Lexical Summary gemul: Recompense, reward, benefit, dealing Original Word: גְּמוּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance as hast served, benefit, desert, deserving, recompense, reward From gamal; treatment, i.e. An act (of good or ill); by implication, service or requital -- + as hast served, benefit, desert, deserving, that which he hath given, recompense, reward. see HEBREW gamal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom gamal Definition a dealing, recompense, benefit NASB Translation benefit (1), benefits (1), dealings (1), deeds (1), deserved* (1), good deed (1), recompense (11), recompense* (1), what he deserves* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs גְּמוּל noun masculine dealing, recompence, benefit — ׳ג Psalm 94:2 11t.; suffix גְּמֻלְךָ Obadiah 15, etc.; plural suffix גְּמוּלָיו Psalm 103:2; — 1 גְּמוּל יָדַיִם dealing of the hands Judges 9:16; Proverbs 12:14 (יָשׁוּב לְ) Isaiah 3:11 (יֵעָשֶׂה לְ). 2 dealing, hence (from context) equivalent of dealing, recompence: with suffix Obadiah 15 גמלך ישׁוב בראשׁך, Joel 4:4; Joel 4:7 (הֵשִׁיב), so with הֵשִׁיב לְ Psalm 28:4; שִׁלֵּם לְ Psalm 137:8; Proverbs 19:17; absolutely גְּמוּל לְ (הֵשִׁיב) שִׁלֵם Isaiah 59:18 (twice in verse); Isaiah 66:6; Jeremiah 51:6; Lamentations 3:64; עַל Joel 4:4; Psalm 94:2; Isaiah 35:4 ׳ג אלהים the recompence of God. 3 benefit: אַל תשׁכחי כל גמוליו Psalm 103:2; כגמול עליו according to the benefit (done) unto him2Chronicles 32:25 Topical Lexicon Concept Overview גְּמוּל (gemul) denotes recompense—what is rendered back to someone for prior action, whether reward for good or retribution for evil. The term carries moral weight: it assumes just correspondence between deed and consequence under the righteous governance of God. Positive Recompense: Blessing and Benefit 1. Divine kindness invites grateful remembrance. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2). Gemul here underscores every gracious favor bestowed by God that demands thankful response rather than presumption (compare 2 Chronicles 32:25, where Hezekiah’s pride is a failure to “repay” God’s goodness). Negative Recompense: Retribution and Justice 1. Imprecatory prayer appeals to God’s just gemul. “Repay them according to their deeds” (Psalm 28:4) expresses confidence that the Judge of all will answer arrogance with equivalent penalty (Psalm 94:2). Covenantal and Eschatological Themes Gemul operates within covenant structure: obedience and trust prompt blessing; rebellion brings curse. Judges 9:16 recalls the faithful acts of Gideon as the standard by which Shechem should judge its present behavior, showing gemul as communal memory. The prophets extend the principle to “the Day of the LORD” when every act meets its fitting answer (Obadiah 1:15). Thus gemul ties present ethics to future hope. Personal and Corporate Dimensions While many texts speak corporately (nations, cities), others are intensely personal. Lamentations 3:64 petitions, “You will repay them, O LORD, according to the work of their hands,” giving voice to sufferers who trust God to take vengeance rather than taking it themselves. Gemul therefore shapes both public policy and private piety: justice is sought through prayer, patience, and righteous living. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching: Gemul underlines themes of accountability and assurance. God sees, records, and answers every deed—an antidote to complacency and despair alike. Christological and New Covenant Reflection At the cross the principle of gemul reaches its climactic paradox: sin’s deserved recompense falls on the innocent Christ, while believers receive grace. Yet the New Testament upholds the same moral order—“each will receive his reward” (1 Corinthians 3:8)—showing continuity rather than contradiction. The gospel satisfies justice and empowers transformed living that still anticipates final recompense at Christ’s return. Key Old Testament References Judges 9:16; 2 Chronicles 32:25; Psalm 28:4; Psalm 94:2; Psalm 103:2; Psalm 137:8; Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 19:17; Isaiah 3:11; Isaiah 35:4; Isaiah 59:18; Isaiah 66:6; Jeremiah 51:6; Lamentations 3:64; Joel 3:4, 7; Obadiah 1:15. Forms and Transliterations גְּ֝מ֗וּל גְּ֝מוּלֵ֗ךְ גְּמ֕וּל גְּמ֖וּל גְּמ֛וּל גְּמ֣וּל גְּמ֥וּל גְּמֻלְךָ֖ גְּמֻלְכֶ֖ם גְּמוּלָ֣ם גְּמוּלָֽיו׃ גְמ֥וּל גְמֻלְכֶ֖ם גמול גמוליו׃ גמולך גמולם גמלך גמלכם הַגְּמ֗וּל הגמול וּ֝גְמֻל֗וֹ וּגְמ֥וּל וגמול וגמלו כִּגְמ֥וּל כִגְמֻ֤ל כגמול כגמל chigMul gə·mū·lām gə·mū·lāw gə·mū·lêḵ gə·mūl ḡə·mūl gə·mul·ḵā gə·mul·ḵem ḡə·mul·ḵem geMul gəmūl ḡəmūl gemuLam gəmūlām gemuLav gəmūlāw gemulCha gemulChem gemuLech gəmūlêḵ gəmulḵā gəmulḵem ḡəmulḵem hag·gə·mūl haggeMul haggəmūl kiḡ·mūl ḵiḡ·mul kigMul kiḡmūl ḵiḡmul ū·ḡə·mu·lōw ū·ḡə·mūl ugeMul ūḡəmūl ugemuLo ūḡəmulōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 9:16 HEB: בֵּית֔וֹ וְאִם־ כִּגְמ֥וּל יָדָ֖יו עֲשִׂ֥יתֶם NAS: and have dealt with him as he deserved-- KJV: and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; INT: and his house if to the deserving of his hands dealt 2 Chronicles 32:25 Psalm 28:4 Psalm 94:2 Psalm 103:2 Psalm 137:8 Proverbs 12:14 Proverbs 19:17 Isaiah 3:11 Isaiah 35:4 Isaiah 59:18 Isaiah 59:18 Isaiah 66:6 Jeremiah 51:6 Lamentations 3:64 Joel 3:4 Joel 3:4 Joel 3:7 Obadiah 1:15 19 Occurrences |
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