1535. galgal
Lexical Summary
galgal: wheels

Original Word: גַּלְגַּל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: galgal
Pronunciation: gal-gal
Phonetic Spelling: (gal-gal')
KJV: wheel
NASB: wheels
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H1534 (גַּלגַּל - whirling wheels)]

1. a wheel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
wheel

(Aramaic) corresponding to galgal; a wheel -- wheel.

see HEBREW galgal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to galgal
Definition
a wheel
NASB Translation
wheels (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[גַּלְגַּל] noun masculine wheel (ᵑ7 Biblical Hebrew; Syriac ); — plural suffix גַּלְגִּלּוֺהִ֫י Daniel 7:9 of throne-chariot of God.

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

Daniel 7:9—“His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.”. גַּלְגַּל appears only here, describing the fiery wheels supporting the throne of the Ancient of Days.

Context in Daniel 7

Placed between the rise of four beastly empires and the coronation of “One like a Son of Man,” the wheels underscore the scene’s courtroom setting. They signal that divine judgment is about to begin and that God’s authority eclipses every earthly power just portrayed.

Connection with Other Throne-Wheels

Although the term occurs once, Scripture links wheels with divine mobility:
Ezekiel 1:15-21; 10:9-13—wheels beside the cherubim, “full of eyes.”
1 Chronicles 28:18—“the chariot of the cherubim” in temple design.

These passages form a unified biblical motif: God’s throne moves at will, unhindered by geography or hostile powers.

Historical Background

Ancient Near Eastern monarchs rode war-chariots into battle. By revealing Yahweh on a wheeled throne, Daniel appropriates familiar imagery to proclaim that the God of Israel, not any earthly king or pagan deity, commands the ultimate chariot of victory and judgment.

Theological Significance

1. Sovereign Mobility—The flaming wheels portray God’s rule as active and universal, never confined to one place or people.
2. Purifying Judgment—Fire around the wheels conveys holiness that consumes impurity, preparing for the verdict that dethrones beastly empires (Daniel 7:11-12, 26).
3. Scriptural Unity—The motif links Exodus (pillar of fire), Ezekiel’s visions, Daniel’s prophecy, and Revelation 4:5; 15:2, revealing a coherent, unfolding revelation of God’s glory.

Christological Focus

Immediately after the fiery throne vision, dominion is granted to the “Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13-14), a title Jesus applies to Himself (Matthew 26:64). The same blazing wheels that judge hostile powers affirm the legitimacy of Christ’s everlasting kingdom, establishing continuity between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment.

Eschatological Implications

Daniel’s fiery wheels anticipate the great white throne of Revelation 20:11-15. They assure believers that present injustice will be addressed and that the Ancient of Days is already marshaling events toward final judgment and the saints’ vindication (Daniel 7:27).

Practical Ministry Application

• Worship—The vision fuels a reverent view of God’s majesty, informing liturgy and song.
• Assurance—Believers gain confidence that God’s mobile throne governs history despite changing empires.
• Exhortation—The imagery warns against complacency, calling for personal holiness in view of coming judgment.
• Mission—Knowing God’s throne is already active propels evangelism, as history moves toward the public vindication of Christ and His people.

Summary

גַּלְגַּל, though rare, illuminates the blazing wheels of the Ancient of Days’ throne, declaring God’s holy mobility, righteous judgment, and unstoppable advance toward Christ’s eternal reign.

Forms and Transliterations
גַּלְגִּלּ֖וֹהִי גלגלוהי gal·gil·lō·w·hî galgilLohi galgillōwhî
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Daniel 7:9
HEB: דִּי־ נ֔וּר גַּלְגִּלּ֖וֹהִי נ֥וּר דָּלִֽק׃
NAS: [was] ablaze with flames, Its wheels [were] a burning
KJV: flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning
INT: forasmuch fire wheels fire a burning

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1535
1 Occurrence


gal·gil·lō·w·hî — 1 Occ.

1534
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