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גְּלָה

𐤂𐤋𐤄

gᵉlâh

H1541 verb

SILEX Entry

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

Definition

To uncover, lay bare, reveal or disclose, and by extension, to remove, deport or send into exile. In Aramaic contexts of the Hebrew Bible, גְּלָה often carries the sense of forced removal or exile of populations, particularly in relation to the Babylonian and Persian periods, but can also refer quite generally to making something known, exposed, or brought to light.

Semantic Range

to uncover or expose physically, to remove or carry away (especially as in exile), to reveal or disclose information, to go into exile, to deport

Root / Etymology

Root: גּ-ל-ה. The root galah in Hebrew means 'to uncover' or 'to remove.' The Aramaic form גְּלָה (gelāh) corresponds directly to Hebrew גָּלָה, carrying a closely related semantic range. The core idea is the removal of covering, whether physically (as in uncovering or denuding), spatially (removing people from a place), or metaphorically (revealing information).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Daniel, Ezra), גְּלָה primarily appears in official or legalistic contexts, often referencing the mass deportations and displacements during the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian periods. While the Hebrew verb גָּלָה is used both in literal and metaphorical senses (uncover, go into exile, reveal), the Aramaic form attaches more frequently to formal acts of exile and administrative acts of disclosure or revelation in royal or legal settings. In Daniel, for example, revealing secrets or interpretations reflects the metaphoric sense. English translations often limit the term to 'carry away' or 'reveal,' but this does not entirely capture its spectrum, which includes nuances of forced exposure and movement. The term is distinct from shālach (to send) or pāqad (to appoint/visit), as galah involves forced removal or making something open that was previously concealed. In later periods, particularly in Rabbinic use and Targumic literature, related forms continue to bear the dual ideas of exile and revelation, sometimes with religious or spiritual overtones, but in the Hebrew Bible, these should not be retroactively applied.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) or גְּלָא; (Aramaic), corresponding to גָּלָה; {to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal}; bring over, carry away, reveal.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גלה (g-l-h) — uncovering, removal, revealing, 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
H1540 גָּלָה I will lay bare

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1541-04 הַגְלִי֙ hageli AVhp3ms he exiled he caused to remove 2
H1541-01 גָּלֵ֥א gale AVqrmsa who reveals one who uncovers 2
H1541-02 גֲלִ֑י gali AVQp3ms was revealed Lay bare! 1
H1541-06 וְ/גָלֵ֧א vegale AC/Vqrmsc and the revealer and uncovering-one of 1
H1541-05 לְ/מִגְלֵ֖א lemigele AR/Vqc to reveal to uncover 1
H1541-07 וְ/גָלֵ֣ה vegaleh AC/Vqrmsc and revealer and uncovering-one of 1
H1541-03 גֱּלִ֣י geli AVQp3ms has been revealed he was uncovered 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1541-02 Daniel 2:19 גֲלִ֑י gali AVQp3ms was revealed Lay bare!
H1541-01 Daniel 2:22 גָּלֵ֥א gale AVqrmsa reveals one who uncovers
H1541-01 Daniel 2:28 גָּלֵ֣א gale AVqrmsa who reveals one who uncovers
H1541-06 Daniel 2:29 וְ/גָלֵ֧א vegale AC/Vqrmsc and the revealer and uncovering-one of
H1541-03 Daniel 2:30 גֱּלִ֣י geli AVQp3ms has been revealed he was uncovered
H1541-07 Daniel 2:47 וְ/גָלֵ֣ה vegaleh AC/Vqrmsc and revealer and uncovering-one of
H1541-05 Daniel 2:47 לְ/מִגְלֵ֖א lemigele AR/Vqc to reveal to uncover
H1541-04 Ezra 4:10 הַגְלִי֙ hageli AVhp3ms he exiled he caused to remove
H1541-04 Ezra 5:12 הַגְלִ֥י hageli AVhp3ms he exiled he caused to remove
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