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גָּדַל

𐤂𐤃𐤋

gâdal

H1431 verb

SILEX Entry

Root גדל to grow, to become great, to increase, to magnify, to boast

Definition

To become great, large, or powerful; to increase in magnitude, importance, or intensity. The verb expresses development or growth in a range of physical, social, intellectual, or moral dimensions. In its various forms, it can also mean to make something or someone great, to promote, to elevate in status or authority, or to deal arrogantly or boastfully. Semantic range includes literal growth in size (physical or numerical), enhancement of status or honor, bearing oneself with pride, showing arrogance, and empowering or raising up others.

Semantic Range

to grow (physically), to become great/prominent, to increase (in size, power, influence), to be magnified, to be honored, to be made great, to bring up or rear (children), to elevate in status, to act arrogantly, to boast, to promote, to nourish

Root / Etymology

Root: גָּדַל (g-d-l). The root carries the core sense of 'to be/become great, to grow, to increase.' The verb גָּדַל commonly appears in the qal (to become great/grow), piel (to make great, magnify, bring up), and hifil (to magnify, do great things, make larger). The root is related to terms in Semitic languages conveying growth, greatness, and increase. Morphological derivatives include כְּגָדוֹל (like a great one), גָּדוֹל (great, chief), and גְּדִל (a twisted thread or tassel—a secondary meaning related to 'twisted/braided,' but the root in this entry primarily conveys greatness, not twisting).

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, גָּדַל is used for physical growth (children, people, plants), social or political advancement (e.g., rise to authority), and for mental or spiritual elevation. The verb is used of humans (growing up, becoming great in society), of God (to magnify or exalt God’s name/works), and of non-human subjects (city, power, pride). In piel and hifil, it can mean to rear or bring up children, reflecting the act of nourishing to maturity. In negative contexts, it can signify arrogance or prideful behavior (usually against God or community expectations), whereas in positive contexts, it may indicate honor or rightful greatness. The term overlaps with רָבָה (r-b-h, 'to become many, to increase') but גָּדַל emphasizes greatness, prominence, or maturity more than mere numerical increase. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, the root is also foundational for central terms for 'greatness’ and acts of 'magnifying’ or 'honoring.' Standard translations such as 'grow', 'become great', and 'magnify' capture much of the semantic range but sometimes obscure the nuance distinguishing literal size from figurative elevation or honor. The concept may be applied to both individuals and communities, and context determines whether the connotation is positive (exaltation) or negative (arrogance).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to twist (compare גְּדִל), i.e.; to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride); advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to... estate, [phrase] things), grow(up), increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גדל (g-d-l) — to grow, to become great, to increase, to magnify, to boast

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1419 גָּדוֹל in the great one
H1420 גְּדוּלָה greatness of
H1432 גָּדֵל great-ones of
H1433 גֹּדֶל in your greatness
H1434 גְּדִל braided tassels

Word Forms

58 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1431-20 הִגְדִּ֖ל higedil HVhp3ms has done great things he made great 14
H1431-44 וַ/יִּגְדַּ֥ל vayigedal HC/Vqw3ms and he grew and he became great 13
H1431-55 יִגְדַּל֙ yigedal HVqi3ms will be great he will grow great 10
H1431-08 גָּדְל֣וּ gadelu HVqp3cp had grown up they became great 7
H1431-06 גָֽדְלָ֤ה gadelah HVqp3fs has-grown she grew great 3
H1431-39 וַ/תִּגְדַּ֥ל vatigedal HC/Vqw3fs and it grew and she grew great 3
H1431-03 גָדַ֖ל gadal HVqp3ms had grown up he grew great 3
H1431-11 גִּדַּ֣לְתִּי gidaleti HVpp1cs I have reared I made great 2
H1431-41 וַ/יַּגְדִּ֖ילוּ vayagedilu HC/Vhw3mp and they magnified and they made great 2
H1431-10 גִּדַּ֤ל gidal HVpp3ms exalted he made great 2

Occurrences in Scripture

116 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1431-35 Genesis 12:2 וַ/אֲגַדְּלָ֖ה vaagadelah HC/Vpi1cs and I will make great I will magnify
H1431-06 Genesis 19:13 גָֽדְלָ֤ה gadelah HVqp3fs has become great she grew great
H1431-37 Genesis 19:19 וַ/תַּגְדֵּ֣ל vatagedel HC/Vhw2ms and you have magnified and you caused to become great
H1431-44 Genesis 21:8 וַ/יִּגְדַּ֥ל vayigedal HC/Vqw3ms and grew and he became great
H1431-44 Genesis 21:20 וַ/יִּגְדָּ֑ל vayigedal HC/Vqw3ms and he grew and he became great
H1431-44 Genesis 24:35 וַ/יִּגְדָּ֑ל vayigedal HC/Vqw3ms and he has become great and he became great
H1431-45 Genesis 25:27 וַֽ/יִּגְדְּלוּ֙ vayigedelu HC/Vqw3mp the boys grew up and they became great
H1431-44 Genesis 26:13 וַ/יִּגְדַּ֖ל vayigedal HC/Vqw3ms and became great and he became great
H1431-03 Genesis 26:13 גָדַ֖ל gadal HVqp3ms he became great he grew great
H1431-55 Genesis 38:11 יִגְדַּל֙ yigedal HVqi3ms grows up he will grow great
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