גִּלּוּל (H1544) — Hebrew Lexicon

גִּלּוּל

𐤂𐤋𐤅𐤋

gillûwl

H1544 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גלל to roll, to be round, to heap up

Definition

A detested object of worship, specifically a man-made idol associated with foreign deities, primarily emphasizing the aspect of worthlessness, abomination, or impurity—often used with a connotation of derision or contempt; may also indicate refuse or something to be discarded, depending on context. In biblical usage, always refers to a foreign idol rather than a legitimate cult object in Israelite worship.

Semantic Range

detestable idol, abominable object of worship, foreign cult object, refuse; possibly dung or something to be discarded (by sense extension and wordplay in prophetic literature)

Root / Etymology

From the root גָּלַל (gālal), meaning 'to roll' or 'to be round.' The formation גִּלּוּל (gillûl) likely derives from the appearance or shape of primitive idols, which may have been fashioned from rounded pieces of wood or stone or from the idea of something rolled or rounded up, such as refuse or logs. The connection to the root suggests a sense of 'something rolled,' figuratively applied to repugnant objects (idols) and possibly to dung or refuse. It is a denominative and possibly pejorative formation not attested outside biblical Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גִּלּוּל and its shortened form גִּלֻּל always carry a pejorative sense, exclusively referring to illegal or abhorred idols associated with non-Israelite worship, especially prominent in texts critiquing northern Israelite or exilic religious practices (e.g., Ezekiel, Deuteronomy). Unlike other terms for 'idol' (such as פֶּסֶל or עֲצָב), גִּלּוּל accentuates contempt, aligning with the prophets' polemic against foreign cults. Its usage is undiluted by periods: the term is not neutral like generic words for 'image' or 'statue.' Standard English translations usually render the word as 'idol' or 'detested thing,' but this often fails to convey the deliberately derisive tone of the original; some lexicographers (and ancient translators) associate the word with dung or refuse, further strengthening the negative connotation. The term is not used for Israelite religious paraphernalia or cult objects in approved contexts, but is restricted to illicit, foreign, or apostate worship, especially in periods marked by religious reform or polemic (monarchic reforms, exilic denunciations, etc.).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) גִּלֻּל; from גָּלַל; properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol; idol.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גלל (g-l-l) — to roll, to be round, to heap up

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1530	גַּל	rolled heap
H1534	גַּלְגַּל	in the rolling-wheel
H1535	גַּלְגַּל	his wheels
H1536	גִּלְגָּל	Rolling-Circle
H1537	גִּלְגָּל	in Gilgal
H1538	גֻּלְגֹּלֶת	his skull
H1543	גֻּלָּה	round basin of
H1550	גָּלִיל	round-bands of
H1551	גָּלִיל	in the Galil Circuit
H1552	גְלִילָה	encircled regions of
H1553	גְּלִילוֹת	circuit-districts
H1556	גָּלַל	rolled heap
H1557	גָּלָל	the rolled dung-pellet
H1558	גָּלָל	on account of
H1559	גָּלָל	Rolling-One
H1560	גְּלָל	massive stone
H1561	גֵּלֶל	in balls of dung
H1562	גִּלֲלַי	Dung-Heap One
H4038	מַגָּל	reaping sickle
H4039	מְגִלָּה	in rolled scroll of
H4040	מְגִלָּה	rolled scroll

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H1544-06`	גִּלֻּלֵי/הֶ֑ם	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their idols	their detestable idols	10
`H1544-08`	גִּלּוּלֵי/כֶ֑ם	giluleykhem	`HNcmpc/Sp2mp`	your idols	your detestable idols	7
`H1544-11`	הַ/גִּלֻּלִ֔ים	hagilulim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the idols	the detestable idols	6
`H1544-04`	גִּלּוּלֵ֖י	giluley	`HNcmpc`	idols	detestable idols of	6
`H1544-03`	גִּלּוּלָ֜י/ו	gilulayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	his-idols	his detestable idols	4
`H1544-02`	בְּ/גִלּֽוּלֵי/הֶ֖ם	begiluleyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	in-their-idols	in their detestable idols	3
`H1544-15`	וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵי/הֶ֖ם	uvegiluleyhem	`HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	and with their idols	and with their detestable idols	2
`H1544-10`	גִלּוּלִ֛ים	gilulim	`HNcmpa`	idols	detestable foreign idols	2
`H1544-16`	וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵי/כֶֽם	uvegiluleykhem	`HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp2mp`	and-in-your(pl)-idols	and in your detestable idols	1
`H1544-13`	וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלַ֤יִ/ךְ	uvegilulayikhe	`HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp2fs`	and by your idols	and in your detestable idols	1
`H1544-09`	גִלּוּלֵי/כֶ֖ן	giluleykhen	`HNcmpc/Sp2fp`	your-idols	your abominable idols	1
`H1544-12`	לְ/גִלּ֣וּלֵי/הֶ֔ם	legiluleyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	to their idols	to their detestable idols	1
`H1544-14`	וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵ֥י	uvegiluley	`HC/R/Ncmpc`	and with the idols	and in the detestable foreign idols of	1
`H1544-05`	גִּלּוּלֶֽי/הָ	giluleyha	`HNcmpc/Sp3fs`	her idols	her detestable idols	1
`H1544-01`	בְּ/גִלּוּלָֽי/ו	begilulayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	with his idols	with his detestable idols	1
`H1544-07`	גִּלּֽוּלֵי/הֶ֖ן	giluleyhen	`HNcmpc/Sp3fp`	their-idols	their detestable idols	1

Occurrences in Scripture

48 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H1544-08`	Leviticus 26:30	גִּלּוּלֵי/כֶ֑ם	giluleykhem	`HNcmpc/Sp2mp`	of your idols	your detestable idols
`H1544-06`	Deuteronomy 29:16	גִּלֻּלֵי/הֶ֑ם	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-11`	1 Kings 15:12	הַ/גִּלֻּלִ֔ים	hagilulim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the idols	the detestable idols
`H1544-11`	1 Kings 21:26	הַ/גִּלֻּלִ֑ים	hagilulim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the idols	the detestable idols
`H1544-11`	2 Kings 17:12	הַ/גִּלֻּלִ֑ים	hagilulim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the idols	the detestable idols
`H1544-01`	2 Kings 21:11	בְּ/גִלּוּלָֽי/ו	begilulayv	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	with his idols	with his detestable idols
`H1544-11`	2 Kings 21:21	הַ/גִּלֻּלִים֙	hagilulim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the idols	the detestable idols
`H1544-11`	2 Kings 23:24	הַ/גִּלֻּלִ֜ים	hagilulim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	idols	the detestable idols
`H1544-05`	Jeremiah 50:2	גִּלּוּלֶֽי/הָ	giluleyha	`HNcmpc/Sp3fs`	her idols	her detestable idols
`H1544-08`	Ezekiel 6:4	גִּלּוּלֵי/כֶֽם	giluleykhem	`HNcmpc/Sp2mp`	your idols	your detestable idols
`H1544-06`	Ezekiel 6:5	גִּלּֽוּלֵי/הֶ֑ם	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their-idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-08`	Ezekiel 6:6	גִּלּ֣וּלֵי/כֶ֔ם	giluleykhem	`HNcmpc/Sp2mp`	your idols	your detestable idols
`H1544-06`	Ezekiel 6:9	גִּלּֽוּלֵי/הֶ֑ם	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their-idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-06`	Ezekiel 6:13	גִּלּ֣וּלֵי/הֶ֔ם	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their-idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-06`	Ezekiel 6:13	גִּלּוּלֵי/הֶֽם	giluleyhem-2	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their-idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-04`	Ezekiel 8:10	גִּלּוּלֵ֖י	giluley	`HNcmpc`	idols	detestable idols of
`H1544-06`	Ezekiel 14:3	גִלּֽוּלֵי/הֶם֙	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-03`	Ezekiel 14:4	גִּלּוּלָ֜י/ו	gilulayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	his-idols	his detestable idols
`H1544-03`	Ezekiel 14:4	גִּלּוּלָֽי/ו	gilulayv-2	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	of-his-idols	his detestable idols
`H1544-02`	Ezekiel 14:5	בְּ/גִלּֽוּלֵי/הֶ֖ם	begiluleyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	through their idols	in their detestable idols
`H1544-08`	Ezekiel 14:6	גִּלּֽוּלֵי/כֶ֑ם	giluleykhem	`HNcmpc/Sp2mp`	your idols	your detestable idols
`H1544-03`	Ezekiel 14:7	גִּלּוּלָי/ו֙	gilulayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	his idols	his detestable idols
`H1544-04`	Ezekiel 16:36	גִּלּוּלֵ֣י	giluley	`HNcmpc`	idols	detestable idols of
`H1544-04`	Ezekiel 18:6	גִּלּוּלֵ֖י	giluley	`HNcmpc`	the idols	detestable idols of
`H1544-11`	Ezekiel 18:12	הַ/גִּלּוּלִים֙	hagilulim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the-idols	the detestable idols
`H1544-04`	Ezekiel 18:15	גִּלּוּלֵ֖י	giluley	`HNcmpc`	the idols	detestable idols of
`H1544-14`	Ezekiel 20:7	וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵ֥י	uvegiluley	`HC/R/Ncmpc`	and with the idols	and in the detestable foreign idols of
`H1544-04`	Ezekiel 20:8	גִּלּוּלֵ֥י	giluley	`HNcmpc`	idols	detestable idols of
`H1544-06`	Ezekiel 20:16	גִלּוּלֵי/הֶ֖ם	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-15`	Ezekiel 20:18	וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵי/הֶ֖ם	uvegiluleyhem	`HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	and-with-their-idols	and with their detestable idols
`H1544-04`	Ezekiel 20:24	גִּלּוּלֵ֣י	giluley	`HNcmpc`	idols	detestable idols of
`H1544-08`	Ezekiel 20:31	גִּלּֽוּלֵי/כֶם֙	giluleykhem	`HNcmpc/Sp2mp`	your idols	your detestable idols
`H1544-03`	Ezekiel 20:39	גִּלּוּלָי/ו֙	gilulayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	his-idols	his detestable idols
`H1544-16`	Ezekiel 20:39	וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵי/כֶֽם	uvegiluleykhem	`HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp2mp`	and-in-your(pl)-idols	and in your detestable idols
`H1544-10`	Ezekiel 22:3	גִלּוּלִ֛ים	gilulim	`HNcmpa`	idols	detestable foreign idols
`H1544-13`	Ezekiel 22:4	וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלַ֤יִ/ךְ	uvegilulayikhe	`HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp2fs`	and by your idols	and in your detestable idols
`H1544-06`	Ezekiel 23:7	גִּלּוּלֵי/הֶ֖ם	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-02`	Ezekiel 23:30	בְּ/גִלּוּלֵי/הֶֽם	begiluleyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	with their idols	in their detestable idols
`H1544-07`	Ezekiel 23:37	גִּלּֽוּלֵי/הֶ֖ן	giluleyhen	`HNcmpc/Sp3fp`	their-idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-12`	Ezekiel 23:39	לְ/גִלּ֣וּלֵי/הֶ֔ם	legiluleyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	to their idols	to their detestable idols
`H1544-09`	Ezekiel 23:49	גִלּוּלֵי/כֶ֖ן	giluleykhen	`HNcmpc/Sp2fp`	your-idols	your abominable idols
`H1544-10`	Ezekiel 30:13	גִלּוּלִ֜ים	gilulim	`HNcmpa`	the idols	detestable foreign idols
`H1544-08`	Ezekiel 33:25	גִּלּוּלֵי/כֶ֖ם	giluleykhem	`HNcmpc/Sp2mp`	your-idols	your detestable idols
`H1544-15`	Ezekiel 36:18	וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵי/הֶ֖ם	uvegiluleyhem	`HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	and with their idols	and with their detestable idols
`H1544-08`	Ezekiel 36:25	גִּלּ֥וּלֵי/כֶ֖ם	giluleykhem	`HNcmpc/Sp2mp`	your-idols	your detestable idols
`H1544-02`	Ezekiel 37:23	בְּ/גִלּֽוּלֵי/הֶם֙	begiluleyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	in-their-idols	in their detestable idols
`H1544-06`	Ezekiel 44:10	גִּלּֽוּלֵי/הֶ֑ם	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their idols	their detestable idols
`H1544-06`	Ezekiel 44:12	גִלּֽוּלֵי/הֶ֔ם	giluleyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their idols	their detestable idols

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