Lexical Summary gulgoleth: Skull, head, poll Original Word: גֻּלְגֹּלֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance head, every man, poll, skull By reduplication from galal; a skull (as round); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons) -- head, every man, poll, skull. see HEBREW galal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom galal Definition a skull, head, poll (of persons) NASB Translation apiece (2), census (2), head (11), skull (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs גֻּלְגֹּ֫לֶת noun feminine skull, head, poll (person) (on formation compare BaNB 205; Aramaic גּוּלְגַּלְתָּא) — absolute ׳ג 2 Kings 9:35 3t.; suffix גֻּלְגָּלְתּוֺ Judges 9:53; 1 Chronicles 10:10; plural suffix גֻּלְגְּלֹתָם Numbers 1:2 5t.; — 1 skull, as broken by a stone Judges 9:53; as severed from body 2 Kings 9:35; 1 Chronicles 10:10. 2 head, poll (in counting, taxing, etc.; only P and late) ׳עֹמֶר לַגּ Exodus 16:16 an omer for every man; compare Exodus 38:26; Numbers 1:2,18,20,22; Numbers 3:47; 1 Chronicles 23:3,24. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope Gulgólet denotes the physical skull or, by extension, an individual person (“per head”). The term moves fluidly between literal anatomy and the idea of personal identity and accountability. Usage in Provision and Daily Sustenance Exodus 16:16 introduces the word in the context of manna: “You may take an omer for each person you have in your tent.” Divine provision is measured out personally; grace is neither collectivized nor anonymous. Role in Census and Ransom Legislation The census passages (Exodus 38:26; Numbers 1:2, 18, 20, 22; Numbers 3:47) count Israel “by each person,” coupling enumeration with equal ransom: “a beka per man” (Exodus 38:26). Every skull required the same atonement, foreshadowing the universal ransom Christ would pay for sin. Military and Administrative Accounting In 1 Chronicles 23:3, 24 the Levites are “listed individually by name.” Ministry was structured around knowing each head, a pattern that commends personal shepherding in the church today. Symbol of Mortality, Judgment, and Warfare The word darkens in Judges 9:53 (“cracking his skull”), 2 Kings 9:35 (“nothing but the skull”), and 1 Chronicles 10:10 (Saul’s head in Dagon’s temple). Exposed skulls become testimonies to human frailty and divine judgment upon rebellion. Foreshadowing Golgotha The Aramaic cognate emerges in “Golgotha, which means Place of the Skull” (Matthew 27:33). The Old Testament’s individual ransoms and grim skull scenes converge at the cross, where the true ransom is paid “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Ministry Implications • Individual worth—God counts people one by one; pastoral care follows suit. Forms and Transliterations גֻּלְגָּלְתּ֥וֹ גֻּלְגָּלְתּֽוֹ׃ גלגלתו גלגלתו׃ הַגֻּלְגֹּ֛לֶת הגלגלת לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם׃ לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם֙ לַגֻּלְגֹּ֑לֶת לַגֻּלְגֹּ֔לֶת לַגֻּלְגֹּ֗לֶת לגלגלת לגלגלתם לגלגלתם׃ gul·gā·lə·tōw gulgālətōw gulgalTo hag·gul·gō·leṯ haggulGolet haggulgōleṯ lag·gul·gō·leṯ laggulGolet laggulgōleṯ lə·ḡul·gə·lō·ṯām legulgeloTam ləḡulgəlōṯāmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 16:16 HEB: אָכְל֑וֹ עֹ֣מֶר לַגֻּלְגֹּ֗לֶת מִסְפַּר֙ נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם NAS: an omer apiece according to the number KJV: an omer for every man, [according to] the number INT: to his eating an omer apiece to the number of persons Exodus 38:26 Numbers 1:2 Numbers 1:18 Numbers 1:20 Numbers 1:22 Numbers 3:47 Judges 9:53 2 Kings 9:35 1 Chronicles 10:10 1 Chronicles 23:3 1 Chronicles 23:24 12 Occurrences |
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