1582. Gemalli
Lexical Summary
Gemalli: Gemalli

Original Word: גְּמַלִּי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Gmalliy
Pronunciation: geh-mal-LEE
Phonetic Spelling: (ghem-al-lee')
KJV: Gemalli
NASB: Gemalli
Word Origin: [probably from H1581 (גָּמָל - camels)]

1. camel-driver
2. Gemalli, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Gemalli

Probably from gamal; camel-driver; Gemalli, an Israelite -- Gemalli.

see HEBREW gamal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from gamal
Definition
a Danite
NASB Translation
Gemalli (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
גְּמַלִּי proper name, masculine a Danite Numbers 13:12.

גמם (Arabic become much or abundant, abundance, much, collection (of water), company (of people)).

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

Numbers 13:12: “from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli.” This solitary mention places Gemalli in the wilderness generation whose names were recorded when Moses sent twelve respected tribal leaders to explore Canaan.

Historical Context

The census lists of Numbers preserve the family heads who shaped Israel’s early national identity. Gemalli’s son Ammiel is identified as a “leader” (Numbers 13:3), implying that Gemalli himself belonged to the upper tier of tribal elders in the camp of Dan. The year is roughly two years after the Exodus (Numbers 10:11–12). Israel is encamped at Kadesh-barnea on the edge of the Promised Land; faith and fear now collide within each tribe.

Tribal Representation and Significance

Dan’s positioning on the northern flank of the camp (Numbers 2:25) meant that the tribe often served as a rear-guard during marches. By giving the expedition one of its twelve spokesmen, Dan publicly shared responsibility for the collective verdict. Though the narrator focuses on the spies, the fathers’ names remain in the text as reminders that entire households were implicated in their sons’ decisions (Numbers 14:31–33).

Outcome of the Mission

Ammiel joined the ten who “spread a bad report about the land they had scouted” (Numbers 13:32). The unbelief of these leaders brought forty years of wandering and the death of the entire adult generation except Caleb and Joshua. Thus, Gemalli’s line, like most of Israel, watched an inheritance slip away because of fear-driven leadership.

Theology of the Name

Gemalli is built on the Hebrew root גמל (gamal), “to deal fully, to repay, to reward.” The name can be viewed in two complementary ways:
• “Yahweh has dealt bountifully with me” (positive reward)
• “My repayment” (recompense)

In either nuance, the narrative of Numbers 13–14 dramatizes the doctrine that God repays faith with blessing and unbelief with loss (compare Deuteronomy 1:34–36; Hebrews 3:16–19).

Spiritual Lessons

1. Godly legacy is fragile. A respected household can forfeit fruitfulness when faith falters in the next generation.
2. Leadership accountability is multigenerational. While Ammiel spoke the faithless words, the father’s name remains recorded beside him, underscoring the influence of parental formation (Exodus 20:5–6).
3. Divine recompense is both gracious and severe. The thematic link between Gemalli’s name and the outcome of the spy mission reminds worshipers that “He has not dealt with us according to our sins” (Psalm 103:10) yet will still discipline covenant breakers (1 Corinthians 10:5).

Ministry Applications

• Family discipleship: cultivate courageous faith so that the next generation speaks in alignment with God’s promises.
• Leadership selection: spiritual maturity, not mere prominence, should guide appointment to positions of influence.
• Corporate repentance: when communal sin surfaces, Scripture invites whole families and tribes to return to covenant fidelity (Joel 2:15–17).

Key Cross-References

Numbers 14:24; Deuteronomy 1:34–36; Psalm 116:7; Hebrews 3:12–19; Revelation 2:10.

Summary

Gemalli’s lone appearance reminds readers that even a single line in Scripture carries enduring theological weight. His family account stands as a cautionary emblem of how quickly fear can dismantle hope and how faithfully God repays belief or unbelief, just as His covenant name declares.

Forms and Transliterations
גְּמַלִּֽי׃ גמלי׃ gə·mal·lî gemalLi gəmallî
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 13:12
HEB: עַמִּיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־ גְּמַלִּֽי׃
NAS: Ammiel the son of Gemalli;
KJV: Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
INT: Ammiel the son of Gemalli

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1582
1 Occurrence


gə·mal·lî — 1 Occ.

1581
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