Original Word: גָּרָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: garah
Pronunciation: gah-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-raw')
KJV: contend, meddle, stir up, strive
NASB: provoke, stirs, mobilize, contend, engaged in conflict, strive, wage war
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to grate, i.e. (figuratively) to anger

contend, meddle, stir up, strive

A primitive root; properly, to grate, i.e. (figuratively) to anger -- contend, meddle, stir up, strive.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to stir up (strife), engage in strife
NASB Translation
contend (1), engaged in conflict (1), mobilize (2), provoke (5), stirs (3), strive (1), wage war (1).

[גָּרָה] verb only

Pi`el stir up strife,

Hithpa`el engage in strife (compare Late Hebrew Pi`el stir up, excite, against (בְּ) Hithpa`el; Aramaic Pa`el גָּרֵא ; especially Assyrian garû, Qal attack, be at war with, garû, girû, enemy, etc. Asrb^{Annals iv. 49, 50} (KB^{ii. 190}) also SASmith^{Assurbanipal i. ii. Glossary}; Arabic is run, especially of water, flow, etc.) —

Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular יְגָרֶה Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 28:25; Proverbs 29:22, all with object מָדוֺן excite, stir up, strife. — On גֵּרָה Deuteronomy 14:8 see I. גֵּרָה below גרר.

Hithpa`el Perfect2feminine singular הִתְגָּרִיתְ Jeremiah 50:24; Imperfect3masculine singular יִתְגָּרֶה Daniel 11:25, וְיִתְגָּרֶ֯ו Daniel 11:10; 2masculine singular תִּתְגָּרֶה 2 Kings 14:19; 2Chronicles 25:19; jussive with apocope תִּתְגָּר Deuteronomy 2:9,19; 3masculine plural יִתְגָּרוּ Proverbs 28:4; Daniel 11:10, compare Daniel 11:10 Kt., see above; 2 masculine plural תִּתְגָּרוּ Deuteronomy 2:5 (jussive); Imperative masculine singular הִתְגָּר Deuteronomy 2:24; —

1 excite oneself against (בְּ person), engage in strife with, literally Deuteronomy 2:5,19; 2 Kings 14:19 2Chronicles 25:19 (followed by בְּרָעָה; — רעה personified as challenged opponent); also + accusative of manner, מִלְחָמָה Deuteronomy 2:9,24; figurative וְשֹׁמְרֵי תוֺרָה יִתְגָּרוּ בָם Proverbs 28:4 while they that keep the law are at strife with them, i.e. with those that forsake it.

2 absolute, excite oneself (against foe), wage war, only Daniel 11:יִתְגָּרוּ וְאָֽסְפוּ הֲמוֺן חֲיָלִים רַבִּים Proverbs 28:10 they shall wage war, etc.; וְיָשֹׁב וְיִתְגָּרֶ֯ו עַדמָֿעֻזֹּה Proverbs 28:10 and he shall return and war, even to his stronghold; Proverbs 28:25 followed by לַמִּלְחָמָה + בְּחַיִל גָּדוֺל (instrumental)

Root Concept

Garah depicts the deliberate stirring of emotion or action—most often of hostility. Whether urging Israel to resist an enemy or warning a king against hubris, the term consistently reveals the moral weight attached to provoking conflict.

Pentateuchal Context (Deuteronomy 2)

In Moses’ recounting of Israel’s wilderness journey, garah becomes a watchword for honoring divinely set boundaries. Three times the people are told, “Do not provoke them” (Deuteronomy 2:5, 9, 19) with respect to Edom, Moab, and Ammon. These nations possess land the LORD Himself apportioned; to provoke them would be to contest God’s covenant faithfulness. By contrast, Sihon of Heshbon is singled out for lawful provocation: “Begin to possess it; engage him in battle” (Deuteronomy 2:24). The same verb that restricts aggression now authorizes it. Israel’s obedience, therefore, is not pacifism or belligerence but submission to God’s sovereign timing and choice of adversary.

Monarchic Narratives (2 Kings 14:10; 2 Chronicles 25:19)

Centuries later Amaziah of Judah “provoked” Jehoash of Israel after a victory over Edom. Jehoash’s parable of the thistle and the cedar exposes garah as reckless ambition: “Why should you provoke trouble so that you, and Judah with you, should fall?” (2 Kings 14:10). Amaziah’s defeat illustrates how self-exalting provocation places even covenant people under judgment when it ignores God’s warnings.

Wisdom Literature (Proverbs 15:18; 28:4, 25; 29:22)

Garah surfaces in proverbs contrasting the peacemaker with the agitator:

• “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.” (Proverbs 15:18)

• “He who is greedy stirs up strife, but whoever trusts in the LORD will prosper.” (Proverbs 28:25)

These sayings trace quarrels to inner dispositions—anger, greed, contempt for the law (Proverbs 28:4). Wisdom therefore aligns personal character with communal peace, anticipating New Testament exhortations to pursue harmony (Romans 12:18; James 3:17-18).

Prophetic Usage (Jeremiah 50:24)

Babylon embodies the folly of contending with God Himself: “You were found and captured because you challenged the LORD.” Divine retribution is portrayed as a snare sprung on one who has dared to garah the Almighty. The verse reinforces that all human provocations are ultimately measured against God’s honor.

Apocalyptic and Historical Prophecy (Daniel 11:10, 25)

Daniel foresees successive kings who “mobilize for war” and “stir up their strength” (garah) in campaigns between North and South. The term conveys relentless escalation yet, within the broader vision, every provocation is overruled by the “appointed time” (Daniel 11:27). The prophetic canvas thus situates geopolitical turbulence inside God’s predetermined plan, assuring believers that even the most menacing provocations cannot thwart divine sovereignty.

Ministry Principles

1. Discern God-given Boundaries. Like Israel before Edom, believers must recognize relationships or spheres God has not granted them to contest.

2. Reject Proud Ambition. Amaziah’s downfall warns leaders against provoking conflict merely to enhance reputation.

3. Cultivate Peaceable Hearts. Proverbs links strife to inner passions; the gospel addresses the root by producing “the fruit of righteousness” (James 3:18).

4. Trust Divine Justice. Jeremiah and Daniel affirm that those who garah the LORD will face inevitable judgment; God’s people need not resort to fleshly provocation to secure His promises.

Summary

Garah threads through Scripture as both caution and commission. Improperly directed, it kindles destructive quarrels; obediently directed, it advances God’s redemptive purposes. The believer is called to submit every impulse to stir, challenge, or contend to the discerning will of the LORD, confident that His authority governs all conflict and peace.

(Quotations from the Berean Standard Bible)

הִתְגָּרִֽית׃ התגרית׃ וְהִתְגָּ֥ר וְיִתְגָּרֶ֖ה והתגר ויתגרה יְגָרֶ֣ה יִתְגָּ֥רוּ יִתְגָּר֗וּ יִתְגָּרֶה֙ יגרה יתגרה יתגרו תִּתְגָּ֣ר תִּתְגָּ֥ר תִּתְגָּר֣וּ תִתְגָּרֶה֙ תתגר תתגרה תתגרו hiṯ·gā·rîṯ hitgaRit hiṯgārîṯ ṯiṯ·gā·reh tiṯ·gā·rū tiṯ·gār titGar tiṯgār titgaReh ṯiṯgāreh titgaRu tiṯgārū vehitGar veyitgaReh wə·hiṯ·gār wə·yiṯ·gā·reh wəhiṯgār wəyiṯgāreh yə·ḡā·reh yegaReh yəḡāreh yiṯ·gā·reh yiṯ·gā·rū yitgaReh yiṯgāreh yitGaru yiṯgārūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts