The Hebrew verb גָּמַר (root: ג-מ-ר) means “to complete,” “to finish,” “to bring to an end,” or “to accomplish.” It conveys a strong sense of finishing something fully, whether that be an action, a project, a process, or even a period of time.
גָּמַר mainly appears in the Qal binyan (simple action: to complete) and occasionally in the Piel binyan (intensive: to finish thoroughly).
Qal Binyan Conjugation of גָּמַר (“to complete, finish”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | גָּמַרְתִּי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | גָּמַרְתָּ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | גָּמַרְתְּ |
| 3rd person masculine singular | גָּמַר |
| 3rd person feminine singular | גָּמְרָה |
| 1st person plural | גָּמַרְנוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | גְּמַרְתֶּם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | גְּמַרְתֶּן |
| 3rd person plural | גָּמְרוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | גּוֹמֵר |
| Feminine singular | גּוֹמֶרֶת |
| Masculine plural | גּוֹמְרִים |
| Feminine plural | גּוֹמְרוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אֶגְמֹר |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תִּגְמֹר |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תִּגְמְרִי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יִגְמֹר |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תִּגְמֹר |
| 1st person plural | נִגְמֹר |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תִּגְמְרוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תִּגְמֹרְנָה |
| 3rd person plural | יִגְמְרוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | גְּמֹר |
| 2nd person feminine singular | גִּמְרִי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | גִּמְרוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | גְּמֹרְנָה |
Usage in Scripture
- Psalm 138:8 – יְהוָה יִגְמֹר בַּעֲדִי
“The LORD will accomplish it for me.” — expressing divine faithfulness to finish His work. - 2 Chronicles 4:11 – וַיְגַמֵּר חוּרָם אֶת הַמְּלָאכָה
“And Ḥuram finished the work.” — describing the completion of the Temple vessels. - Isaiah 10:12 – וְהָיָה כִּי יְבַצֵּעַ אֲדֹנָי אֶת־כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂהוּ
“When the Lord has completed all His work…” — similar idea of bringing action to its conclusion.
Summary
The verb גָּמַר powerfully conveys the idea of finishing something completely—whether a task, a promise, or a divine action. Its appearance in Scripture reflects both human responsibility to complete duties and God’s assurance to fulfill His purposes. Thus, גָּמַר embodies themes of faithfulness, fulfillment, and closure throughout the biblical narrative.
