Original Word: גֵּרִוּת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: geruwth
Pronunciation: geh-ROOTH
Phonetic Spelling: (gay-rooth')
KJV: habitation
NASB: Geruth
Word Origin: [from H1481 (גּוּר - To sojourn)]

1. a (temporary) residence

habitation

From guwr; a (temporary) residence -- habitation.

see HEBREW guwr

Word Origin
from gur
Definition
"lodging place," a place near Bethlehem
NASB Translation
Geruth (1).

גּרוּת noun feminine lodging (- place) — וישׁבו בְּגֵרוּת כִּמְוהָם אשׁר אצל בית לחם Jeremiah 41:17, inn, khan? so Ew Gf; Hi and others גִּדְרוֺת folds, after Joseph. Aq

Hebrew Background and Nuances

The word describes a temporary dwelling or lodging place—a setting chosen for a short stay rather than permanent settlement. It carries the atmosphere of impermanence, vulnerability, and reliance on the hospitality or goodwill of another.

Biblical Occurrence (Jeremiah 41:17)

“Then they set out and stayed in Geruth Chimham, near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt” (Jeremiah 41:17). The term identifies the encampment where Johanan son of Kareah and the remaining remnant of Judah paused after rescuing captives from Ishmael’s massacre at Mizpah. Their stop was fleeting; the site served only as a staging ground before a fateful flight to Egypt—a plan Jeremiah later condemns (Jeremiah 42:19–22).

Historical Setting and Geographical Note

Geruth Chimham lay by Bethlehem along the main route south toward Egypt. The name “Chimham” recalls the son of Barzillai the Gileadite to whom David granted property in this region (2 Samuel 19:37–40). That royal gift became a recognized lodging station for travelers generations later. Thus an act of covenantal kindness by David furnished a refuge during one of Judah’s darkest hours, underscoring how earlier faithfulness can bless later generations.

Theological Themes

1. Pilgrim Identity: The remnant’s sojourn echoes Israel’s larger account of being “strangers and sojourners” (Leviticus 25:23; 1 Peter 2:11). The term reminds readers that life on earth is transitory and that God alone provides lasting security.
2. Trust versus Fear: Standing at Geruth Chimham, Judah faced a choice—remain in the land under Babylonian oversight as the word of the Lord directed, or seek safety in Egypt by human calculation. Their fear‐driven decision illustrates the perennial tension between obedience and self‐reliance.
3. Hospitality and Provision: The existence of a prepared lodging place highlights God’s providence through human generosity. David’s hospitality to Barzillai enabled later protection for refugees, illustrating how present faithfulness can meet unforeseen future needs.

Lessons for Ministry and Faith

• Provide Refuge: Believers are called to create “Geruth” spaces—environments of temporary shelter and care—for those in crisis (Isaiah 58:7; Romans 12:13).
• Encourage Obedience in Uncertainty: Pastors and teachers can draw from Jeremiah 41–43 to warn against decisions shaped primarily by fear rather than trust in God’s revealed will.
• Remember Legacy: Acts of kindness, like David’s gift to Chimham, may outlive their donors and serve God’s purposes long afterward (Proverbs 19:17).

Related Biblical Motifs

Genesis 12:10; Genesis 47:4 – Abram and Jacob sojourn in Egypt.

Psalm 39:12 – The psalmist confesses, “I am a sojourner like all my fathers.”

Hebrews 11:13 – The faithful “acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

Revelation 21:3 – God’s ultimate dwelling with His people replaces every temporary lodging.

The single appearance of this word therefore opens a window onto the broader biblical tension between temporary refuge and permanent hope, urging trust in the Lord who alone turns short‐term shelters into stepping stones toward eternal dwelling.

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