← H1524 H1526 →

גִּילָה

𐤂𐤉𐤋𐤄

gîylâh

H1525 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גיל to rejoice, exult, be glad

Definition

A state or expression of exuberant joy, gladness, or rejoicing; denotes emotional exuberance, often marked by outward celebration or praise. Used particularly for moments of profound communal or individual happiness, including festive occasions, deliverance, or divine favor.

Semantic Range

gladness, joyful exultation, exuberant rejoicing, festive celebration, elation

Root / Etymology

From the root גִּיל (gil), meaning 'to rejoice, be glad, exult.' The word גִּילָה (gîylâh) is a feminine noun form, created by adding the standard feminine suffix -ָה to the verbal base, and sometimes appears as גִּילַת (gîlat) in construct forms. The root itself conveys the idea of circular or leaping movement as an expression of joy, though in noun form this physical sense is often metaphorical.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, גִּילָה refers to emotional or communal rejoicing, such as in celebrations of deliverance, worship, or covenantal relationship with YHWH (Psalm 30:5, Isaiah 35:10). The term is often paired with other words for joy (e.g., שִׂמְחָה simchah) to intensify the expression of gladness. Unlike שִׂמְחָה, which is a broader or more general term for joy or happiness, גִּילָה specifically emphasizes exuberant or ecstatic joy, often with an outward or demonstrative character. In later Hebrew and in Jewish liturgy, derivatives of the root continue to carry the sense of exuberant celebration. Standard English translations as 'joy' or 'rejoicing' sometimes flatten the emotional and communal exuberance conveyed by the original. The noun rarely appears in the Hebrew Bible but is poetically significant when it does, and its meaning remained consistent across pre-exilic and exilic periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or גִּילַת; feminine of גִּיל; joy; joy, rejoicing.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

גלה (g-l-h) — uncovering, revealing, exposing, removing, exile

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1473 גּוֹלָה in the exile
H1474 גּוֹלָן Golan
H1526 גִּילֹנִי the man from Giloh
H1540 גָּלָה I will lay bare
H1541 גְּלָה one who uncovers

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1525-01 גִּילָ֖ה gilah HNcfsa rejoicing he has laid bare 1
H1525-02 גִּילַ֣ת gilat HNcfsc exultation exultant joy of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1525-02 Isaiah 35:2 גִּילַ֣ת gilat HNcfsc exultation exultant joy of
H1525-01 Isaiah 65:18 גִּילָ֖ה gilah HNcfsa rejoicing he has laid bare
← H1524 Hebrew Lexicon H1526 →