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גַּלְמוּד

𐤂𐤋𐤌𐤅𐤃

galmûwd

H1565 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root גלם to wrap up, enclose, be unformed, unfinished

Definition

Desolate, uninhabited, or devoid of life; in some contexts, can describe something barren or unproductive, especially land or a place. Figuratively, refers to a state of isolation, abandonment, or lack of community. The term emphasizes the absence of habitation, growth, or social presence.

Semantic Range

desolate, barren, sterile, solitary, uninhabited, abandoned, empty, isolated

Root / Etymology

Root גָּלַם (galam), meaning 'to wrap up, to enclose, to be unfinished or unformed.' גַּלְמוּד (galmûwd) is likely a derived adjective or noun with the sense of 'that which is wrapped up; something enclosed or unformed,' proceeding to mean 'barren' or 'desolate' by metaphorical extension.

Historical & Contextual Notes

גַּלְמוּד appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Job (Job 3:7; 15:34; 30:3) and Jeremiah (Jer 22:10), often describing desolation, sterility, or utter isolation. While Strong’s associates the root more with physical sterility, usage in poetic texts like Job allows for metaphorical or hyperbolic senses describing existential loneliness or societal barrenness. The related root גָּלַם refers to being 'unformed' or 'wrapped up,' found in Psalm 139:16 ('my unformed substance'), but גַּלְמוּד never refers to physical incompleteness but rather to an inhospitable or empty state. English translations often render it 'desolate,' 'barren,' or 'solitary,' depending on context. The concept of barren landscape or existential isolation serves as a keystone in contrasts within wisdom and prophetic literature, often highlighting divine judgment, curse, or existential despair.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably by prolonged from גָּלַם; sterile (as wrapped up too hard); figuratively, desolate; desolate, solitary.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גלם (g-l-m) — wrap up, enclose, be unformed, unfinished

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1545 גְּלוֹם in wrap-garments of
H1563 גָּלַם and he enclosed
H1564 גֹּלֶם my unformed embryo

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1565-01 גַלְמ֑וּד galemud HAamsa barren desolate and uninhabited 3
H1565-02 וְ/גַלְמוּדָ֑ה vegalemudah HC/Aafsa and-barren and desolate 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1565-02 Isaiah 49:21 וְ/גַלְמוּדָ֑ה vegalemudah HC/Aafsa and-barren and desolate
H1565-01 Job 3:7 גַלְמ֑וּד galemud HAamsa barren desolate and uninhabited
H1565-01 Job 15:34 גַּלְמ֑וּד galemud HAamsa barren desolate and uninhabited
H1565-01 Job 30:3 גַּ֫לְמ֥וּד galemud HAamsa they are gaunt desolate and uninhabited
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