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גִּדֵּל

𐤂𐤃𐤋

Gidel

H1435 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גָּדַל to grow, to become strong, to be great, to magnify

Definition

Giddêl is a personal name occurring in post-exilic biblical lists. It is likely derived from a root meaning 'to be great' or 'to make great,' and in the context of a name, it likely expresses 'God (or El) has enlarged,' 'has made great,' or possibly 'he has grown/gotten great.' This name is assigned to individuals identified among the temple servants (Nethinim) and descendants of Solomon's servants in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. It does not function as a common noun or verb but exclusively as a proper name.

Semantic Range

proper name (Giddêl), associated with greatness or growth, typically a male name found among temple servant groups in post-exilic lists

Root / Etymology

From the root גָּדַל (gdl), meaning 'to grow, to become great, to magnify.' The specific form Giddêl likely derives from a denominative or causative form, though as a personal name, the precise morphological process is less transparent. The name may be understood as a shortened form of an original theophoric (God-referencing) name, or simply as a declarative of growth/greatness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Giddêl occurs in Ezra 2:47, Nehemiah 7:49, and Nehemiah 10:17, always in post-exilic lists of groups returning from Babylonian exile. In these contexts, Giddêl is associated with the Nethinim—a class of temple servants thought to have non-Israelite origins—or with descendants of 'Solomon's servants,' groups integrated into the temple personnel after the exile. The name itself does not indicate ethnicity or religious status, but reflects a general naming practice of ascribing greatness or growth (possibly as a blessing or hope). English translations rarely reflect the literal meaning of the name, instead transliterating its form. In later Jewish literature, lists of names like Giddêl are sometimes conflated with broader ethnic or religious identities, but in the biblical context, the term only designates members of temple-associated groups in the post-exilic community.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from גָּדַל; stout; Giddel, the name of one of the Nethinim, also of one of 'Solomon's servants'; Giddel.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1419 גָּדוֹל in the great one
H1420 גְּדוּלָה greatness of
H1431 גָּדַל I will make great
H1432 גָּדֵל great-ones of
H1433 גֹּדֶל in your greatness

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1435-01 גִדֵּ֥ל gidel HNp Giddel He-has-made-great 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1435-01 Ezra 2:47 גִדֵּ֥ל gidel HNp Giddel He-has-made-great
H1435-01 Ezra 2:56 גִדֵּֽל gidel HNp Giddel He-has-made-great
H1435-01 Nehemiah 7:49 גִדֵּ֖ל gidel HNp Giddel He-has-made-great
H1435-01 Nehemiah 7:58 גִדֵּֽל gidel HNp Giddel He-has-made-great
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