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גָּלָה

𐤂𐤋𐤄

gâlâh

H1540 verb

SILEX Entry

Root גלה to uncover, to reveal, to expose, to remove, to go into exile

Definition

To uncover, remove a covering from, or lay bare. Used both in the literal sense of exposing or making naked (of a person, object, or land), and metaphorically in reference to revealing information or secrets, disclosing hidden things, and making something known that was previously concealed. In contexts relating to exile or captivity, refers to being removed or 'stripped' from one's land, often with the sense of exposure or shame. The semantic range encompasses physical stripping or uncovering, the act of disclosing or revealing, and the removal or deportation of people (especially in times of conquest).

Semantic Range

to make bare or naked, to uncover (a body, land, or object), to reveal or disclose (secrets, intentions, divine will), to remove or carry away (especially as captives in exile), to deport, to make known, to depart, to be stripped or exposed; to go into exile; to experience public disgrace

Root / Etymology

Root גלה (g-l-h), primarily meaning 'to uncover, reveal, lay bare.' The literal core of the root involves the removal of a covering or exposure. Over time the verb acquired a range of extended senses, including the figurative sense of revealing or disclosing (information, intentions, plans), and a technical socio-political use for the deportation or 'exiling' of a community (those forcibly removed from their homeland).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גָּלָה is used for both concrete actions (such as physically uncovering a person's body or an object) and metaphorical acts (such as revealing counsel or prophecy). The term acquired a specialized meaning in historical and prophetic literature for Israelite and Judahite experiences of forced migration and deportation, as seen in descriptions of exile to Assyria or Babylonia. While English translation sometimes renders the root with 'reveal,' 'uncover,' or 'exile,' each English term only covers a portion of the word’s lexical range. The idea of exile as 'going into exile' or being 'carried away captive' became especially prominent in exilic and post-exilic literature, often associated with public shame and national trauma. In legal or ritual contexts, the act of uncovering might convey disgrace or violation of norms (e.g., Levitical prohibitions about uncovering nakedness). Distinction should be made between literal, metaphorical, and technical political uses; related Hebrew terms such as חָשַׂף (ḥāṣaf) 'to strip off, make bare' and גָּלָה 'to be revealed' can overlap but have distinct usages. In Second Temple and later periods, the term continued to bear both the meaning of revelation (esp. in apocalyptic literature) and exile, but the English word 'exile' does not always capture the aspect of forced exposure or disgrace present in the Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal; [phrase] advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, [idiom] plainly, publish, remove, reveal, [idiom] shamelessly, shew, [idiom] surely, tell, uncover.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גלה (g-l-h) — to uncover, to reveal, to expose, to remove, to go into exile

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1473 גּוֹלָה in the exile
H1474 גּוֹלָן Golan
H1525 גִּילָה he has laid bare
H1526 גִּילֹנִי the man from Giloh
H1541 גְּלָה one who uncovers

Word Forms

95 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1540-57 תְגַלֵּ֑ה tegaleh HVpi2ms you shall uncover you will lay bare 14
H1540-38 הֶגְלָ֥ה hegelah HVhp3ms he exiled he exiled 11
H1540-18 גִּלָּ֑ה gilah HVpp3ms he has uncovered he laid bare 9
H1540-09 גָּלָ֥ה galah HVqp3ms has departed he uncovered 8
H1540-86 וְ/נִגְלָ֥ה venigelah HC/VNp3ms and is revealed and he was uncovered 6
H1540-94 יִגְלֶ֖ה yigeleh HVqi3ms will go into exile he will uncover 5
H1540-51 נִגְלָ֨ה nigelah HVNp3ms he revealed himself he was uncovered 4
H1540-46 לְ/גַלּ֣וֹת legalot HR/Vpc to uncover to lay bare 4
H1540-72 וַ/יִּ֨גֶל vayigel HC/Vqw3ms and exiled and he uncovered/removed 4
H1540-70 וַ/יֶּ֥גֶל vayegel HC/Vhw3ms and he carried away and he exiled 4

Occurrences in Scripture

186 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1540-73 Genesis 9:21 וַ/יִּתְגַּ֖ל vayitegal HC/Vtw3ms and uncovered himself he exposed himself
H1540-55 Genesis 35:7 נִגְל֤וּ nigelu HVNp3cp had revealed they were uncovered
H1540-60 Exodus 20:26 תִגָּלֶ֥ה tigaleh HVNi3fs be exposed she will be uncovered
H1540-46 Leviticus 18:6 לְ/גַלּ֣וֹת legalot HR/Vpc to uncover to lay bare
H1540-57 Leviticus 18:7 תְגַלֵּ֑ה tegaleh HVpi2ms you shall uncover you will lay bare
H1540-57 Leviticus 18:7 תְגַלֶּ֖ה tegaleh-2 HVpi2ms you shall uncover you will lay bare
H1540-57 Leviticus 18:8 תְגַלֵּ֑ה tegaleh HVpi2ms shall you uncover you will lay bare
H1540-57 Leviticus 18:9 תְגַלֶּ֖ה tegaleh HVpi2ms you shall uncover you will lay bare
H1540-57 Leviticus 18:10 תְגַלֶּ֖ה tegaleh HVpi2ms you shall uncover you will lay bare
H1540-57 Leviticus 18:11 תְגַלֶּ֖ה tegaleh HVpi2ms uncover you will lay bare
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