Lexical Summary Giddel: Giddel Original Word: גִּדֵּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Giddel From gadal; stout; Giddel, the name of one of the Nethinim, also of one of "Solomon's servants" -- Giddel. see HEBREW gadal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom gadal Definition "very great," one of the Nethinim, also one of Solomon's servants NASB Translation Giddel (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs גִּדֵּל proper name, masculine (very great) — 1 head of one of the families of Nethinim Ezra 2:47; Nehemiah 7:49. 2 head of one of the families of Solomon's servants Ezra 2:56; Nehemiah 7:58. Topical Lexicon Name Overview Giddel designates one or more heads of households whose descendants appear among the post-exilic returnees. The name surfaces exclusively within the catalogs of servants who accompanied Zerubbabel back to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. Occurrences in Scripture Ezra 2:47; Ezra 2:56; Nehemiah 7:49; Nehemiah 7:58. In both Ezra and Nehemiah the verses lie within two parallel lists: the Nethinim (temple servants) and the servants of Solomon. Identity and Roles 1. Sons of Giddel among the Nethinim (Ezra 2:43–54; Nehemiah 7:46–56) 2. Sons of Giddel among Solomon’s servants (Ezra 2:55–58; Nehemiah 7:57–60) Contribution to Post-Exilic Restoration Ezra records 95 descendants (Ezra 2:47, 56); Nehemiah confirms 124 (Nehemiah 7:49, 58). However modest the numbers, each family mattered in re-establishing regular worship. The rebuilt altar (Ezra 3:2–6) and the resumed sacrifices required a steady workforce. By returning, the sons of Giddel: Spiritual Lessons 1. God remembers unnamed laborers. Apart from these lists, Scripture says nothing more about the sons of Giddel, yet their names are recorded for eternity. The Lord who “is not unjust; He will not forget your work” (Hebrews 6:10) values behind-the-scenes faithfulness. Messianic and Covenantal Themes The meticulous preservation of genealogies ensures the legal line through which Messiah would come (compare Ezra 2:61–62). While Giddel’s clan is not in the Davidic line, their inclusion safeguards corporate purity, guaranteeing that the restored Israel remains a covenant people able to receive the promised Christ (Luke 2:21–32). Historical Context The first return (538 BC) occurred under the decree of Cyrus the Great (Ezra 1:1–4). Zerubbabel and Jeshua led approximately 50,000 people back (Ezra 2:64–65). Decades later Nehemiah rehearsed the list, testifying to divine preservation through opposition (Nehemiah 6:15) and renewal by the Word (Nehemiah 8:1–12). The sons of Giddel thus straddle both major restoration waves, bridging the altar’s reconstruction and the city wall’s completion. Later Tradition and Legacy Rabbinic sources offer no further detail, suggesting that Giddel’s descendants quietly continued their appointed tasks. By the Second Temple period, such servants maintained daily sacrifices that typified the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:11–14). Their silence in later literature reinforces the biblical pattern: true greatness often lies in humble, consistent service rather than public acclaim. Summary Giddel represents faithful families who, though minor in the biblical narrative, played indispensable roles in restoring and sustaining worship after the exile. Their recorded obedience invites modern believers to embrace humble service, trust God’s remembrance, and participate joyfully in the ongoing work of building His dwelling among His people. Forms and Transliterations גִדֵּ֖ל גִדֵּ֥ל גִדֵּֽל׃ גדל גדל׃ ḡid·dêl gidDel ḡiddêlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 2:47 HEB: בְּנֵי־ גִדֵּ֥ל בְּנֵי־ גַ֖חַר NAS: the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, KJV: The children of Giddel, the children INT: the sons of Giddel the sons of Gahar Ezra 2:56 Nehemiah 7:49 Nehemiah 7:58 4 Occurrences |
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