1514. Gacham
Lexical Summary
Gacham: Gaham

Original Word: גַּחַם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Gacham
Pronunciation: gah-khahm'
Phonetic Spelling: (gah'-kham)
KJV: Gaham
NASB: Gaham
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to burn]

1. flame
2. Gacham, a son of Nahor

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Gaham

From an unused root meaning to burn; flame; Gacham, a son of Nahor -- Gaham.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
perhaps "flame," a son of Nahor
NASB Translation
Gaham (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
גַּ֫חַם proper name, masculine (flame ?) Genesis 22:24 a son of Nahor, brother of Abraham, by רְאוּמָה his concubine.

גחן (compare Aramaic גְּחַן, Nasar. (Syriac PS) curve, bend).

Topical Lexicon
Identity and Placement in Scripture

Gaham (Strong’s Hebrew 1514, גַּחַם) is named once in Scripture—Genesis 22:24—where he is listed as the second son of Reumah, the concubine of Nahor, Abraham’s brother: “And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah” (Genesis 22:24). His appearance closes the Nahor genealogy that immediately follows the account of the near-sacrifice of Isaac.

Genealogical Significance

1. Link to the Patriarchal Family. Nahor’s descendants form the wider family circle from which Rebekah, Laban, and ultimately Rachel and Leah would come (Genesis 24:15; 29:10–28). Mentioning Gaham situates Abraham’s line within the broader Aramean kinship network that God would later use to shape Israel’s history.
2. Contrast and Confirmation. While Abraham’s promised seed was still limited to Isaac, Nahor already had twelve grandsons (Genesis 22:20–24), mirroring—but outside—the eventual twelve-tribe structure of Israel. The list underscores that numerical greatness alone is not the mark of covenant favor; God’s redemptive plan is traced through promise, not mere proliferation.
3. Documentary Reliability. The precise recording of even an otherwise obscure name demonstrates the Spirit’s commitment to historical detail, reinforcing the factual trustworthiness of Genesis.

Historical and Cultural Background

Nahor’s household resided in the region of Aram-Naharaim (Mesopotamia), a hub of caravan trade and cultural interchange. In such settings, concubinage expanded family influence and secured alliances. Although no later text explicitly traces a clan, territory, or tribe to Gaham, the preservation of his name hints that his descendants were known enough among Israel’s forefathers to merit mention.

Theological Themes

• Providence in the Ordinary. Gaham’s appearance in a seemingly minor verse reminds readers that God’s sovereign plan weaves through both prominent and little-known individuals.
• Covenant Focus. By placing Nahor’s growing family immediately after the reaffirmation of the covenant with Abraham (Genesis 22:15–18), the narrative highlights that God’s promises are anchored not in human pedigree but in divine election.
• Unity of Scripture. Later patriarchal accounts return repeatedly to “the house of Nahor” (Genesis 24:10; 31:53). Gaham, though silent thereafter, is part of the interconnected genealogical web that binds Genesis together and, by extension, links the Old Testament to the unfolding account of redemption.

Practical and Ministry Applications

1. Valuing the Overlooked. Congregations can be encouraged that every believer—whether prominent or unnoticed—matters in God’s record.
2. Confidence in Scripture. Teaching genealogies like Genesis 22 demonstrates Scripture’s precision, supporting its use in apologetics and reinforcing trust in the historical foundations of faith.
3. God’s Unfolding Plan. Even lines that fall outside the chosen lineage are under God’s governance; therefore missions and evangelism can proceed with assurance that God’s purposes extend to all families of the earth (Genesis 12:3).

Related Biblical References

Genesis 11:27 – Introduction of Nahor in the Terah genealogy

Genesis 22:20–24 – Full list of Nahor’s sons and grandsons, including Gaham

Genesis 24:15, 24 – Rebekah identified as granddaughter of Nahor

Genesis 31:53 – Jacob’s oath “by the Fear of his father Isaac and the God of Nahor”

Summary

Though Gaham is mentioned only once, his inclusion in the inspired record reinforces the accuracy of Genesis, connects the patriarchal narratives, and offers enduring lessons on God’s meticulous care for every person within His grand redemptive design.

Forms and Transliterations
גַּ֔חַם גחם ga·ḥam Gacham gaḥam
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 22:24
HEB: טֶ֣בַח וְאֶת־ גַּ֔חַם וְאֶת־ תַּ֖חַשׁ
NAS: Tebah and Gaham and Tahash
KJV: also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash,
INT: he Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1514
1 Occurrence


ga·ḥam — 1 Occ.

1513
Top of Page
Top of Page