Lexical Summary gadal: To grow, become great, magnify, promote Original Word: גָּדַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, become, do, give, A primitive root; properly, to twist (compare gdil), i.e. To be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride) -- advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to...estate, + things), grow(up),increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower. see HEBREW gdil NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to grow up, become great NASB Translation advanced (1), arrogantly (1), became great (1), became greater (2), became rich (1), became tall (1), became...wealthy (1), become arrogant (4), become great (1), become rich (1), become so great (1), bigger (1), boast* (1), bring (1), brought (1), educated (1), enlarged (1), exalt (2), exalted (4), great (10), great things (5), great things he has done (1), greater (4), grew (15), grew...great (1), grow (2), grow long (1), grown (5), grown-up (1), grows (1), highly valued (2), increase (1), lifted (1), magnificent (1), magnified (15), magnify (9), make his greater (1), make the great (2), make your great (1), make great (1), makes it grow (1), more (1), promoted (1), reared (3), rearing (1), spoken* (1), vaunt (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs גָּדַל115 verb grow up, become great (Aramaic גְּדַל (Ithpe`el),  twist, twine, Arabic  twist a cord, make firm, strong, become strong, so Late Hebrew) — Qal Perfect ׳ג etc. Genesis 38:14 14t.; suffix גְּדֵלַנִי Job 31:18; Imperfect יִגְדַּל etc. Psalm 35:27 34t.; — 1 grow up, a. child Genesis 21:8,20; Genesis 25:27; Genesis 38:11,14; Exodus 2:10,11 (JE) Judges 11:2; Judges 13:24; Ruth 1:12; 1 Samuel 2:21; 1 Samuel 3:19; 1 Kings 12:8,10 ( = 2 Chronicles 10:8,10) 2 Kings 4:18; גְּדֵלַנִי כְאָב he grew up to me as to a father Job 31:18; b. lamb 2 Samuel 12:3. 2 become great, a. in extent, wealthy Genesis 26:13 (twice in verse); Genesis 41:40 (JE) Jeremiah 5:27; b. in value. ׳בְּעֵינֵי י, גָָּֽדְלָה נֶפֶשׁ בְּעֵינָ֑י prized by 1 Samuel 26:24 (twice in verse); c. in intensity, grief Job 2:13, mourning Zechariah 12:11, punishment Lamentations 4:6, trespass Ezekiel 9:6; d. in sound, loud cry Genesis 19:13 (J); e. in importance, of a king Ecclesiastes 2:9; 1 Kings 10:23 ( = 2 Chronicles 9:22) Daniel 8:9,10 (under figure of horn), chief Genesis 24:35; Genesis 48:19 (J), Messiah Micah 5:3, Jerusalem Ezekiel 16:7; f. of God 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 104:1, his works Psalm 92:6, his power Numbers 14:17 (J). 3 to be magnified, a. house of David Zechariah 12:7; b. Yahweh Psalm 35:27; Psalm 40:17; Psalm 70:5; Malachi 1:5, his name 2 Samuel 7:26 ( = 1 Chronicles 17:24). Pi`el Perfect גִּדַּל Joshua 4:14; Esther 3:1; גִּדֵּ֔ל Isaiah 49:21; גִּדֵּ֑לָה Isaiah 51:18, etc.; Imperfect יְגַדֵּל Isaiah 44:14 8t.; Imperative גַּדְּלוּ Psalm 34:4; Infinitive גַּדֵּל Numbers 6:5 3t.; Participle מְגַדְּלִים 2 Kings 10:6 (מְגַדְּלוֺת Songs 5:15 ᵐ5 ᵑ7 Hi Bö De); — 1 cause to grow, e.g. hair Numbers 6:5 (P), plants Jonah 4:10; Isaiah 44:14; Ezekiel 31:4; Songs 5:13; bring up children 2 Kings 10:6; Isaiah 1:2; Isaiah 23:4; Isaiah 49:21; Isaiah 51:18; Daniel 1:5; Hosea 9:12. 2 make great, powerful Genesis 12:2 (J) Joshua 3:7; Joshua 4:14 (D) 1 Kings 1:37,47; 1 Chronicles 29:12,25; 2Chronicles 1:1; Esther 3:1; Esther 5:11; Esther 10:2. 3 magnify, a. man Job 7:17; b. God Psalm 34:4; Psalm 69:31. Pu`al Participle plural מְגֻדָּלִים brought up Psalm 144:12. Hiph`il Perfect הִגְדִּיל Psalm 41:10 +, etc.; Imperfect יַגְדִּיל Isaiah 42:21; Daniel 8:25, etc.; Infinitive הַגְדִּיל 1 Chronicles 22:8; Amos 8:5; Participle מַגְדִּיל Psalm 18:51 ( = מִגְדֹּיל in "" 2 Samuel 22:51); plural מַגְדִּילִים Psalm 35:26; — 1 make great, e.g. shekel Amos 8:5, pile for fire Ezekiel 24:9, joy Isaiah 9:2, counsel Isaiah 28:29, wisdom Ecclesiastes 1:16, works Ecclesiastes 2:4, house of Yahweh 1 Chronicles 22:5; the heel Psalm 41:10 either lifted high (Ges), or (compare De Now) gave me insidiously a great fall; compare מִּיךָ ׳ג Obadiah 12 i.e. utter proud words (see רחב Hiph`il) 2 magnify, salvation Psalm 18:51, so "" 2 Samuel 22:51 (Kt מַגְדִּיל; > Qr מִגְדֹּל), mercy Genesis 19:19 (J), teaching Isaiah 42:21, the word of Yahweh Psalm 138:2. 3 do great things הִגְדִּיל לַעֲשׂוֺת, a. in a good sense, of God Psalm 126:2; Psalm 126:3; Joel 2:21, also pregnant without Infinitive 1 Samuel 12:24. b. in bad sense, of 'the northern one' Joel 2:20, also pregnant without Infinitive Lamentations 1:9; Zephaniah 2:8,10; Daniel 8:4,8,11,25; with עַל, of enemies Psalm 35:26; Psalm 38:17; Psalm 55:13; Job 19:5; Jeremiah 48:26,42; Ezekiel 35:13 of speaking עָלַי בְּפִיכֶם ׳ג. c. also, with Infinitive implied, wept greatly 1 Samuel 20:41. Hithpa`el Perfect וְהִתְגַּדִּלְתִּ֫י Ezekiel 38:23 I will magnify myself, shew myself great and powerful (of God); Imperfect יִתְגַּדֵּל, with עַלin a bad sense, magnify oneself against Isaiah 10:15; Daniel 11:36; יִתְגַּדָּ֑ל Daniel 11:37. Topical Lexicon Overview The root גָּדַל (gadal) threads through the Old Testament as a vibrant verb of enlargement—physical, social, and spiritual. It portrays growing children, swelling nations, promoted leaders, boasting rebels, and, pre-eminently, the incomparable greatness of the LORD who both bestows and embodies true greatness. Physical growth and maturation • Genesis 21:8, 21:20; 26:13; 38:11; Exodus 2:10–11; 1 Samuel 2:21; 1 Kings 11:23. Gadal is the ordinary verb for children “growing up.” In the patriarchal narratives it charts the maturation of Isaac, Ishmael, and Moses; Hannah’s Samuel “grew before the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:21). The same term measures incremental prosperity—“The man became rich and continued to prosper until he became very wealthy” (Genesis 26:13). Numerical enlargement of people and nations • Genesis 24:35; 48:19; Deuteronomy 26:5; Psalm 105:24; Isaiah 9:3. Yahweh multiplies both Israel and individuals. Jacob recounts how the LORD made him “into a nation, great, mighty, and numerous” (Deuteronomy 26:5). Psalm 105:24 celebrates the same: “He made His people very fruitful and stronger than their foes.” The word marks covenant faithfulness in fulfilling the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2). Divine promotion of leaders • 1 Samuel 12:6; 2 Samuel 7:9; 1 Chronicles 29:25; 2 Chronicles 1:1; Esther 3:1; Daniel 1:19–20. Gadal records God’s sovereign advance of servants into positions of influence. David reflects, “For the sake of Your people You have made a name for Yourself and performed great and awesome wonders” (2 Samuel 7:23). Solomon’s ascension climaxes with the note, “The LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great” (2 Chronicles 1:1). Human ambition and pride • Jeremiah 45:5; Obadiah 1:12; Habakkuk 2:5; Psalm 55:12. The root also exposes self-exaltation. Baruch is warned, “Are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them” (Jeremiah 45:5). Edom “rejoiced over the day of his brother” and “made your mouth great against me” (Obadiah 1:12). Thus gadal may describe both healthy growth and carnal aggrandizement. The call to magnify the LORD • Psalm 34:3; 35:27; 40:16; 69:30; 70:4; 104:1. The Psalms convert gadal into an imperative of worship: “Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3). Thanksgiving is itself a way of enlarging God’s reputation among the peoples (Psalm 69:30). The verb invites every generation to expand their view of God’s glory. Divine self-magnification in judgment and salvation • Exodus 9:17; Numbers 14:17; Ezekiel 38:23; Joel 2:20–21; Zephaniah 2:8–10. When Pharaoh “still exalts himself” (Exodus 9:17), the LORD answers with plagues that showcase His supremacy. Conversely, Joel proclaims to a repentant land, “Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things” (Joel 2:21). The prophetic hope culminates in Ezekiel: “I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations” (Ezekiel 38:23). Messianic foregleams • Isaiah 9:6–7; Micah 5:4; Zechariah 12:7. The promised King’s reign is characterized by ever-increasing greatness. “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7). Micah foresees the Shepherd-Ruler who “will be great to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4), aligning ultimate gadal with the Messiah’s universal dominion. New Testament echoes The Septuagint frequently renders gadal with μεγαλύνω, carried into the New Testament. Mary exults, “My soul magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46), picking up the Old Testament cadence. Paul prays that “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20). The trajectory of gadal thus bridges the covenants. Ministry implications 1. Growth is God-given; seek humility, not self-inflation (Jeremiah 45:5; 1 Peter 5:6). Summary Gadal spans the humble sprouting of a child to the vast expansion of a kingdom; it traces the peril of human pride and the privilege of exalting the LORD. Ultimately, every accent of greatness finds its fulfillment in the Messiah whose reign forever enlarges the praise of God. Forms and Transliterations אֶגְדַּ֥ל אַגְדִּ֥יל אגדיל אגדל גְּדֵלַ֣נִי גִּדְּל֔וּהוּ גִּדְּל֖וֹ גִּדְּל֤וֹ גִּדֵּֽלָה׃ גִּדַּ֣לְתִּי גִּדַּ֤ל גִּדַּל֩ גִדֵּ֔ל גִדַּ֛לְתִּי גִדַּלְתּ֑וֹ גַּדְּל֣וּ גַּדֵּ֥ל גַּדֶּלְךָ֔ גָּדְל֖וּ גָּדְל֣וּ גָּדְלָ֧ה גָּדַ֖לְתָּ גָּדַ֣לְתָּ גָֽדְלָ֤ה גָדְלָ֖ה גָדַ֖ל גָדַ֣ל גָדַ֥ל גדל גדלה גדלה׃ גדלו גדלוהו גדלך גדלני גדלת גדלתו גדלתי הִגְדִּ֑יל הִגְדִּ֖יל הִגְדִּ֖ל הִגְדִּ֣יל הִגְדִּ֥יל הִגְדִּֽיל׃ הִגְדִּֽילוּ׃ הִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי הִגְדַּ֣לְתָּ הִגְדַּ֤לְתִּי הִגְדַּ֥לְתָּ הַֽמַּגְדִּילִ֥ים הגדיל הגדיל׃ הגדילו׃ הגדל הגדלת הגדלתי המגדילים וְגָדֵ֔ל וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי וְהִגְדִּֽיל׃ וְהִתְגַּדִּלְתִּי֙ וְיִגְדַּ֨ל וְיִתְגַּדֵּל֙ וִֽיגַדֵּ֥ל וִֽיגַדֵּל֙ וַֽיְגַדְּלֵ֖הוּ וַֽיִּגְדְּלוּ֙ וַֽתִּגְדְּלִ֔י וַאֲגַדְּלֶ֥נּוּ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה וַיְגַדֵּ֨ל וַיִּגְדְּל֨וּ וַיִּגְדַּ֖ל וַיִּגְדַּ֛ל וַיִּגְדַּ֣ל וַיִּגְדַּ֤ל וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל וַיִּגְדַּל֙ וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל וַיִגְדַּ֣ל וַיַּגְדִּ֔לוּ וַיַּגְדִּ֖ילוּ וַתִּגְדַּ֖ל וַתִּגְדַּ֥ל וַתִּגְדַּל־ וַתַּגְדִּ֤ילוּ וַתַּגְדֵּ֣ל וּֽלְגַדְּלָ֖ם וּלְהַגְדִּ֣יל ואגדלה ואגדלנו וגדל וגדלתי והגדיל׃ והתגדלתי ויגדילו ויגדל ויגדלהו ויגדלו ויתגדל ולגדלם ולהגדיל ותגדילו ותגדל ותגדל־ ותגדלי יְגַדְּלוּ֙ יְגַדֵּֽל׃ יִגְדַּ֖ל יִגְדַּ֣ל יִגְדַּ֤ל יִגְדַּל֙ יִגְדַּל־ יִגְדָּ֑ל יִגְדָּ֔לוּ יִתְגַּדֵּ֤ל יִתְגַּדָּֽל׃ יַגְדִּ֔יל יַגְדִּ֥יל יגדיל יגדל יגדל־ יגדל׃ יגדלו יתגדל יתגדל׃ לְגַדֵּ֥ל לְהַגְדִּ֨יל ׀ לגדל להגדיל מְגַדְּלִ֥ים מְגֻדָּלִ֪ים מִגְדֹּ֖ול מגדול מגדלים תְגַדְּלֶ֑נּוּ תִּגְדַּ֤ל תִגְדַּ֜ל תַּגְדִּ֑ילוּ תַּגְדֵּ֥ל תגדילו תגדל תגדלנו ’aḡ·dîl ’aḡdîl ’eḡ·dal ’eḡdal agDil egDal ḡā·ḏal gā·ḏal·tā gā·ḏə·lāh ḡā·ḏə·lāh gā·ḏə·lū gad·də·lū gad·dêl gad·del·ḵā gaDal ḡāḏal gaDalta gāḏaltā gadDel gaddêl gaddelCha gaddelḵā gaddeLu gaddəlū gadeLah gāḏəlāh ḡāḏəlāh gadeLu gāḏəlū gə·ḏê·la·nî gedeLani gəḏêlanî gid·dal gid·dal·tî ḡid·dal·tî ḡid·dal·tōw gid·dê·lāh gid·də·lōw gid·də·lū·hū ḡid·dêl giddal gidDalti giddaltî ḡiddaltî giddalTo ḡiddaltōw gidDel ḡiddêl gidDelah giddêlāh giddeLo giddəlōw giddeLuhu giddəlūhū ham·maḡ·dî·lîm hammagdiLim hammaḡdîlîm hiḡ·dal·tā hiḡ·dal·tî hiḡ·dî·lū hiḡ·dil hiḡ·dîl higDalta hiḡdaltā higDalti hiḡdaltî higDil hiḡdil hiḡdîl higDilu hiḡdîlū lə·ḡad·dêl lə·haḡ·dîl legadDel ləḡaddêl lehagDil ləhaḡdîl mə·ḡad·də·lîm mə·ḡud·dā·lîm megaddeLim məḡaddəlîm meguddaLim məḡuddālîm miḡ·dō·wl migDol miḡdōwl taḡ·dêl taḡ·dî·lū tagDel taḡdêl tagDilu taḡdîlū ṯə·ḡad·də·len·nū tegaddeLennu ṯəḡaddəlennū tiḡ·dal ṯiḡ·dal tigDal tiḡdal ṯiḡdal ū·lə·ḡad·də·lām ū·lə·haḡ·dîl ulegaddeLam ūləḡaddəlām ulehagDil ūləhaḡdîl vaagaddeLah vaagaddeLennu vaiyagDilu vaiyigDal vaiyigdeLu vattagDel vattagDilu vattigDal vattigdeLi vaygadDel vaygaddeLehu vayigDal vegaDalti vegaDel vehigDil vehitgaddilTi veyigDal veyitgadDel vigadDel wa’ăḡaddəlāh wa’ăḡaddəlennū wa·’ă·ḡad·də·lāh wa·’ă·ḡad·də·len·nū wa·yiḡ·dal wat·taḡ·dêl wat·taḡ·dî·lū wat·tiḡ·dal wat·tiḡ·dal- wat·tiḡ·də·lî wattaḡdêl wattaḡdîlū wattiḡdal wattiḡdal- wattiḡdəlî way·ḡad·də·lê·hū way·ḡad·dêl way·yaḡ·di·lū way·yaḡ·dî·lū way·yiḡ·dal way·yiḡ·dāl way·yiḡ·də·lū wayḡaddêl wayḡaddəlêhū wayiḡdal wayyaḡdilū wayyaḡdîlū wayyiḡdal wayyiḡdāl wayyiḡdəlū wə·ḡā·ḏal·tî wə·ḡā·ḏêl wə·hiḡ·dîl wə·hiṯ·gad·dil·tî wə·yiḡ·dal wə·yiṯ·gad·dêl wəḡāḏaltî wəḡāḏêl wəhiḡdîl wəhiṯgaddiltî wəyiḡdal wəyiṯgaddêl wî·ḡad·dêl wîḡaddêl yaḡ·dîl yagDil yaḡdîl yə·ḡad·də·lū yə·ḡad·dêl yegadDel yəḡaddêl yegaddeLu yəḡaddəlū yiḡ·dā·lū yiḡ·dal yiḡ·dāl yiḡ·dal- yigDal yiḡdal yiḡdāl yiḡdal- yigDalu yiḡdālū yiṯ·gad·dāl yiṯ·gad·dêl yitgadDal yiṯgaddāl yitgadDel yiṯgaddêlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 12:2 HEB: גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה NAS: And I will bless you, And make your name KJV: thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: INT: A great will bless and make your name shall be a Genesis 19:13 Genesis 19:19 Genesis 21:8 Genesis 21:20 Genesis 24:35 Genesis 25:27 Genesis 26:13 Genesis 26:13 Genesis 26:13 Genesis 38:11 Genesis 38:14 Genesis 41:40 Genesis 48:19 Genesis 48:19 Exodus 2:10 Exodus 2:11 Numbers 6:5 Numbers 14:17 Joshua 3:7 Joshua 4:14 Judges 11:2 Judges 13:24 Ruth 1:13 1 Samuel 2:21 115 Occurrences |
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