The Hebrew verb גֵּרֵשׁ (root: ג-ר-שׁ) means “to drive out,” “to banish,” “to expel,” or “to divorce.” It appears in both physical and legal contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible—from expelling people from a land to the formal act of sending away a spouse.
The verb most commonly appears in the Piel binyan (intensive), indicating strong or forceful expulsion. Less frequently, it appears in the Qal and Niphal stems with similar connotations of removal or separation.
Piel Binyan Conjugation of גֵּרֵשׁ (“to drive out, to expel”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | גֵּרַשְׁתִּי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | גֵּרַשְׁתָּ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | גֵּרַשְׁתְּ |
| 3rd person masculine singular | גֵּרֵשׁ |
| 3rd person feminine singular | גֵּרְשָׁה |
| 1st person plural | גֵּרַשְׁנוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | גֵּרַשְׁתֶּם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | גֵּרַשְׁתֶּן |
| 3rd person plural | גֵּרְשׁוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | מְגָרֵשׁ |
| Feminine singular | מְגָרֶשֶׁת |
| Masculine plural | מְגָרְשִׁים |
| Feminine plural | מְגָרְשׁוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אֲגָרֵשׁ |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תְּגָרֵשׁ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תְּגָרְשִׁי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יְגָרֵשׁ |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תְּגָרֵשׁ |
| 1st person plural | נְגָרֵשׁ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תְּגָרְשׁוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תְּגָרֵשְׁנָה |
| 3rd person plural | יְגָרְשׁוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | גָּרֵשׁ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | גָּרְשִׁי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | גָּרְשׁוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | גָּרֵשְׁנָה |
Usage in Scripture
- Genesis 3:24 – וַיְגָרֶשׁ אֶת־הָאָדָם
“So He drove out the man.” — God expels Adam from the Garden of Eden. - Exodus 6:1 – כִּי בְיָד חֲזָקָה יְשַׁלְּחֵם וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה יְגָרְשֵׁם מֵאַרְצוֹ
“For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” - Deuteronomy 24:1 – וְכָתַב לָהּ סֵפֶר כְּרִיתוּת וְנָתַן בְּיָדָהּ וְשִׁלְּחָהּ מִבֵּיתוֹ
(Related verb used in divorce contexts. Although the word “גרש” is not used directly here, it is conceptually parallel.)
Summary
The verb גֵּרֵשׁ is a powerful term in biblical Hebrew conveying forceful separation—whether from a physical location (as with exile or banishment) or a relational bond (such as divorce). Its use emphasizes decisive action and is often associated with divine judgment, national expulsion, or legal dissolution. The term remains foundational in both biblical and legal Hebrew vocabularies.
