גַּיְא
gay
(Iphtahel) Valley
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word גַּיְא (H3317) is primarily related to geography, referring to a valley or low area of land. The transliteration "gay" reflects the word's connection to the place name Iphtahel, which likely shares a similar meaning. This geographical designation appears four times in the Bible, suggesting its significance in various contexts. Given its association with a specific place, it is possible that the word גַּיְא has a more specific connotation, potentially related to the natural features of a region. However, without further information, its meaning remains tied to the concept of a valley or low area. In each occurrence, the word is used as a proper noun, indicating its importance in the narratives or descriptions. The use of this word in the Bible may be indicative of its cultural significance, particularly in relation to place names. Its repetition suggests a connection to the natural environment and possibly a sense of identity or region-specific characteristics.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences across the text
The border turned around it on the north to Hannathon; and it ended at the valley of Iphtah El;
Joshua 19:14The border turned around it on the north to Hannathon; and it ended at the valley of Iphtah El;
Joshua 19:27It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. It went out to Cabul on the left hand,
Joshua 19:27It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. It went out to Cabul on the left hand,