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גְּמַלִּי

𐤂𐤌𐤋𐤉

Gemali

H1582 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גמל to deal with, to recompense, to wean, camel

Definition

Gemalli is a personal name appearing in the Hebrew Bible, designating an Israelite individual. The name likely means 'my camel' or 'recompense is mine,' depending on the derivation from the root גמל. In biblical usage, it refers specifically to Gemalli, a member of the tribe of Ephraim and the father of Ammiel, one of the twelve scouts sent by Moses to explore Canaan (Numbers 13:12). The word is strictly a proper noun and does not function generically as 'cameldriver' or denote occupation.

Semantic Range

Gemalli (personal name), possibly 'my camel', possibly 'my recompense'

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root גמל (g-m-l), which means 'to deal with, to recompense, to wean,' or possibly referencing 'camel.' The suffix -י is a first-person singular possessive, often indicating 'my' or 'is mine.' Thus, גְּמַלִּי may be interpreted as 'my camel' or 'my recompense.' However, as a personal name, the precise intended meaning remains uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Gemalli appears only as a personal name, identifying the father of Ammiel in Numbers 13:12 in the context of the twelve tribal spies. Despite traditional associations, there is no direct evidence that the name designates an occupation such as 'cameldriver.' The rendering 'Gemalli, an Israelite' in some translations reflects his inclusion among the tribal representatives rather than a broader ethnic or geographic designation. The use of -י as a suffix in names is common for forming theophoric or possessive names in biblical Hebrew. The meaning of the root גמל as 'to deal with' or 'to recompense' is often applied in the formation of names that allude to divine action or blessing, though this is not explicit here. English translations transliterate the name; some KJV and post-biblical use introduce later terms such as 'Jew' when referencing descendants, but these are inappropriate for the biblical period when Gemalli appears.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from גָּמָל; cameldriver; Gemalli, an Israelite; Gemalli.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גמל (g-m-l) — to deal with, to recompense, to wean, camel

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1014 בֵּית גָּמוּל recompensed one
H1576 גְּמוּל recompense of
H1577 גָּמוּל to Repaid-one
H1578 גְּמוּלָה recompenses
H1580 גָּמַל camel

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1582-01 גְּמַלִּֽי gemali HNp Gemalli My Recompense 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1582-01 Numbers 13:12 גְּמַלִּֽי gemali HNp Gemalli My Recompense
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