1557. galal
Lexical Summary
galal: dung

Original Word: גָּלָל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: galal
Pronunciation: gah-LAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-lawl')
KJV: dung
NASB: dung
Word Origin: [from H1556 (גָּלַל - roll)]

1. dung (as in balls)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
dung

From galal; dung (as in balls) -- dung.

see HEBREW galal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from galal
Definition
dung
NASB Translation
dung (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. גָּלָל noun [masculine] dung (Arabic ), ׳הַגּ 1 Kings 14:10. — See also [גֵּל]. above

Topical Lexicon
Root Imagery and Semantic Range

The term points to animal or human excrement—matter that must be discarded outside the camp (compare Deuteronomy 23:12-14). Scripture employs this imagery to express utter worthlessness and total removal. It is never a neutral description; it is an emblem of what is offensive before a holy God.

Immediate Biblical Context (1 Kings 14:10)

“Therefore behold, I will bring disaster upon the house of Jeroboam; I will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both slave and free in Israel, and I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns up dung until it is gone.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Spoken through the prophet Ahijah, the announcement exposes the depth of Jeroboam’s apostasy. The house that introduced golden-calf worship (1 Kings 12:28-30) would be treated like refuse—collected, burned, and erased. The graphic wording underscores four truths:

1. Divine judgment is personal (“house of Jeroboam”).
2. It is exhaustive (“every male, both slave and free”).
3. It is humiliating (“as one burns up dung”).
4. It is irreversible (“until it is gone”).

Symbolism of Dung in the Wider Old Testament

Other writers use similar imagery:
• “They shall be for dung on the surface of the ground” (Jeremiah 16:4).
• “I will spread refuse on your faces” (Malachi 2:3).
• Jezebel’s body became “like dung on the ground” (2 Kings 9:37).

Each text couples moral corruption with physical uncleanness, portraying sin’s final degradation when God’s patience ends.

Historical and Cultural Background

Burning refuse was common in ancient Israel, eliminating stench and disease. By comparing a royal dynasty to a dung-heap destined for the fire, the prophet evokes a scene every listener could envision: nothing usable remains; the heap exists only to be destroyed. The message struck at the pride of a king who had secured political power but forfeited covenant fidelity.

Theological Significance

1. Holiness: God’s sanctuary cannot coexist with uncleanness.
2. Covenant Faithfulness: Idolatry invites the same fate as waste.
3. Totality of Judgment: Divine retribution is as thorough as the cleansing of filth.
4. Hope Implicit in Purging: Removal of corruption paves the way for future renewal (compare 2 Kings 15:29-30, where a later purge begins restoration).

Connections with Prophetic Literature

Prophets repeatedly employ refuse imagery to announce that unmixed wrath will fall after prolonged mercy is ignored (Jeremiah 8:2; Zephaniah 1:17). These parallels emphasize that Ahijah’s pronouncement fits a consistent prophetic pattern: God warns, waits, and then removes wickedness without remainder.

Relation to New Testament Teaching

Paul captures a similar valuation when he writes, “I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). The apostle portrays worldly credentials as spiritual refuse, echoing the Old Testament theme that anything opposed to God is fit only for disposal. The cross ultimately bears the shame and curse symbolized by dung, removing it “outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:12-13).

Application for Preaching and Discipleship

• Sin is not merely a mistake; it is defilement demanding removal.
• Power and success without obedience end in humiliation.
• God’s judgment, though severe, is purposeful—clearing the way for repentance and renewal.
• Believers are called to treat anything that diminishes devotion to Christ as refuse, willingly surrendering it for the surpassing worth of knowing Him.

Summary

The lone appearance of this Hebrew term in 1 Kings 14:10 magnifies the certainty and completeness of divine judgment. By likening Jeroboam’s dynasty to dung destined for the fire, Scripture drives home the truth that all rebellion, regardless of its apparent stature, is ultimately worthless and will be swept away so that God’s holiness might prevail.

Forms and Transliterations
הַגָּלָ֖ל הגלל hag·gā·lāl haggaLal haggālāl
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Kings 14:10
HEB: כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יְבַעֵ֥ר הַגָּלָ֖ל עַד־ תֻּמּֽוֹ׃
NAS: as one sweeps away dung until
KJV: as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.
INT: after A clean dung until is all

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1557
1 Occurrence


hag·gā·lāl — 1 Occ.

1556
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