The Hebrew verb גָּשַׁם (root: ג-ש-ם) means “to rain” or “to pour rain.” It refers to the act of rainfall, both literal and, in prophetic literature, symbolic. The verb is relatively rare in the Tanakh and is most frequently used in poetic or descriptive passages. It is the verbal form of the noun גֶּשֶׁם, meaning “rain.”
In biblical usage, it generally appears in the Hiphil binyan (causative stem), meaning “to cause to rain,” indicating divine action in sending rainfall.
Hiphil Binyan Conjugation of גָּשַׁם (“to cause rain”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | הִגְשַׁמְתִּי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | הִגְשַׁמְתָּ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | הִגְשַׁמְתְּ |
| 3rd person masculine singular | הִגְשִׁים |
| 3rd person feminine singular | הִגְשִׁימָה |
| 1st person plural | הִגְשַׁמְנוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | הִגְשַׁמְתֶּם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | הִגְשַׁמְתֶּן |
| 3rd person plural | הִגְשִׁימוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | מַגְשִׁים |
| Feminine singular | מַגְשִׁימָה |
| Masculine plural | מַגְשִׁימִים |
| Feminine plural | מַגְשִׁימוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אַגְשִׁים |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תַּגְשִׁים |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תַּגְשִׁימִי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יַגְשִׁים |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תַּגְשִׁים |
| 1st person plural | נַגְשִׁים |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תַּגְשִׁימוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תַּגְשֵׁימְנָה |
| 3rd person plural | יַגְשִׁימוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | הַגְשֵׁם |
| 2nd person feminine singular | הַגְשִׁימִי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | הַגְשִׁימוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | הַגְשֵׁמְנָה |
גָּשַׁם in the Tanakh
The root ג־ש־ם appears primarily as the noun גֶּשֶׁם (“rain“). The verb גָּשַׁם itself in the Hiphil stem is attested, though infrequently.
Example:
- Ezekiel 13:11 – וְיָרַד גֶּשֶׁם שֹׁטֵף
“And there shall be a flooding rain…” — while not the verb גָּשַׁם itself, the noun derives from the same root. - Job 37:6 – כִּי לַשֶּׁלֶג יֹאמַר הֱוֵא אָרֶץ וְגֶשֶׁם מָטָר וְגֶשֶׁם מִטְרוֹת עֻזּוֹ
A poetic passage referring to divine control of rain.
Summary
The verb גָּשַׁם means “to rain” or “to cause rain,” appearing mostly in prophetic and poetic contexts. Though rarely used as a verb in the Tanakh, its noun form גֶּשֶׁם (“rain”) is prominent. In post-biblical and modern Hebrew, it takes on more abstract meanings as well, such as “to materialize” or “to realize (a plan),” especially in the Hiphil stem.
