גׇּלְיַת
𐤂𐤋𐤉𐤕
Gleyat
H1555 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Golyath is a proper noun used as a personal name, referring specifically to the prominent Philistine warrior who appears in the narrative of 1 Samuel 17. The term does not inherently mean 'exile' or convey any direct semantic content beyond functioning as a personal designation. In all its occurrences, it points to the single, famed adversary of the Israelite champion David during the early monarchy period. The semantic range is therefore primarily restricted to the identity of this individual within the biblical text.
Semantic Range
a Philistine personal name (specifically the champion opposed to David), titular adversary of Israel, legendary warrior
Root / Etymology
Uncertain. While some have attempted to derive the name from the Hebrew root גלה (galah, 'to uncover, go into exile'), no direct linguistic evidence confirms this association. Forms resembling the name are attested in non-Hebrew West Semitic and Anatolian onomastic corpora, suggesting a Philistine (and possibly Aegean) origin rather than a Hebrew derivation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Golyath appears exclusively as the name of the Philistine champion in the narrative of David and Golyath (1 Samuel 17), and is referenced in several genealogical or anecdotal contexts as well (e.g., 2 Samuel 21:19; 1 Chronicles 20:5). The figure symbolizes the Philistine military threat during the early monarchy period. Standard English Bibles retain the transliterated form 'Goliath', which, while familiar, does not reflect any underlying meaning or etymology in Hebrew or Philistine languages. No evidence connects the name with the concept of 'exile,' and this association likely reflects a guess based on surface similarity rather than historical or linguistic reality. The name is not generically applied to non-Israelites or to persons in exile; it is always highly specific. Later tradition associates the term with gigantic stature, but in the Hebrew Bible the term itself does not mean 'giant.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps from גָּלָה; exile; Goljath, a Philistine; Goliath.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; possibly related to uncovering or exile, but no confirmed semantic field
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1555-01 |
גָּלְיָ֥ת | galeyat | HNp |
Goliath | Golyath | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1555-01 |
1 Samuel 17:4 | גָּלְיָ֥ת | galeyat | HNp |
Goliath | Golyath |
H1555-01 |
1 Samuel 17:23 | גָּלְיָת֩ | galeyat | HNp |
Goliath | Golyath |
H1555-01 |
1 Samuel 21:10 | גָּלְיָ֨ת | galeyat | HNp |
of Goliath | Golyath |
H1555-01 |
1 Samuel 22:10 | גָּלְיָ֥ת | galeyat | HNp |
of Goliath | Golyath |
H1555-01 |
2 Samuel 21:19 | גָּלְיָ֣ת | galeyat | HNp |
Goliath | Golyath |
H1555-01 |
1 Chronicles 20:5 | גָּלְיָ֣ת | galeyat | HNp |
of Goliath | Golyath |