Strong's Lexicon gal: Heap, wave, billow Original Word: גַּל Word Origin: From the root גָּלַל (galal), meaning "to roll" or "to heap up." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G2949 (κῦμα, kyma) - wave, billow - G4073 (πέτρα, petra) - rock, stone Usage: The Hebrew word "gal" primarily refers to a heap or pile, often of stones or other materials. It can also denote waves or billows, particularly in the context of the sea. The term is used metaphorically to describe tumultuous or overwhelming situations, akin to being engulfed by waves. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite culture, heaps of stones (galim) were often used as memorials or markers. For example, Jacob and Laban set up a heap of stones as a witness to their covenant (Genesis 31:46-48). The imagery of waves or billows is frequently employed in Hebrew poetry to convey chaos, danger, or divine power, reflecting the Israelites' understanding of the sea as a symbol of uncontrollable forces. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom galal Definition a heap, wave, billow NASB Translation billows (1), heap (13), heaps (2), rock garden (1), rock pile (1), ruins (1), stone heaps (1), waves (14). Brown-Driver-Briggs גַּל noun masculineGenesis 31:48 heap, wave, billow (as rolled together, rolling, rolling up), also spring, ᵑ0 Songs 4:12 compare 3 below — absolute גַּל Job 8:17 5t. (including הַגַּל Genesis 31:48 +); גָּ֑ל Genesis 31:46; הַגָּ֑ל Genesis 31:46; לַגָּ֑ל Isaiah 25:2; construct גַּלֿ Joshua 7:26 + 2t. + Genesis 31:47,48 q.see below; plural גַּלִּים 2 Kings 19:25 6t.; construct גַּלֵּיֿ Isaiah 48:18; suffix גַּלָּיו Psalm 89:10 6t.; גַּלֵּיהֶם Psalm 65:8 2t.; — 1 heap of stones, a. אבנים ׳ג raised (הקים) over dead body Joshua 7:26; Joshua 8:29; compare 2 Samuel 18:17 (with הִצִּיב). b. גַּל alone Job 8:17 (roots wrapped about it). c. heap or pile made (עשׂה) for use in ratifying compact of Jacob with Laban Genesis 31:46 (twice in verse); Genesis 31:48; Genesis 31:51; Genesis 38:52; Genesis 31:52 (twice in verse) compare also גַּלְעֵד proper name, dual heap of ruins Isaiah 25:2; elsewhere plural Hosea 12:12; 2 Kings 19:25 = Isaiah 37:26; Job 15:28 Jeremiah 9:10; Jeremiah 51:37. 2 waves (rollers) in poetry, only plural, waves of sea Jeremiah 5:22; Jeremiah 31:35; Isaiah 51:15; Job 38:11; Psalm 65:8; Psalm 89:10; Psalm 107:25; Psalm 107:29; compare also in simile Ezekiel 26:3; Isaiah 48:18 (גַּלֵּיהַֿיָּם); figurative of chastisements from ׳י Psalm 42:8 ("" מִשְׁבָּרִים) Jonah 2:3 ("" id.); of army of Babylon's conqueror Jeremiah 51:42,55; compare Zechariah 10:11 (VB; but BevJPh xviii. 88 proposes גִּבְלִים compare Ezekiel 27:9). 3 spring, Songs 4:12 גַּן נָעוּל אֲחוֺתִי כַּלָּ֑ה גַּל נָעוּל מַעְיָן חָתוּם a garden barred (is) my sister, bride, a spring barred, a fountain sealed; but גַּן for גַּל ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance billow, heap, spring, wave From galal; something rolled, i.e. A heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves) -- billow, heap, spring, wave. see HEBREW galal Forms and Transliterations גַ֝לָּ֗יו גַּ֥ל גַּ֭ל גַּלִּ֔ים גַּלִּ֥ים גַּלֵּיהֶ֗ם גַּלֵּיהֶֽם׃ גַּלֶּֽיךָ׃ גַּלָּ֑יו גַּלָּ֖יו גַּלָּֽיו׃ גַּל־ גַלֵּיהֶם֙ גַלָּ֔יו גַלָּ֖יו גָ֑ל גל גל־ גליהם גליהם׃ גליו גליו׃ גליך׃ גלים הַגַּ֣ל הַגַּ֥ל הַגַּ֨ל הַגָּֽל׃ הגל הגל׃ וְ֝גַלֶּ֗יךָ וְגַלֶּ֖יךָ וגליך כְּגַלִּ֔ים כְּגַלֵּ֥י כגלי כגלים לְגַלִּ֖ים לְגַלִּ֧ים ׀ לְגַלִּֽים׃ לְגַלָּֽיו׃ לַגָּ֔ל לגל לגליו׃ לגלים לגלים׃ gal ḡāl gal- gal·lāw ḡal·lāw gal·lê·hem ḡal·lê·hem gal·le·ḵā gal·lîm galLav gallāw ḡallāw gallêhem ḡallêhem galLeicha galleiHem galleḵā galLim gallîm hag·gal hag·gāl haggal haggāl kə·ḡal·lê kə·ḡal·lîm kəḡallê kegalLei kegalLim kəḡallîm lag·gāl lagGal laggāl lə·ḡal·lāw lə·ḡal·lîm legalLav ləḡallāw legalLim ləḡallîm vegalLeicha wə·ḡal·le·ḵā wəḡalleḵāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 31:46 HEB: אֲבָנִ֖ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ גָ֑ל וַיֹּ֥אכְלוּ שָׁ֖ם NAS: and made a heap, and they ate KJV: and made an heap: and they did eat INT: stones and made A heap ate there Genesis 31:46 Genesis 31:48 Genesis 31:51 Genesis 31:52 Genesis 31:52 Genesis 31:52 Joshua 7:26 Joshua 8:29 2 Samuel 18:17 2 Kings 19:25 Job 8:17 Job 15:28 Job 38:11 Psalm 42:7 Psalm 65:7 Psalm 89:9 Psalm 107:25 Psalm 107:29 Songs 4:12 Isaiah 25:2 Isaiah 37:26 Isaiah 48:18 Isaiah 51:15 Jeremiah 5:22 34 Occurrences |