Lexical Summary gaal: To abhor, to loathe, to reject Original Word: גָּאַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defile, pollute, stain A primitive root, (rather identified with ga'al, through the idea of freeing, i.e. Repudiating); to soil or (figuratively) desecrate -- defile, pollute, stain. see HEBREW ga'al NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to defile NASB Translation defile (2), defiled (6), stained (1), unclean (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [גָּאַל] verb defile, late (compare גָּעַל) — Niph`al Perfect3masculine plural נְגֹאֲלוּ Isaiah 59:3; Lamentations 4:14, on form see Ges§ 51, 2, Köi. 265; Participle נִגְאָלָה Zephaniah 3:1; — be defiled, hands with blood בַּדָּם, Isaiah 59:3 compare Lamentations 4:14; participle as substantive defiled, polluted one Zephaniah 3:1 of Jerusalem ("" מֹרְאָה; appositive הָעִיר הַיּוֺנָה). Pi`el Perfect1plural suffix גֵּאַלְנוּךָ Malachi 1:7 pollute, desecrate, object ׳י (desecrated in his altar). Pu`al Imperfect וַיְגֹאֲלוּ מִןהַֿכְּהֻנָּה Ezra 2:62 = Nehemiah 7:64 construct pregnant and they were desecrated out of the priesthood, i.e. deposed, as desecrated one; Participle מְגֹאָל of bread laid on Yahweh's altar Malachi 1:7; of Yahweh's altar (table, שֻׁלְחָן) Malachi 1:12. Hiph`il Perfect1singular אֶגְאָ֑לְתִּי Isaiah 63:3 (on Aramaic form see Köi. 27 Ges§ 53 R. 6 but) read perhaps גֵּאָ֑לְתִּי Pi`el, see GFMThLZ 1887, 292 compare also Gesl.c. N. Ol§ 255 b Sta§ 159 b, 3; — I have polluted, i.e. stained all my raiment. Hithpa`el Imperfect יִתְגָּאַל Daniel 1:8; יִתְגָּאָ֑ל Daniel 1:8; — defile himself. Topical Lexicon Semantics and Scopeגָּאַל depicts an act of rendering something unfit for sacred or communal use—by moral stain, ritual impurity, or public disgrace. Though the contexts vary, the unifying idea is loss of holiness and consequent exclusion from God-ordained purpose. The verb is always active: a person, object, city, or altar is “defiled,” “polluted,” or “stained,” never merely unfortunate but culpably corrupted. Old Testament Distribution 1. Priesthood lineage: Ezra 2:62; Nehemiah 7:64 The occurrences cluster around periods of transition—return from exile, prophetic warning, and covenant renewal—underscoring the tension between God’s holiness and Israel’s waywardness. Ritual Cleanness and Worship Malachi 1 exposes how defilement corrupts worship at its source: “You are presenting defiled food on My altar” (Malachi 1:7). Sacrificial tables symbolize communion with God; polluted offerings sever that fellowship. Ezra 2:62 and Nehemiah 7:64 show the same principle administratively: genealogies lacking verifiable purity barred claimants from the priesthood, protecting the sanctuary from contamination. Moral and Social Corruption Isaiah 59:3 links defilement to violence and deceit: “Your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity”. The pollution is ethical before it is ceremonial. Zephaniah 3:1 expands the charge to civic structures: Jerusalem becomes “rebellious and defiled,” illustrating how systemic injustice renders an entire city unclean. Messianic and Eschatological Overtones Isaiah 63:3 portrays the righteous Avenger whose garments are “stained” in the winepress of judgment. The verb ironically shifts: the Holy One’s clothing bears the stain of executed wrath, yet He remains personally undefiled. The image anticipates Revelation 19:13, where the conquering Christ wears a robe dipped in blood—judgment that cleanses creation by removing wickedness. Personal Piety and Conscience Daniel 1:8 highlights individual responsibility: “Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine.” Separation from idolatrous culture safeguards covenant fidelity. Daniel’s quiet protest models inner holiness that prepares servants for public usefulness (Daniel 2–6). Consequences of Defilement • Loss of priestly privilege (Ezra 2:62) God’s response is consistent: exposure, exclusion, and ultimately purification—either by repentance or by judgment. Christological Fulfillment In the incarnation the Holy One enters a polluted world without contracting its stain (Hebrews 4:15). His atoning death provides the definitive cleansing anticipated in Old Testament sacrifices (Hebrews 9:13–14). Believers are now exhorted to “keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27), mirroring Daniel’s resolve and anticipating the pure worship pictured in Revelation 21:27. Implications for Ministry Today 1. Guard the integrity of worship: careless practice profanes the Lord’s table. Forms and Transliterations אֶגְאָֽלְתִּי׃ אגאלתי׃ גֵֽאַלְנ֑וּךָ גאלנוך וְנִגְאָלָ֑ה וַֽיְגֹאֲל֖וּ וַיְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ ויגאלו ונגאלה יִתְגָּאַ֛ל יִתְגָּאָֽל׃ יתגאל יתגאל׃ מְגֹאָ֔ל מְגֹאָ֣ל מגאל נְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ נְגֹאֲל֣וּ נגאלו ’eḡ’ālətî ’eḡ·’ā·lə·tî egAleti ḡê’alnūḵā ḡê·’al·nū·ḵā gealNucha mə·ḡō·’āl məḡō’āl megoAl nə·ḡō·’ă·lū nəḡō’ălū negoaLu vaygoaLu venigaLah way·ḡō·’ă·lū wayḡō’ălū wə·niḡ·’ā·lāh wəniḡ’ālāh yiṯ·gā·’al yiṯ·gā·’āl yiṯgā’al yiṯgā’āl yitgaAlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 2:62 HEB: וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָ֑אוּ וַֽיְגֹאֲל֖וּ מִן־ הַכְּהֻנָּֽה׃ NAS: but they could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean [and excluded] from the priesthood. KJV: but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. INT: could not be located unclean from the priesthood Nehemiah 7:64 Isaiah 59:3 Isaiah 63:3 Lamentations 4:14 Daniel 1:8 Daniel 1:8 Zephaniah 3:1 Malachi 1:7 Malachi 1:7 Malachi 1:12 11 Occurrences |
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