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גִּלָּיוֹן

𐤂𐤋𐤉𐤅𐤍

gillâyôwn

H1549 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Object made from a smooth surface, primarily used as a writing tablet or sheet. In its primary sense, refers to a papyrus or parchment roll prepared for writing. By extension, can also denote a smooth plate or sheet used for mirroring or reflection in later texts. The central meaning is a surface for inscription, most commonly a sheet or scroll for writing.

Semantic Range

writing tablet, writing sheet, roll, scroll, parchment sheet, plate for inscription, by extension in later texts: mirror, polished metal or glass plate, surface for reflection

Root / Etymology

From the root גלה (g-l-h), meaning 'to uncover, reveal, lay bare.' The noun form גִּלָּיוֹן (gillâyôwn) thus denotes something bared or laid open—specifically a surface laid bare for writing. The extended sense as 'mirror' or 'plate' is based on the idea of a smoothed, exposed surface.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גִּלָּיוֹן appears in Isaiah 8:1 with the sense of a writing tablet or sheet, likely a roll of papyrus or parchment prepared for inscription, contrasting with stone or clay tablets. The term does not connote a bound codex or modern book, but rather a sheet or scroll that could be inscribed and later rolled up. The secondary sense of 'mirror' or 'glass' emerges in later Hebrew, based on the shared idea of a polished and exposed surface, and can refer to metal or glass plates used for reflection. In most biblical occurrences, however, the primary meaning is that of a writing surface. Major English translations such as KJV give 'roll' or 'scroll,' which captures the functional aspect but may miss the nuance that the term can refer to any writing surface prepared for inscription, not only formal scrolls. Cognate forms in later Aramaic and Hebrew (e.g., Talmudic) show semantic development toward 'mirror' and 'glass.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or גִּלְיוֹן; from גָּלָה; a tablet for writing (as bare); by analogy, a mirror (as a plate); glass, roll.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גלה (g-l-h) — to uncover, reveal, lay bare

Root גלה to uncover, reveal, lay bare
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

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1549-01 גִּלָּי֣וֹן gilayon HNcmsa tablet laid-bare writing scroll writing tablet 1
H1549-02 וְ/הַ/גִּלְיֹנִים֙ vehagileyonim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the mirrors and the writing sheets and the mirrors 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1549-02 Isaiah 3:23 וְ/הַ/גִּלְיֹנִים֙ vehagileyonim HC/Td/Ncmpa and the mirrors and the writing sheets and the mirrors
H1549-01 Isaiah 8:1 גִּלָּי֣וֹן gilayon HNcmsa tablet laid-bare writing scroll writing tablet
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