Original Word: גֶּשֶׁם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: geshem
Pronunciation: gheh'-shem
Phonetic Spelling: (gheh'-shem)
KJV: rain, shower
NASB: rain, shower, rainy, showers, rains, showers of rain
Word Origin: [from H1652 (גָּשַׁם - give rain)]

1. a shower

rain, shower

From gasham; a shower -- rain, shower.

see HEBREW gasham

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
rain, shower
NASB Translation
downpour and the rain* (1), rain (24), rains (1), rainy (2), shower (3), showers (2), showers of rain (1).

II. גֶּ֫שֶׁם noun masculine^{Genesis 7:12} rain, shower (Late Hebrew id., connected with above √ dubious) — absolute ׳ג Genesis 7:12 +; גָּ֑שֶׁם 1 Kings 18:41 +; construct גֶּשֶׁם Job 37:6 (twice in verse) +; plural גְּשָׁמִים Ezekiel 10:9,13; construct גִּשְׁמֵי Ezekiel 34:26; suffix גִּשְׁמֵיכֶם Leviticus 26:4; גִּשְׁמֵיהֶם Psalm 105:32; — rain, shower Genesis 7:12; Genesis 8:2 (both J) Leviticus 26:4 (H) Hosea 6:3; Amos 4:7; Jeremiah 5:24; Jeremiah 14:4; Isaiah 44:14; Isaiah 55:10; Ezekiel 1:28; Joel 2:23 ("" מוֺרֶה, מַלְקוֺשׁ); 1 Kings 17:7,14; 1 Kings 18:45 (׳ג גדול) 2 Kings 3:17; Proverbs 25:14,23; Ecclesiastes 11:3; Songs 2:11; Psalm 105:32, ׳וּמֵהַגּ Ezra 10:9 and because of the rains, compare Ezra 10:13; ׳קוֺל הֲמוֺן הַגּ 1 Kings 18:41 compare 1 Kings 18:44; Zechariah 14:17; Ecclesiastes 12:2; גֶּשֶׁם מִטְרוֺת עֻזּוֺ ׳מָטָ֑ר וְג Job 37:6; מְטַרגֶּֿשֶׁם Zechariah 10:1; compare נְדָבוֺת ׳ג Psalm 68:10; figurative of blessing Ezekiel 34:26, בְּרָכָה ׳ג Ezekiel 34:26; of destruction שֹׁטֵף ׳ג Ezekiel 13:11,13; compare Ezekiel 38:22.

[גְּשֵׁם] noun masculine^{Daniel 4:30} body (see √ גשׁם in Biblical Hebrew; ᵑ7^J גּוּשְׁמָא, גִּשְׁמָא (D^{WB 83}), Syriac , body, self); — body of man, suffix גִּשְׁמֵהּ Daniel 4:30; Daniel 5:21, so plural suffix גַּשְׁמַיהוֺן (K^{§ 15 a}) Daniel 3:27. 28, both Kt, Qr singular גֶּשְׁמֵהוֺן (K^{§ 54, 3} b)).

Overview

The Hebrew term גֶּשֶׁם occurs roughly thirty-five times and consistently denotes the actual descent of rain from heaven. It ranges from gentle life-giving showers to violent downpours, all governed by the covenant Lord who “sends rain on the earth” (Job 37:6). Its usage is always literal, yet it carries theological weight: rain demonstrates both God’s benevolence and His prerogative to judge.

Agricultural and Calendar Significance

In the land of Israel the agricultural cycle depends on the early (autumn) and latter (spring) rains. גֶּשֶׁם normally refers to the heavier winter precipitation that follows the yoreh (early rain). Without it the ploughing, germination, and maturing of grain fail. Ezra 10:9 pictures the people “trembling… because of the heavy rain,” underscoring how integral seasonal storms were to everyday life. Solomon prays with this rhythm in mind, asking that when heaven is shut up there would again be “rain upon this land” (2 Chronicles 6:26-27).

Rain as Covenant Blessing

Consistent rainfall is a tangible confirmation of covenant faithfulness. Psalm 147:8 celebrates that God “covers the sky with clouds; He prepares rain for the earth.” Psalm 68:9 recalls, “You sent abundant rain, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance.” In Jeremiah 5:24 the prophet rebukes a hard-hearted nation for not fearing the One who “gives the rain in season, both the autumn and the spring.” The agricultural abundance produced by גֶּשֶׁם validates the Lord’s promise that obedience yields material flourishing.

Rain Withheld or Sent as Judgment

The same term also signals divine displeasure when withheld or when delivered in destructive force. Elijah’s pronouncement, “There will be no dew or rain except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1), initiates a three-year drought that exposes Baal’s impotence. Conversely, after Israel repents, “there was a heavy rain” (1 Kings 18:45). Genesis 7:12 records the Flood’s opening volley: “And the rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights.” Ezekiel employs גֶּשֶׁם as a weapon of eschatological judgment: “I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur” (Ezekiel 38:22).

Prophetic Imagery of Restoration

The prophets often use rainfall as a metaphor for spiritual renewal. Ezekiel 34:26 promises that God will make His people “a blessing. I will send down showers in season; they will be showers of blessing.” Hosea anticipates the Lord’s coming “like the rain, like the spring showers watering the earth” (Hosea 6:3). Such language portrays revival initiated from above, beyond human engineering.

Wisdom and Moral Lessons

Proverbs contrasts deceptive appearances with the reliability of rain. “Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given” (Proverbs 25:14). “Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, so honor is unfit for a fool” (Proverbs 26:1). Both sayings assume predictable weather patterns; when nature departs from them, disorder parallels moral incongruity.

Liturgical and Communal Contexts

Ezra 10 and Nehemiah 8 depict assemblies gathered in drenching rain, yet unwilling to disperse while covenant matters are addressed. Their endurance illustrates Israel’s recognition that the God who controls the storm also calls His people to repentance and covenant renewal.

Christological Foreshadowing

Psalm 72, a royal-Messianic psalm, petitions: “May he be like rain that falls on mown grass, like showers that water the earth” (Psalm 72:6). The ideal king’s reign brings refreshing vitality as surely as גֶּשֶׁם revives parched fields, a portrait ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whose Spirit is poured out “on all people” (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17).

Ministry Applications

1. Dependence: Just as fields await גֶּשֶׁם, believers live in conscious dependence on God’s provision (Matthew 6:11).
2. Prayer: Zechariah’s exhortation, “Ask the LORD for rain” (Zechariah 10:1), urges corporate prayer for both physical and spiritual outpouring.
3. Warning and Comfort: The Flood and Elijah’s drought warn against presumption, while promised “showers of blessing” comfort the penitent.
4. Evangelistic Imagery: Rain illustrates the gospel’s life-giving effect on barren hearts.

Selected References

Genesis 7:12; 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:41-45; 2 Chronicles 6:26-27; Ezra 10:9-13; Job 37:6; Job 38:28; Psalm 68:9; Psalm 72:6; Psalm 147:8; Proverbs 25:14; Proverbs 26:1; Song of Solomon 2:11; Jeremiah 5:24; Ezekiel 13:11-13; Ezekiel 34:26; Ezekiel 38:22; Hosea 6:3.

גְּשָׁמִ֔ים גִּשְׁמֵ֥י גִּשְׁמֵיהֶ֣ם גִשְׁמֵיכֶ֖ם גֶ֔שֶׁם גֶ֖שֶׁם גֶּ֖שֶׁם גֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ גֶּ֛שֶׁם גֶּ֣שֶׁם גָּ֑שֶׁם גשם גשמי גשמיהם גשמיכם גשמים הַגֶּ֕שֶׁם הַגֶּ֖שֶׁם הַגֶּ֗שֶׁם הַגֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ הַגֶּ֨שֶׁם הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃ הגשם הגשם׃ וְ֝גֶ֗שֶׁם וְגֶ֣שֶׁם וְגֶ֤שֶׁם וְגֶ֥שֶׁם וּמֵהַגְּשָׁמִֽים׃ וגשם ומהגשמים׃ כַגֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ כגשם chagGeshem gā·šem gāšem Gashem gə·šā·mîm ge·šem ḡe·šem gəšāmîm gešem ḡešem geshaMim Geshem giš·mê giš·mê·hem ḡiš·mê·ḵem gishMei gishmeiChem gishmeiHem gišmê gišmêhem ḡišmêḵem hag·gā·šem hag·ge·šem haggāšem hagGashem haggešem hagGeshem ḵag·ge·šem ḵaggešem ū·mê·hag·gə·šā·mîm ūmêhaggəšāmîm umehaggeshaMim veGeshem wə·ḡe·šem wəḡešemInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts