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Hebrew noun · H1516

גַּיְא

gaygah'-ee

Valley

59 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: gayʼ

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H1516is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 15 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 39
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H1516

a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)

The King James renders it: valley.

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

gay is rendered "Valley". It stands 59 times in the Hebrew text, across fifteen books.

  • Ten of the uses stand in Ezekiel, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Numbers 21:20and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.
  • The Greek text spells it thirty-nine different ways.

The first use

and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.

Numbers 21:20הַגַּיְא֙

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

The word stands in fifteen of the 39 Old Testament books.

The other 24 Old Testament books never use the word.

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • valley of18
  • in valley of10
  • the valley6
  • in the valley4
  • and to the valleys3
  • the valleys3
  • a valley of2
  • and the valley2
  • and valley of2
  • a valley1
  • and on valley of1
  • and valleys your1

and 6 more, 59 uses in all

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

All 59, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

39 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • גֵּ֣יא6
  • בְּגֵ֣יא5
  • גֵּ֖יא3
  • גֵּֽיא־3
  • בְּגֵ֣י2
  • בְּגֵיא־2
  • גֵּ֣י2
  • גֵּ֥י2
  • הַגַּ֖יְא2
  • וְגֵ֣יא2
  • וְלַגֵּאָי֗וֹת2
  • בַגַּיְ֙1

and 27 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)21HNcbsc
  • preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)9HR/Ncbsc
  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singular6HTd/Ncbsa
  • preposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine singular5HRd/Ncbsa
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine plural3HC/Rd/Ncbpa
  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine plural3HTd/Ncbpa
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)2HC/Ncbsc
  • conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singular2HC/Td/Ncbsa
  • proper noun (a name)2HNpl
  • preposition + proper noun (a name)2HR/Npl
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singular1HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)1HC/R/Ncbsc

Numbers

one use
  • and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.

    Numbers 21:20

    • הַגַּיְא֙hagay'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: the valley

Deuteronomy

three uses
  • So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth-peor.

    Deuteronomy 3:29

    • בַּגָּ֔יְאbagay'preposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: in the valley
  • while they were in the valley across the Jordan facing Beth-peor in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon and was defeated by Moses and the Israelites after they had come out of Egypt.

    Deuteronomy 4:46

    • בַּגַּ֗יְאbagay'preposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: in the valley
  • And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows the location of his grave.

    Deuteronomy 34:6

    • בַגַּיְ֙vagaypreposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: in the valley

Joshua

seven uses
  • Then all the troops who were with him marched up and approached the city. They arrived in front of Ai and camped to the north of it, with the valley between them and the city.

    Joshua 8:11

    • וְהַגַּ֖יvehagaiconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: and the valley
  • From there the border went up the Valley of Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusites (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

    Joshua 15:8

    • גֵּ֣יgeinoun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
    • גֵֽי־gei-noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • Then it went down to the foot of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim and ran down the Valley of Hinnom toward the southern slope of the Jebusites and downward to En-rogel.

    Joshua 18:16

    • גֵּ֣יgeinoun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
    • גֵּ֨יgeinoun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • Then the border circled around the north side of Neah to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el.

    Joshua 19:14

    • גֵּ֖יgeinoun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • then turned eastward toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.

    Joshua 19:27

    • וּבְגֵ֨יuvegeiconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and on valley of

1 Samuel

three uses
  • another toward Beth-horon, and the third down the border road overlooking the Valley of Zeboim facing the wilderness.

    1 Samuel 13:18

    • גֵּ֥יgeinoun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • The Philistines stood on one hill and the Israelites stood on another, with the valley between them.

    1 Samuel 17:3

    • וְהַגַּ֖יְאvehagay'conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: and the valley
  • Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

    1 Samuel 17:52

    • גַ֔יְאgay'proper noun (a name)tagged: Gath

2 Samuel

one use
  • And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

    2 Samuel 8:13

    • בְּגֵיא־begei'-preposition + proper noun (a name)tagged: in Valley of

2 Kings

three uses
  • “Look now,” they said to Elisha, “we your servants have fifty valiant men. Please let them go and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and put him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.” “Do not send them,” Elisha replied.

    2 Kings 2:16

    • הַגֵּאָי֑וֹתhageyaotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine pluraltagged: the valleys
  • Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He took Sela in battle and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this very day.

    2 Kings 14:7

    • בְּגֵיא־begei'-preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in Valley of
  • He also desecrated Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire to Molech.

    2 Kings 23:10

    • בְּגֵ֣יbegeipreposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in valley of

1 Chronicles

three uses
  • Meonothai was the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of those living in Ge-harashim, which was given this name because its people were craftsmen.

    1 Chronicles 4:14

    • גֵּ֣יאgei'noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: Ge
  • and they journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, in search of pasture for their flocks.

    1 Chronicles 4:39

    • הַגָּ֑יְאhagay'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: the valley
  • Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

    1 Chronicles 18:12

    • בְּגֵ֣יאbegei'preposition + proper noun (a name)tagged: in Valley of

2 Chronicles

five uses
  • So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

    2 Chronicles 14:10

    • בְּגֵ֥יאbegei'preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in valley of
  • Amaziah, however, summoned his strength and led his troops to the Valley of Salt, where he struck down 10,000 men of Seir,

    2 Chronicles 25:11

    • גֵּ֣יאgei'proper noun (a name)tagged: Valley of
  • Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and the angle in the wall, and he fortified them.

    2 Chronicles 26:9

    • הַגַּ֖יְאhagay'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: the valley
  • Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

    2 Chronicles 28:3

    • בְּגֵ֣יאbegei'preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in valley of
  • He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

    2 Chronicles 33:6

    • בְּגֵ֣יbegeipreposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in valley of

Nehemiah

five uses
  • So I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Well of the Serpent and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and the gates that had been destroyed by fire.

    Nehemiah 2:13

    • הַגַּ֜יאhagai'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: the valley
  • so I went up the valley by night and inspected the wall. Then I headed back and reentered through the Valley Gate.

    Nehemiah 2:15

    • הַגַּ֖יְאhagay'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: the valley
  • The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it, installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.

    Nehemiah 3:13

    • הַגַּ֜יְאhagay'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: the valley
  • Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages; in Lachish and its fields; and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled from Beersheba all the way to the Valley of Hinnom.

    Nehemiah 11:30

    • גֵּֽיא־gei'-noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • Lod, and Ono; and in the Valley of the Craftsmen.

    Nehemiah 11:35

    • גֵּ֥יgeinoun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of

Psalms

one use
  • Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

    Psalms 23:4

    • בְּגֵ֪יאbegei'preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in a valley of

Isaiah

five uses
  • This is the burden against the Valley of Vision: What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the rooftops,

    Isaiah 22:1

    • גֵּ֣יאgei'noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • For the Lord GOD of Hosts has set a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the Valley of Vision—of breaking down the walls and crying to the mountains.

    Isaiah 22:5

    • בְּגֵ֣יאbegei'preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in valley of
  • Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.

    Isaiah 28:1

    • גֵּֽיא־gei'-noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: a valley of
  • The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest: Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.

    Isaiah 28:4

    • גֵּ֣יאgei'noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: a valley of
  • Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.

    Isaiah 40:4

    • גֶּיא֙gei'noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: valley

Jeremiah

eight uses
  • “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,

    Jeremiah 2:23

    • בַּגַּ֔יְאbagay'preposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: in the valley
  • They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.

    Jeremiah 7:31

    • בְּגֵ֣יאbegei'preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in valley of
  • So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth and the Valley of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. For they will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room.

    Jeremiah 7:32

    • וְגֵ֣יאvegei'conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and valley of
    • גֵּ֣יאgei'noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • and go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Proclaim there the words I speak to you,

    Jeremiah 19:2

    • גֵּ֣יאgei'noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.

    Jeremiah 19:6

    • וְגֵ֣יאvegei'conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and valley of
    • גֵּ֥יאgei'noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • They have built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Hinnom to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech—something I never commanded them, nor had it ever entered My mind, that they should commit such an abomination and cause Judah to sin.

    Jeremiah 32:35

    • בְּגֵ֣יאbegei'preposition + noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in valley of

Ezekiel

ten uses
  • You are to say: ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.

    Ezekiel 6:3

    • וְלַגֵּאָי֗וֹתvelageayotconjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine pluraltagged: and to the valleys
  • The survivors will escape and live in the mountains, moaning like doves of the valley, each for his own iniquity.

    Ezekiel 7:16

    • הַגֵּאָי֛וֹתhageayotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine pluraltagged: the valleys
  • Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations, cut it down and left it. Its branches have fallen on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. And all the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it.

    Ezekiel 31:12

    • גֵּ֨אָי֜וֹתgeayotnoun · masculine or feminine pluraltagged: valleys
  • I will put your flesh on the mountains and fill the valleys with your remains.

    Ezekiel 32:5

    • הַגֵּאָי֖וֹתhageayotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine or feminine pluraltagged: the valleys
  • I will fill its mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines.

    Ezekiel 35:8

    • וְגֵאוֹתֶ֙יךָ֙vegeoteikhaconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: and valleys your
  • therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become a spoil and a mockery to the rest of the nations around you.

    Ezekiel 36:4

    • וְלַגֵּאָי֗וֹתvelageayotconjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine pluraltagged: and to the valleys
  • Therefore, prophesy concerning the land of Israel and tell the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys, that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I have spoken in My burning zeal because you have endured the reproach of the nations.

    Ezekiel 36:6

    • וְלַגֵּאָי֜וֹתvelageayotconjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine pluraltagged: and to the valleys
  • And on that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Sea. It will block those who travel through, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.

    Ezekiel 39:11

    • גֵּ֤יgeinoun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: Valley of
    • גֵּ֖יאgei'noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
  • As they pass through the land, anyone who sees a human bone will set up a pillar next to it, until the gravediggers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog.

    Ezekiel 39:15

    • גֵּ֖יאgei'noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of

Micah

one use
  • Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble in the open field, a planting area for a vineyard. I will pour her stones into the valley and expose her foundations.

    Micah 1:6

    • לַגַּי֙lagaipreposition with the article + noun · masculine or feminine singulartagged: to the valley

Zechariah

three uses
  • On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south.

    Zechariah 14:4

    • גֵּ֖יאgei'noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: a valley
  • You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.

    Zechariah 14:5

    • גֵּֽיא־gei'-noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of
    • גֵּי־gei-noun · masculine or feminine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: valley of

The letters

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →