H1406 H1406
roof, rooftop — the flat upper surface of a building, used for daily activities, refuge, and proclamation
Gag refers to the flat roof characteristic of ancient Near Eastern architecture, appearing 31 times across law, narrative, and prophetic texts. Deuteronomy 22:8 legislates that a parapet must be built around a new roof to prevent bloodguilt from falls — a remarkably practical Torah command. In the Rahab narrative, she hides the Israelite spies under flax stalks on the roof (Josh 2:6-8). David's fateful glimpse of Bathsheba bathing occurs from his palace roof (2 Sam 11:2), and Absalom's public act on the roof seals the breach with his father (2 Sam 16:22). Samuel converses privately with Saul on the roof before his anointing (1 Sam 9:25-26). In prophetic imagery, rooftops become sites of mourning and lamentation (Isa 15:3; 22:1; Jer 19:13; 32:29) and of idolatrous incense burning. The word also extends to the top surface of the altar of incense (Exod 30:3; 37:26). Spanish 'techo,' French 'toit,' and German 'Dach' capture the architectural sense.
Senses
1. roof / rooftop — The flat upper surface of a building, integral to daily life in the ancient Near East. Used for concealment (Rahab hides the spies, Josh 2:6), royal observation (David sees Bathsheba, 2 Sam 11:2), private conversation (Samuel and Saul, 1 Sam 9:25), public proclamation (2 Sam 16:22), and mourning (Isa 15:3; Jer 19:13). Deuteronomy 22:8 requires a parapet for safety. Extended to the top of the incense altar (Exod 30:3; 37:26). 31×
AR["إِلَى-سَقْفِهَا", "السَّطحِ", "السَّطْحِ", "السَّطْحِ-الـ", "السُّطُوحِ", "الـ-سَطْحِ", "الـ-سُّطُوحِ", "سَطح", "سَطحَهُ", "سَطحِ", "سَطْح", "سَطْحٍ", "سَطْحِ", "سَقفَهُ", "سُطُوحِهَا", "لِسَطْحِكَ"]·ben["-ছাদে", "এর-উপরিভাগ", "ছাদ", "ছাদ-তার", "ছাদে", "ছাদে-তাদের", "ছাদের", "তার-ছাদে", "তোমার-ছাদের-জন্য"]·DE["Dach", "Dach-von", "[גגות]", "[גגותיהם]", "[לגגו]", "der-Dach", "der-Dach-von", "ein-roof", "fuer-dein-Dach", "roofs", "sein-Gipfel"]·EN["a-roof", "for-your-roof", "its-top", "on-rooftops", "roof", "roof-of", "roofs", "the-roof", "the-roof-of", "their-roofs", "to-its-roof"]·FR["Gath", "Guilgal", "le-toit", "le-toit-de", "pour-ton-roof", "roofs", "son-sommet", "toit", "toit-de", "גג"]·heb["גג", "גגו", "גגות", "גגותיהם", "ה-גג", "ל-גגו", "ל-גגך"]·HI["उसकी-छत", "उसकी-छत-तक", "छत", "छत-की", "छत-के", "छत-तेरी-को", "छतों-उनकी", "छतों-की", "ह-गाग"]·ID["-atap", "atap", "atap-atapnya", "atapnya", "sampai-atapnya", "untuk-atapmu"]·IT["[גגות]", "[גגותיהם]", "aia", "il-roof", "il-tetto", "il-tetto-di", "per-tuo-tetto", "roof", "roof-di", "roofs", "suo-top", "tetto", "tetto-di", "un-roof"]·jav["atapipun", "dhateng-payonipun", "kanggé-payon-panjenengan", "ndhuwéripun", "payon", "payon-piyambakipun", "payoné", "sang-payoné"]·KO["그-지붕", "그것들의-지붕들", "그것의-꼭대기를", "그것의-꼭대기와", "네-지붕을-위하여", "지붕", "지붕-", "지붕-그의-까지", "지붕-의", "지붕들의", "지붕에", "지붕의"]·PT["até-seu-teto", "o-telhado", "o-terraço", "o-teto", "o-teto-de", "para-teu-terraço", "seu-topo", "telhado", "telhado-de", "telhados", "telhados-delas", "teto-de", "topo-dele"]·RU["-крыше", "-крыши", "верх-его", "для-крыши-твоей", "до-крыши-её", "крыш", "крышах-их", "крыше", "крыши", "крышу"]·ES["a-su-techo", "de-tejados", "el-techo", "para-tu-techo", "su-techo", "sus-terrados", "techo", "techo-de", "tejados"]·SW["hadi-paa-lake", "juu-yake", "kwa-paa-lako", "paa", "paa-la", "paa-zao", "za-paa"]·TR["-damın", "-tepesini", "damlarin", "damların", "damlarında", "damın", "çatı", "çatına", "çatının", "çatının-", "çatısına", "çatısının", "üstünü"]·urd["اُس-کی-چھت", "اُس-کی-چھت-تک", "اُس-کے-اوپری-حصے", "اپنی-چھت-کے-لیے", "چھت", "چھت-کے", "چھتوں", "چھتوں-ان-کے", "چھتوں-کی"]
Exod 30:3, Exod 37:26, Deut 22:8, Josh 2:6, Josh 2:6, Josh 2:8, Judg 9:51, Judg 16:27, 1 Sam 9:25, 1 Sam 9:26, 1 Sam 9:26, 2 Sam 11:2 (+19 more)
Related Senses
H1129 1. Qal: build, construct (316×)H2691a 1. court, courtyard, enclosure (142×)G4864 1. synagogue, place of Jewish assembly (56×)G5438 1. prison, place of confinement (41×)H4013 1. fortress, stronghold (37×)H0875 1. well, cistern (dug water source) (35×)H0352b 1. pillar or jamb of gateway (32×)H2474 1. window, opening in wall (32×)H4609b 1. steps, stairs, stairway (31×)H1129 2. Nifal: be built, be established (30×)H0361 1. portico, porch (architectural structure) (27×)H1129 3. Qal participle: builder (27×)H1219 1. fortified, inaccessible (25×)H4581 1. fortress, stronghold (25×)H3805 1. capital of a pillar (24×)H4350 1. stand, base, pedestal (24×)H0759 1. palace, royal residence (21×)H4692 1. siege, besiegement (20×)G3618 1. build or construct physically (19×)H3332 2. cast molten metal (18×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† גָּג n.m. roof, top (NH id.; Di comp. Ethiopic ጋግ, ጋጋ vinculum (ferreum), jugo simil. collare ferreum; √ dub.; Thes proposes גנג; perhaps גנג (= גנגן) cover Bö§ 292 Sta§ 189 a MV)—גָּג Jos 2:6 + 9 times + 1 S 9:26 Kt (Qr גָּ֫גָה), גָּ֫גָה Jos 2:6 1 S 9:26 Qr (Kt גג); cstr. Ju 9:51 + 2 times + Ez 40:13 (del. Co v. infr.); sf. גַּגֶּ֑ךָ Dt 22:8, גַּגּוֹ Ex 30:3 + 2 times + Ez 40:13 (del. Co v.…