גִּלֲלַי
𐤂𐤋𐤋𐤉
Gilalay
H1562 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Gilălay – a personal name in the Hebrew Bible, likely meaning 'dungy one' or 'of dung,' deriving from a term associated with refuse or dung. The semantic range in this case is primarily onomastic, with the meaning inferred rather than functionally descriptive for the individual. Appears as the name of an Israelite during the post-exilic period.
Semantic Range
(personal name) likely 'dungy,' 'of refuse,' possibly 'humble,' proper name only
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew noun גֵּלֶל (gēlel, 'dung, refuse'), from the root גלל ('to roll, heap up'), with a personal name ending. The name likely denotes one identified in some way with 'dung' or 'refuse,' possibly in a metaphorical or symbolic sense rather than literal.
Historical & Contextual Notes
גִּלֲלַי appears as a personal name in Nehemiah 12:36 among those involved in the procession during the dedication of the Jerusalem wall in the Persian period. The name is constructed from a noun for dung or refuse, an unusual choice that may have carried a particular connotation or local association no longer recoverable in modern times. This is one of several Hebrew names bearing negative or humble connotations, possibly reflecting a custom of expressing humility or recalling personal or familial circumstances. Unlike names such as גִּלְעָדִי (Gileadi, 'Gileadite'), which are ethnonyms, Gilalai has no clear connection to place. English translations preserve the proper name but often do not reflect the semantic nuance of its original Hebrew form beyond transliteration.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גֵּלֶל; dungy; Gilalai, an Israelite; Gilalai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גלל (g-l-l) — to roll, heap, pile 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 |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1562-01 |
גִּֽלֲלַ֡י | gilalay | HNp |
Gilalai | Dung-Heap One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1562-01 |
Nehemiah 12:36 | גִּֽלֲלַ֡י | gilalay | HNp |
Gilalai | Dung-Heap One |