גָּלַשׁ
𐤂𐤋𐤔
gâlash
H1570 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To leap, spring, or skip, especially with the light or agile movements associated with young animals, often as an expression of energy or exuberance. The term can also denote a sudden or surprising appearance, especially through unexpected movement.
Semantic Range
to leap energetically, to skip or spring (as an animal), to caper; to appear suddenly (by leaping or energetic motion)
Root / Etymology
Root: ג-ל-ש (גָּלַשׁ). The verb is of uncertain affinity, though it may be related to roots denoting smooth movement or gliding actions; however, the core meaning in Biblical Hebrew centers around lively, leaping motion. The etymology is not definitively established in known Semitic parallels.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb גָּלַשׁ is an extremely rare term in the Hebrew Bible, limited in attestation. Its meaning is inferred primarily through context and comparative linguistics, with the imagery of leaping, as with goats or other agile animals, drawn from cognate expressions in neighboring languages and from the parallelism in its biblical usage. The word appears in poetic contexts, emphasizing sudden, energetic movement. Although some English versions translate the word as 'appear,' the nuances of motion (specifically lively or capering motion) are central to the Hebrew term. Later Hebrew or post-biblical usage does not significantly expand or alter the semantic range. The Strong's rendering 'to caper (as a goat)' aligns well with the contextually determined imagery, but modern scholarship resists reducing the meaning to only the behavior of goats, instead recognizing a broader sense of leaping or energetic movement, still often with animal imagery.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; probably to caper (as a goat); appear.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גלש (g-l-sh) — to leap, to spring, to skip, to caper
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1570-01 |
שֶׁ/גָּלְשׁ֖וּ | shegaleshu | HTr/Vqp3cp |
leaping down | they leaped | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1570-01 |
Song of Songs 4:1 | שֶׁ/גָּלְשׁ֖וּ | shegaleshu | HTr/Vqp3cp |
leaping down | they leaped |
H1570-01 |
Song of Songs 6:5 | שֶׁ/גָּלְשׁ֖וּ | shegaleshu | HTr/Vqp3cp |
that glide down | they leaped |