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גָּלַל

𐤂𐤋𐤋

gâlal

H1556 verb

SILEX Entry

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

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

גלל (Gilegal) — to roll, to revolve, to turn

Root גלל to roll, move by rolling, rotate
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1530 גַּל rolled heap
H1531 גֹּל
H1535 גַּלְגַּל his wheels
H1536 גִּלְגָּל Rolling-Circle
H1537 גִּלְגָּל in Gilgal

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1556-03 גֹּ֣ל gol HVqv2ms Commit Roll! Roll 3
H1556-04 גֹּֽלּוּ golu HVqv2mp roll Roll! Roll 2
H1556-10 וְ/גָלֲל֤וּ vegalalu HC/Vqp3cp and they roll and they rolled and they roll 2
H1556-01 גַּ֣ל gal HVpv2ms Take away rolled heap take away 1
H1556-02 גַּלּ֛וֹתִי galoti HVqp1cs I have rolled away I rolled I have rolled away 1
H1556-05 הִתְגַּלְגָּֽלוּ hitegalegalu HVfp3cp they roll themselves they rolled themselves about they rolled themselves about 1
H1556-06 לְ/הִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל lehitegolel HR/Vrc to roll upon to roll oneself to bring upon 1
H1556-07 מְגוֹלָלָ֣ה megolalah HVMsfsa rolled-up rolled-up one rolled-up one 1
H1556-08 מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל mitegolel HVrrmsa was wallowing the one rolling himself about the one wallowing 1
H1556-09 וַ/יָּ֤גֶל vayagel HC/Vqw3ms and rolled and he rolled and he rolled 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1556-10 Genesis 29:3 וְ/גָלֲל֤וּ vegalalu HC/Vqp3cp they rolled and they rolled and they rolled
H1556-10 Genesis 29:8 וְ/גָֽלֲלוּ֙ vegalalu HC/Vqq3cp and they roll and they rolled and they roll
H1556-09 Genesis 29:10 וַ/יָּ֤גֶל vayagel HC/Vqw3ms and rolled and he rolled and he rolled
H1556-06 Genesis 43:18 לְ/הִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל lehitegolel HR/Vrc to roll upon to roll oneself to bring upon
H1556-02 Joshua 5:9 גַּלּ֛וֹתִי galoti HVqp1cs I have rolled away I rolled I have rolled away
H1556-04 Joshua 10:18 גֹּ֛לּוּ golu HVqv2mp roll Roll! Roll
H1556-04 1 Samuel 14:33 גֹּֽלּוּ golu HVqv2mp Roll Roll! Roll
H1556-08 2 Samuel 20:12 מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל mitegolel HVrrmsa was wallowing the one rolling himself about the one wallowing
H1556-07 Isaiah 9:4 מְגוֹלָלָ֣ה megolalah HVMsfsa rolled-up rolled-up one rolled-up one
H1556-13 Isaiah 34:4 וְ/נָגֹ֥לּוּ venagolu HC/VNq3cp and they will be rolled up and they were rolled and they will be rolled
H1556-11 Jeremiah 51:25 וְ/גִלְגַּלְתִּ֨י/ךָ֙ vegilegaletikha HC/Vlq1cs/Sp2ms and roll you and I rolled you and I will roll you
H1556-14 Amos 5:24 וְ/יִגַּ֥ל veyigal HC/VNi3ms but let roll and he will be rolled but let roll
H1556-03 Psalms 22:9 גֹּ֣ל gol HVqv2ms Yet You brought Roll! Roll
H1556-03 Psalms 37:5 גּ֣וֹל gol HVqv2ms Roll Roll! Roll
H1556-01 Psalms 119:22 גַּ֣ל gal HVpv2ms Take away rolled heap take away
H1556-03 Proverbs 16:3 גֹּ֣ל gol HVqv2ms Commit Roll! Commit
H1556-12 Proverbs 26:27 וְ/גֹ֥לֵ֥ל vegolel HC/Vqrmsa and rolls and rolling and rolling
H1556-05 Job 30:14 הִתְגַּלְגָּֽלוּ hitegalegalu HVfp3cp they roll themselves they rolled themselves about they rolled themselves about
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