Lexical Summary galuth or galu: Exile, Captivity Original Word: גָּלוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance captivity (Aramaic) corresponding to galuwth -- captivity. see HEBREW galuwth NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to galuth Definition an exile NASB Translation exiles* (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs [גָּלוּ K§ 61. 4] noun feminine exile; — emphatic בְּגֵי גָלוּתָא i.e. exiles, Ezra 6:16; Daniel 2:25; Daniel 5:13; Daniel 6:14 (compare Biblical Hebrew גּוֺלָה). Topical Lexicon Overview גָּלוּת (galuth) denotes the state of being carried away from one’s homeland and living under foreign domination. In Scripture it speaks not merely of geographical displacement but of the covenant community’s disrupted relationship with God, together with the hope of restoration. Occurrences in the Old Testament Ezra 6:16; Daniel 2:25; Daniel 5:13; Daniel 6:13. In each instance the word refers to Judeans who had been deported by Babylon and were now living under successive empires. Example: “Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.” (Ezra 6:16) Historical Background The Babylonian campaigns against Judah (605–586 BC) culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, initiating the period commonly called the Exile. Deportees were settled throughout the Babylonian empire, where they retained distinct communal structures (Ezekiel 3:15). When Persia conquered Babylon (539 BC), Cyrus permitted a series of returns (Ezra 1:1-4). The word גָּלוּת, occurring in post-exilic literature, therefore functions as a living reminder of both judgment and mercy: judgment in the forced dispersion, mercy in the sovereign orchestration of return and rebuilding. Theological Significance 1. Divine Discipline: Exile fulfills covenant warnings (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:36). The captivity validates God’s righteousness in judging persistent idolatry. Exilic Identity and Spiritual Formation The dispersion forced a shift from Temple-centric worship to Word-centric practices—public reading of Scripture, prayer facing Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10), and rigorous dietary fidelity (Daniel 1:8). These practices shaped Judaism’s synagogue tradition and forged a resilient faith able to thrive without political sovereignty. Restoration and Covenant Faithfulness The post-exilic community viewed itself as “the rest of the exiles” (Ezra 6:16), highlighting solidarity and accountability. The memory of galuth fostered vigilance against idolatry (Nehemiah 13:26-27) and underscored the necessity of covenant obedience to avoid a repeat of exile (Zechariah 7:11-14). Prophetic and Messianic Trajectory The experience of captivity enlarges messianic hope: a future Davidic ruler will gather the scattered (Ezekiel 34:23-24). Daniel, identified four times as “one of the exiles from Judah,” receives visions of the everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14), anticipating the Messiah who will liberate not merely from political captivity but from sin. New Testament Echoes Although גָּלוּת itself is Hebrew, its reality finds a Greek counterpart in diaspora. Peter addresses believers as “strangers and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11), drawing on the exile motif to frame Christian identity. The church lives as a pilgrim people awaiting full restoration in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-4). Applications for Ministry Today • Perseverance under Pressure: Daniel’s steadfastness encourages believers living in secular contexts. Summary גָּלוּת encapsulates the painful yet redemptive dynamic of divine judgment, presence, and restoration. The term invites God’s people to acknowledge sin, embrace refining discipline, and cling to the unshakeable promise of return—a pattern ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah who leads captives into true freedom (Ephesians 4:8). Forms and Transliterations גָֽלוּתָא֙ גָלוּתָ֗א גָלוּתָ֜א גָלוּתָא֙ גלותא ḡā·lū·ṯā galuTa ḡālūṯāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 6:16 HEB: וּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּנֵי־ גָלוּתָ֗א חֲנֻכַּ֛ת בֵּית־ KJV: of the children of the captivity, kept INT: and the rest and the sons of the captivity the dedication house Daniel 2:25 Daniel 5:13 Daniel 6:13 4 Occurrences |
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