What is a…
Girgashite

Hebrew: גִּרְגָּשִׁי —transliteration: Girgashi —possible meaning: dwelling in clayey soil

These are descendants of Canaan, son of Ham (Genesis 10:16), and one of the original tribes inhabiting the land of Canaan before the time of the Israelites (Genesis 15:21; Deuteronomy 7:1).

The Girgashites were a branch of the great family of the Hivites.

They are mentioned by name in Genesis 10:16; 15:21; Deut. 7:1; Joshua 3:10; 24:11; 1 Chronicles 1:14; and Nehemiah 9:8.

Of their geographical position nothing is certainly known. They probably lived somewhere in the central part of Western Israel. Almost nothing is known about them.

The Girgashites were dispossessed from the land of Canaan by the Israelites under Joshua (Joshua 24:11), at the command of God.

More information

• Who is Canaan?
• What is the land of Canaan?
• What are Canaanites?