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גָּזַל

𐤂𐤆𐤋

gâzal

H1497 verb

SILEX Entry

Root גזל to seize, rob, take by force, strip

Definition

To seize, take away, or remove something by force, to rob or deprive unlawfully; in extended use, to flay or strip (e.g., skin or coverings). The root is used for the forcible taking of property, possessions, or even dignity, and can also refer to acts of despoiling or violent injustice.

Semantic Range

to rob violently, to seize property by force, to flay or strip (e.g., remove skin or covering), to despoil, to extort, to tear away, to remove violently, to exercise robbery

Root / Etymology

From the root גזל (g-z-l), which primarily conveys the idea of seizing or robbing by force. The root meaning is 'to take away by force, to rob, despoil.' The verbal form reflects a direct, aggressive action—often used for theft or acts involving violence or coercion.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, גָּזַל is used to describe acts of unlawful seizure, typically of property or goods, but can also include metaphorical uses such as the stripping of skin (as in Micah 3:2). In legal contexts (e.g., Leviticus 6:4) it designates theft or extortion, distinguishing it from גָּנַב (ganav 'to steal'), which usually implies stealth or secret theft rather than open force. The term often appears in prophetic texts denouncing social injustice (e.g., Ezekiel 22:29). In later periods, the verb’s primary association remains forcible robbery rather than mere theft. Standard English translations sometimes blur these distinctions by rendering both גָּזַל and גָּנַב as 'rob,' though גָּזַל specifically highlights violence or aggression as opposed to clandestine crime.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to pluck off; specifically to flay, strip or rob; catch, consume, exercise (robbery), pluck (off), rob, spoil, take away (by force, violence), tear.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גזל (g-z-l) — seize, rob, take by force, strip

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1469 גּוֹזָל his nestlings
H1498 גָּזֵל violent seizure
H1499 גֵּזֶל forcible plunder
H1500 גְּזֵלָה forcible robbery

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1497-01 גָּזָ֗ל gazal HVqp3ms he robbed he seized by force 5
H1497-05 גָּז֣וּל gazul HVqsmsa the robbed robbed one 4
H1497-12 וַ/יִּגְזֹ֤ל vayigezol HC/Vqw3ms and snatched and he forcibly seized 2
H1497-10 תִּגְזֹ֥ל tigezol HVqi2ms you-shall-rob you seize by force 2
H1497-18 יִ֭גְזְלוּ yigezelu HVqi3mp consume they will rob 2
H1497-04 גָּזְל֖וּ gazelu HVqp3cp had seized they seized by force 2
H1497-11 וַ/יִּגְזְל֗וּ vayigezelu HC/Vqw3mp and they robbed and they seized by force 1
H1497-09 תִּגְזָל tigezal HVqj2ms rob may you seize by force 1
H1497-13 וְ/גָזָ֔לוּ vegazalu HC/Vqq3cp and seize and they seized 1
H1497-07 גֹּזְלֵ֤י gozeley HVqrmpc who tear off robbers of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

30 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1497-04 Genesis 21:25 גָּזְל֖וּ gazelu HVqp3cp had seized they seized by force
H1497-10 Genesis 31:31 תִּגְזֹ֥ל tigezol HVqi2ms you take away you seize by force
H1497-01 Leviticus 5:23 גָּזָ֗ל gazal HVqp3ms he robbed he seized by force
H1497-10 Leviticus 19:13 תִגְזֹ֑ל tigezol HVqi2ms you-shall-rob you seize by force
H1497-15 Deuteronomy 28:29 וְ/גָז֛וּל vegazul HC/Vqsmsa and robbed robbed one
H1497-05 Deuteronomy 28:31 גָּז֣וּל gazul HVqsmsa taken away robbed one
H1497-11 Judges 9:25 וַ/יִּגְזְל֗וּ vayigezelu HC/Vqw3mp and they robbed and they seized by force
H1497-03 Judges 21:23 גָּזָ֑לוּ gazalu HVqp3cp they had carried off they seized by force
H1497-12 2 Samuel 23:21 וַ/יִּגְזֹ֤ל vayigezol HC/Vqw3ms and snatched and he forcibly seized
H1497-16 Isaiah 10:2 וְ/לִ/גְזֹ֕ל veligezol HC/R/Vqc and to rob and to seize by force
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