גִּיל
𐤂𐤉𐤋
gîyl
H1523 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To exult, rejoice greatly, or express joy ecstatically, often with dancing, leaping, or vivid outward gestures; in some contexts, conveys strong emotional display of either joy or anxiety. The term primarily denotes exuberant outward rejoicing, especially in response to Yahweh's actions, promises, or deliverance.
Semantic Range
to exult, to rejoice ecstatically, to dance for joy, to display exuberant gladness; to be overcome with joyful emotion; (rarely) to be deeply moved, including with trembling or anxiety
Root / Etymology
From the root גּוּל (gûl), meaning 'to roll' or 'to revolve,' reflecting a circling, whirling or spinning motion, which metaphorically came to refer to spinning or dancing in joy. The lexical form גִּיל (gîyl) derives from this root and came to be associated semantically with emotional exuberance, especially joy and elation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, גִּיל typically appears in poetry and hymnic contexts, particularly in Psalms, Isaiah, and prophetic literature, where it describes communal or individual ecstatic rejoicing—frequently linked to liturgical settings. The exuberant nature of the term is sometimes lost in English translations that render it simply as 'rejoice' or 'be glad.' In certain contexts (e.g., Lamentations 1:15), it may reflect a broader emotional intensity, including the reversal of joy. The physical imagery underlying the root (whirling, spinning) ties it closely to cultural expressions of collective celebration, such as festival dancing or processional praise. While the root meaning 'to roll' is largely metaphorical in later usage, the connection to uninhibited motion persists. Related terms include שָׂמַח (samach, 'to rejoice'), which tends to indicate a more internal or calm gladness, whereas גִּיל emphasizes more exuberant, outwardly manifest joy. In post-exilic and later periods, the term continued to denote exuberant rejoicing but was sometimes associated with triumph or eschatological joy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (by permutation) גּוּל; a primitive root; properly, to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion), i.e. usually rejoice, or (as cringing) fear; be glad, joy, be joyful, rejoice.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גול (g-w-l) — to roll, revolve, spin, whirl
Word Forms
20 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1523-15 |
יָגֵ֥ל | yagel | HVqi3ms |
will rejoice | he will exult | 6 |
H1523-17 |
יָגִ֖ילוּ | yagilu | HVqi3mp |
rejoice | they whirl in exultation | 6 |
H1523-13 |
וְ/תָגֵ֧ל | vetagel | HC/Vqi3fs |
and-it-will-rejoice | and she will whirl with joy | 5 |
H1523-12 |
וְ/גִ֨ילוּ֙ | vegilu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and rejoice | and whirl in joy! | 4 |
H1523-04 |
נָגִ֥ילָה | nagilah | HVqh1cp |
Let us be glad | Let us whirl-exult | 3 |
H1523-01 |
אָגִ֖ילָה | agilah | HVqh1cs |
I will exult | Let me whirl with joy | 3 |
H1523-05 |
תָּגֵ֤ל | tagel | HVqi3fs |
let rejoice | she will whirl in exultation | 2 |
H1523-02 |
גִּ֣ילִי | gili | HVqv2fs |
rejoice | Whirl in exultation! | 2 |
H1523-16 |
יָגִ֥יל | yagil | HVqi3ms |
greatly | he will whirl with joy | 2 |
H1523-07 |
תָּגִ֣יל | tagil | HVqi2ms |
shall rejoice | you will whirl-exult | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
46 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1523-17 |
Isaiah 9:2 | יָגִ֖ילוּ | yagilu | HVqi3mp |
they rejoice | they whirl in exultation |
H1523-04 |
Isaiah 25:9 | נָגִ֥ילָה | nagilah | HVqh1cp |
Let us be glad | Let us whirl-exult |
H1523-17 |
Isaiah 29:19 | יָגִֽילוּ | yagilu | HVqi3mp |
they will rejoice | they whirl in exultation |
H1523-13 |
Isaiah 35:1 | וְ/תָגֵ֧ל | vetagel | HC/Vqi3fs |
shall rejoice | and she will whirl with joy |
H1523-13 |
Isaiah 35:2 | וְ/תָגֵ֗ל | vetagel | HC/Vqi3fs |
and-it-will-rejoice | and she will whirl with joy |
H1523-07 |
Isaiah 41:16 | תָּגִ֣יל | tagil | HVqi2ms |
will rejoice | you will whirl-exult |
H1523-11 |
Isaiah 49:13 | וְ/גִ֣ילִי | vegili | HC/Vqv2fs |
and rejoice | and whirl in exultation |
H1523-05 |
Isaiah 61:10 | תָּגֵ֤ל | tagel | HVqi3fs |
will rejoice | she will whirl in exultation |
H1523-12 |
Isaiah 65:18 | וְ/גִ֨ילוּ֙ | vegilu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and rejoice | and whirl in joy! |
H1523-10 |
Isaiah 65:19 | וְ/גַלְתִּ֥י | vegaleti | HC/Vqq1cs |
And I will rejoice | and I exulted |