Boy Old Testament Known
Gomer
to finish; complete
גֹּ֫מֶר go.mer
Gomer (Hebrew: גֹּ֫מֶר, go.mer) means “to finish; complete”, by traditional interpretation. Two people in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Patriarchal period. In 1968 it was given to 5 children in the United States. Use is long out of use. Appears with Ashkenaz in Genesis 10.
Which Gomer?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
-
Gomer
father of Ashkenaz; son of Japheth; father of Togarmah
-
Gomer
son of Diblaim
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 6 across 4 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
Based on 1968 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 1968 | 5 | Long out of use |
| All-time total | 399 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 21 in 1919 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 10:2 |
| Last appears | Hosea 1:3 |
| Cross-references | 51 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Tiras attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Japheth.
- Tubal attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Japheth.
- Madai attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Japheth.
- Magog attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Japheth.
- Javan attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Japheth.
- Dodanim attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Japheth.
- Meshech attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Japheth.
- Tiras co-occurrence Appears with Tiras in Genesis 10.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.2;
son of: Japheth (H3315);
brother of: Magog (H4031), Madai (H4074), Javan (H3120), Tubal (H8422), Meshech (H4902) and Tiras (H8494);
father of: Ashkenaz (H0813), Riphath (H7384A) and Togarmah (H8425)
§ Gomer = "complete"
1) the eldest son of Japheth and grandson of Noah; the progenitor of the early Cimmerians and other branches of the Celtic family
2) the unfaithful wife of the prophet Hosea; Hosea's relationship with her was symbolic of God's relationship with wayward Israel
Gomer, a son of Japheth, was the father of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah, as listed in the Table of Nations.
The biblical story
Gomer is mentioned in the Table of Nations (Gen.10.2-3, 1 Chronicles Gen.1.5-6) as one of the sons of Japheth, the son of Noah. He is listed alongside his brothers Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Gomer is also named as the father of three sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The descendants of Gomer are believed to have settled in the region around the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, possibly in the area of modern-day Turkey, Armenia, and parts of Eastern Europe. In Ezk.38.6, Gomer is mentioned along with Beth-togarmah as one of the allies of Gog, a future enemy of Israel. This suggests that the descendants of Gomer were still recognized as a distinct people group during the time of Ezekiel's prophecy. Some scholars have proposed a connection between Gomer and the ancient Cimmerians, a nomadic people who inhabited the region north of the Black Sea in the 8th and 7th centuries BC, but this identification remains uncertain.
Key verses
Gomer appears in 5 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
Genesis 10:2 -
And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
Genesis 10:3 -
The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
1 Chronicles 1:5 -
And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
1 Chronicles 1:6 -
Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
Ezekiel 38:6
Show all 5 references
Genesis (2)
- Genesis 10:2
- Genesis 10:3
1 Chronicles (2)
- 1 Chronicles 1:5
- 1 Chronicles 1:6
Ezekiel (1)
- Ezekiel 38:6