים֙
NAS: them as far as Gerar; and so many Ethiopians
KJV: that [were] with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians
INT: as far Gerar fell Ethiopians

2 Chronicles 14:14
HEB: הֶֽעָרִים֙ סְבִיב֣וֹת גְּרָ֔ר כִּי־ הָיָ֥ה
NAS: around Gerar, for the dread
KJV: round about Gerar; for the fear
INT: the cities around Gerar for had fallen

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1642
10 Occurrences


biḡ·rār — 2 Occ.
gə·rār — 4 Occ.
ḡə·rā·rāh — 2 Occ.
liḡ·rār — 1 Occ.
mig·gə·rār — 1 Occ.

1641
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