Geresh (trope)

The Geresh is a cantillation mark (trope) in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books of the Hebrew Bible. It belongs to the disjunctive (separating) family of tropes and generally functions as a relatively weak pause, dividing a verse into smaller phrases.

The melodic contour associated with the Geresh varies depending on the Jewish tradition (Ashkenazi, Sephardi, etc.) and the specific liturgical setting. However, it typically involves a rising and falling melodic phrase.

In terms of grammatical function, the Geresh usually marks a minor division in the verse, often separating a noun phrase or a short clause from the rest of the sentence. It provides a brief respite for the reader or listener before continuing with the text. Its separating power is weaker than more prominent disjunctive tropes like the Sof Pasuk or Etnahta.

The Geresh should not be confused with the Gershayim, which is a Hebrew punctuation mark similar to a double apostrophe. They are distinct symbols with different functions.