גָּלַל (H1556) — Hebrew Lexicon

גָּלַל

𐤂𐤋𐤋

gâlal

H1556 verb

SILEX Entry

Root גלל to roll, move by rolling, rotate

Definition

To roll or cause to roll, often denoting the physical act of moving something by rolling; also used metaphorically for actions such as transferring responsibility or concern, as in entrusting or committing to another. The term encompasses both literal movement (e.g., rolling a stone) and figurative extensions (e.g., committing one's way to a deity or fate).

Semantic Range

to roll (an object), to roll away, to roll together, to wallow, to run down (liquid), to remove (by rolling), to entrust or commit (figuratively), to seek an opportunity (figuratively), to trust

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology: Root גָּלַל (גלל), primarily meaning 'to roll.' The verb is derived from the basic sense of circular or rotative motion. This root gives rise to a range of words relating to rolling or round shape (e.g., גַּל 'wave', גִּלְגָּל 'wheel' or 'circle'). The actual usage extends beyond physical rolling to more abstract concepts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גָּלַל is used both for literal rolling (such as moving large stones or rolling objects) and in various figurative contexts. Common figurative uses include 'rolling away' reproach (removing shame or disgrace, e.g., Joshua 5:9) and 'committing' or 'entrusting' one's actions or concerns, especially in poetic or wisdom literature (e.g., Psalm 37:5). The sense of 'seeking occasion' arises from the idea of something 'rolling toward' an opportunity. The verb also appears in causative stems (like the Hiphil), often intensifying the sense (to roll away, remove, or transfer). While English translations sometimes use the term 'commit' (especially in Psalms), the underlying metaphor is that of transferring by rolling, a nuance not fully captured by standard translations. In historical terms, the metaphor of rolling—particularly in the sense of shifting a burden or responsibility—was potent in both ritual and daily life in ancient Israelite society, where stones were commonly rolled to close tombs or mark significant acts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to roll (literally or figuratively); commit, remove, roll (away, down, together), run down, seek occasion, trust, wallow.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גלל (g-l-l) — to roll, to pile, to heap

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
H1544	גִּלּוּל	with his detestable idols
H1550	גָּלִיל	round-bands of
H1551	גָּלִיל	in the Galil Circuit
H1552	גְלִילָה	encircled regions of
H1553	גְּלִילוֹת	circuit-districts
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

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H1556-03`	גֹּ֣ל	gol	`HVqv2ms`	Commit	Roll!	3
`H1556-04`	גֹּ֛לּוּ	golu	`HVqv2mp`	roll	Roll!	2
`H1556-10`	וְ/גָלֲל֤וּ	vegalalu	`HC/Vqp3cp`	and they roll	and they rolled	2
`H1556-02`	גַּלּ֛וֹתִי	galoti	`HVqp1cs`	I have rolled away	I rolled	1
`H1556-13`	וְ/נָגֹ֥לּוּ	venagolu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and they will be rolled up	and they were rolled	1
`H1556-09`	וַ/יָּ֤גֶל	vayagel	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and rolled	and he rolled	1
`H1556-01`	גַּ֣ל	gal	`HVpv2ms`	Take away	rolled heap	1
`H1556-06`	לְ/הִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל	lehitegolel	`HR/Vrc`	to roll upon	to roll oneself	1
`H1556-11`	וְ/גִלְגַּלְתִּ֨י/ךָ֙	vegilegaletikha	`HC/Vlq1cs/Sp2ms`	and roll you	and I rolled you	1
`H1556-07`	מְגוֹלָלָ֣ה	megolalah	`HVMsfsa`	rolled-up	rolled-up one	1
`H1556-05`	הִתְגַּלְגָּֽלוּ	hitegalegalu	`HVfp3cp`	they roll themselves	they rolled themselves about	1
`H1556-14`	וְ/יִגַּ֥ל	veyigal	`HC/VNi3ms`	but let roll	and he will be rolled	1
`H1556-08`	מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל	mitegolel	`HVrrmsa`	was wallowing	the one rolling himself about	1
`H1556-12`	וְ/גֹ֥לֵ֥ל	vegolel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and rolls	and rolling	1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H1556-10`	Genesis 29:3	וְ/גָלֲל֤וּ	vegalalu	`HC/Vqp3cp`	they rolled	and they rolled
`H1556-10`	Genesis 29:8	וְ/גָֽלֲלוּ֙	vegalalu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they roll	and they rolled
`H1556-09`	Genesis 29:10	וַ/יָּ֤גֶל	vayagel	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and rolled	and he rolled
`H1556-06`	Genesis 43:18	לְ/הִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל	lehitegolel	`HR/Vrc`	to roll upon	to roll oneself
`H1556-02`	Joshua 5:9	גַּלּ֛וֹתִי	galoti	`HVqp1cs`	I have rolled away	I rolled
`H1556-04`	Joshua 10:18	גֹּ֛לּוּ	golu	`HVqv2mp`	roll	Roll!
`H1556-04`	1 Samuel 14:33	גֹּֽלּוּ	golu	`HVqv2mp`	Roll	Roll!
`H1556-08`	2 Samuel 20:12	מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל	mitegolel	`HVrrmsa`	was wallowing	the one rolling himself about
`H1556-07`	Isaiah 9:4	מְגוֹלָלָ֣ה	megolalah	`HVMsfsa`	rolled-up	rolled-up one
`H1556-13`	Isaiah 34:4	וְ/נָגֹ֥לּוּ	venagolu	`HC/VNq3cp`	and they will be rolled up	and they were rolled
`H1556-11`	Jeremiah 51:25	וְ/גִלְגַּלְתִּ֨י/ךָ֙	vegilegaletikha	`HC/Vlq1cs/Sp2ms`	and roll you	and I rolled you
`H1556-14`	Amos 5:24	וְ/יִגַּ֥ל	veyigal	`HC/VNi3ms`	but let roll	and he will be rolled
`H1556-03`	Psalms 22:9	גֹּ֣ל	gol	`HVqv2ms`	Yet You brought	Roll!
`H1556-03`	Psalms 37:5	גּ֣וֹל	gol	`HVqv2ms`	Roll	Roll!
`H1556-01`	Psalms 119:22	גַּ֣ל	gal	`HVpv2ms`	Take away	rolled heap
`H1556-03`	Proverbs 16:3	גֹּ֣ל	gol	`HVqv2ms`	Commit	Roll!
`H1556-12`	Proverbs 26:27	וְ/גֹ֥לֵ֥ל	vegolel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	and rolls	and rolling
`H1556-05`	Job 30:14	הִתְגַּלְגָּֽלוּ	hitegalegalu	`HVfp3cp`	they roll themselves	they rolled themselves about

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