Original Word: גָּרַף
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: garaph
Pronunciation: gah-raf'
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-raf')
KJV: sweep away
NASB: swept them away
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to bear off violently

sweep away

A primitive root; to bear off violently -- sweep away.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to sweep away
NASB Translation
swept them away (1).

[גָּרַף] verb sweep away (originally shovel or scoop up, away, compare Late Hebrew id., Arabic ; Aramaic גְּרַף, , Ethiopic in derivatives) — (נַחַל קִישׁוֺן) גְּרָפָם Judges 5:21.

Meaning and Imagery

The verb paints the picture of a sudden, forceful rush that drags everything before it, like debris caught in a flash flood. In Judges 5:21 it describes how “The River Kishon swept them away” (Berean Standard Bible), capturing the unstoppable surge of divinely directed waters.

Scriptural Context

Its lone occurrence appears in the victory song of Deborah following Israel’s triumph over Sisera’s chariots (Judges 5:1-31). The torrent of Kishon—normally a modest wadi—rose in a God-sent storm (Judges 4:14-16; 5:4), neutralizing the iron-bound advantage of Canaan and sweeping enemy troops to their demise. The verb signals the decisive moment when creation itself becomes the Lord’s warrior.

Historical Background

The Kishon drains the Jezreel Valley toward the Mediterranean. Seasonal rains can turn it into a raging flood within hours, a reality still observed today. By luring Sisera onto low, flood-prone ground, the Lord executed a strategy no human general could have conceived, underscoring His mastery over both weather and warfare.

Literary and Poetic Function

Placed at the front of the Hebrew clause, the verb posts an auditory jolt that imitates the torrent’s momentum. Repetition of “the River Kishon” magnifies the scene, while the climactic imperative, “March on, O my soul, in strength!” summons every listener to join in the triumphal praise.

Theological Themes

• Divine Sovereignty over Creation: As at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:27-28) and Gibeon’s hailstorm (Joshua 10:11), nature responds to its Creator’s command.
• Judgment-Salvation Paradox: The same waters that judged Sisera delivered Israel, a pattern echoed in Isaiah 43:2 and ultimately in the cross and resurrection.
• Humbling of Human Might: Technology—iron chariots—crumbled before a storm, proving that “salvation belongs to the LORD” (Jonah 2:9).

Echoes in Later Scripture

Though unique in form, the image reverberates: Psalm 124:4-5; Isaiah 28:17; and Revelation 12:15-16 all employ sweeping waters to portray judgment or threat, demonstrating the endurance of the metaphor.

Practical and Ministry Applications

• Confidence in Spiritual Warfare: However imposing modern “chariots” appear, God still commands the elements (Romans 8:31).
• Call to Praise: Deborah’s song models recounting God’s mighty deeds during worship gatherings.
• Faith amid Uncertainty: Obedience often precedes visible deliverance; the torrent arrived after Israel stepped onto the battlefield (Ephesians 3:20).

Homiletical Pathways

“Swept Away: When God Turns the Tide” contrasts human oppression with divine intervention.

“Instruments of Judgment” surveys creation’s role in God’s redemptive history.

“March On, My Soul!” links worship with renewed courage for service.

Doctrinal Emphasis

The single verb silently proclaims a comprehensive providence: rivers, storms, battles, and destinies lie under the same sovereign hand. In a world of shifting powers, גָּרַף remains a one-word testimony that nothing can resist the purposes of the Lord.

גְּרָפָ֔ם גרפם gə·rā·p̄ām geraFam gərāp̄āmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts