Lexical Summary gedullah: Greatness Original Word: גִּדוּלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dignity, great things, majesty Or (shortened) gdullah {ghed-ool-law'}; or (less accurately) gduwllah {ghed-ool-law'}; feminine of gadowl; greatness; (concretely) mighty acts -- dignity, great things(-ness), majesty. see HEBREW gadowl NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom gadal Definition greatness NASB Translation dignity (1), great (1), great majesty (1), great thing (1), great things (1), greatness (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs גְּדוּלָּה noun feminine greatness — 2 Samuel 7:21 3t.; גְּדֻלָּה 1 Chronicles 29:11; construct גְּדֻלַּת Esther 10:2; suffix גְּדוּלָּתוֺ Esther 1:4; גְּדֻלָּתוֺ Psalm 145:3; גְּדְלָּתִי Psalm 71:21; גְדֻלָּו֯תְךָ Psalm 145:6; plural intensive גְּדֻלּוֺת1Chronicles 17:19,21; — chiefly late Hebrew a. of Psalmist Psalm 71:21; Mordecai Esther 6:3; Esther 10:2, king Esther 1:4; b. of God's greatness, as an attribute 1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalm 145:3; Psalm 145:6, or of his acts 2 Samuel 7:21 (compare Dr) 2 Samuel 7:23 = 1 Chronicles 17:19 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 17:21. הַגְּדוֺלִים proper name, masculine father of Zabdiel Nehemiah 11:14 (RV & so most; but ᵐ5 RVm and others the great). Topical Lexicon Overview גִּדוּלָה (gidullah) expresses “greatness, magnificence, honor, prominence.” Rooted in the verb gādhal (“to grow / become great”), it portrays flourishing magnitude, whether of God’s incomparable majesty, His mighty works, or the exalted standing He can grant to His servants. The twelve Old Testament occurrences cluster around three broad arenas: covenant history (Samuel–Chronicles), congregational worship (Psalms, Chronicles), and imperial narrative (Esther). Greatness Displayed in the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17) Nathan’s prophetic oracle to David twice records that the LORD “has done this great thing” (2 Samuel 7:21; 1 Chronicles 17:19). גִּדוּלָה here marks the unprecedented promise of an eternal dynasty and a Son whose kingdom will endure forever. The term not only magnifies the act but invites faith in the unrivaled God who performs it. Verse 23 (and the parallel 17:21) turn from David to Israel, recalling the Exodus and conquest: “to make a name for Himself, and perform for them great and awesome wonders.” God’s greatness is thus covenantal, historical, and missionary—He acts so that His fame will resound among the nations. Liturgical Exaltation (1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalm 145) David’s closing doxology crowns the term: “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory…” (1 Chronicles 29:11). In communal worship גִּדוּלָה is predicated of God alone, anchoring every attribute in His sovereign kingship. Psalm 145 extends this doxology: The psalmist answers divine greatness with daily praise, modeling the ministry of exultation that should saturate personal prayer and corporate song. Personal Elevation and Comfort (Psalm 71:21) “You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.” The psalmist’s confidence that God will enlarge (“gadol”) his standing shows that greatness is not merely cosmic; it can be pastorally intimate. The aging believer anticipates renewed vitality and public vindication, encouraging faith communities to pray for God’s uplifting hand in seasons of decline. Imperial and Human Greatness (Esther 1:4; 6:3; 10:2) In Esther the word transfers to Persian pomp (“the splendor of his excellent majesty,” 1:4) and to Mordecai’s promotion (“the greatness of Mordecai,” 10:2). Scripture juxtaposes transient courtly grandeur with God’s providential governance. Even when גִּדוּלָה describes royal ostentation, the narrative subtly subordinates it to the unseen LORD who turns imperial policy to preserve His people. Theological Trajectory 1. God’s greatness is intrinsic (Psalm 145) yet also manifested in redemptive history (2 Samuel 7; Exodus echoes). Ministry Implications • Worship leaders: craft liturgies that rehearse God’s covenant “great things,” allowing past deeds to fuel present praise. Summary גִּדוּלָה gathers Israel’s testimony that the LORD alone is great, that His greatness is active in salvation history, that He freely shares honor with His servants, and that every human display of grandeur is measured against His unsearchable majesty. Forms and Transliterations גְּֽדֻלָּתִ֗י גְּדֻלַּ֣ת גְּדֻלּ֣וֹת גְּדוּלָּת֑וֹ גדולתו גדלות גדלת גדלתי הַגְּדֻלָּ֨ה הַגְּדֻלּֽוֹת׃ הַגְּדוּלָּ֖ה הַגְּדוּלָּ֤ה הגדולה הגדלה הגדלות׃ וְ֝לִגְדֻלָּת֗וֹ וּגְדוּלָּ֛ה וּגְדוּלָּתְךָ֥ וגדולה וגדולתך ולגדלתו gə·ḏul·lā·ṯî gə·ḏūl·lā·ṯōw gə·ḏul·laṯ gə·ḏul·lō·wṯ gedulLat gəḏullaṯ gedullaTi gəḏullāṯî gedullaTo gəḏūllāṯōw gedulLot gəḏullōwṯ hag·gə·ḏul·lāh hag·gə·ḏūl·lāh hag·gə·ḏul·lō·wṯ haggedulLah haggəḏullāh haggəḏūllāh haggedulLot haggəḏullōwṯ ū·ḡə·ḏūl·lā·ṯə·ḵā ū·ḡə·ḏūl·lāh ugedulLah ūḡəḏūllāh ugedullateCha ūḡəḏūllāṯəḵā veligdullaTo wə·liḡ·ḏul·lā·ṯōw wəliḡḏullāṯōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 7:21 HEB: אֵ֥ת כָּל־ הַגְּדוּלָּ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את לְהוֹדִ֖יעַ NAS: this greatness to let Your servant KJV: hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant INT: have done all greatness likewise know 2 Samuel 7:23 1 Chronicles 17:19 1 Chronicles 17:19 1 Chronicles 17:21 1 Chronicles 29:11 Esther 1:4 Esther 6:3 Esther 10:2 Psalm 71:21 Psalm 145:3 Psalm 145:6 12 Occurrences |
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