Lexical Summary elgabish: Hailstone Original Word: אֶלְגָּבִישׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance great hailstones From 'el and gabiysh; hail (as if a great pearl) -- great hail(-stones). see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW gabiysh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition hail NASB Translation hailstones* (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶלְגָּבִישׁ noun [masculine] hail (= Arabic  gypsum; compare below גבשׁ) ׳אַבְנֵי א Ezekiel 13:11,13; Ezekiel 38:22. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery אֶלְגָּבִישׁ portrays large, crushing hailstones sent directly by the Lord. In Ancient Near Eastern culture hail was dreaded for destroying crops and homes; Scripture harnesses that fear to underline the certainty of divine judgment. The term evokes suddenness, weight, and an inescapable, heaven-sent force. Biblical Occurrences 1. Ezekiel 13:11 – impending collapse of a whitewashed wall. Prophetic Context in Ezekiel 13 The prophet condemns false visionaries who “plaster with whitewash” a flimsy wall of lies. The Lord announces that violent wind, torrential rain, and אֶלְגָּבִישׁ will expose and shatter their facade: “I will send hailstones to shower down” (Ezekiel 13:11). The image reminds hearers that no human pretense can withstand God’s scrutiny; truth, like solid masonry, must be built on His word. Eschatological Context in Ezekiel 38 Within the oracle against Gog, hailstones descend with plague, blood, and burning sulfur: “I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur” (Ezekiel 38:22). This cosmic storm frames the final conflict as an Exodus-like act of salvation for Israel and judgment for her enemies. The hailstones underscore that the Lord, not Israel’s military skill, secures the ultimate victory. Hail as a Recurrent Biblical Motif • Exodus 9:13-35 – the seventh plague breaks Egypt’s pride. Across redemptive history hail signals Yahweh’s direct intervention, pairing mercy toward His covenant people with retribution on the unrepentant. Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty: Weather phenomena answer to the Creator (Job 38:22-23); אֶלְגָּבִישׁ in Ezekiel underlines that reality. Historical Background Palestine experiences seasonal hail, but storms powerful enough to drop lethal stones are rare. Their rarity intensifies the prophetic sign: when such hail occurs, hearers recognize a miraculous visitation. Archaeological strata in the Levant show occasional destruction layers consistent with sudden hail-induced flooding—tangible reminders that the prophets’ imagery was grounded in lived experience. Ministry Applications • Preaching: Expose doctrinal “whitewash” by proclaiming Scripture’s full counsel, lest hearers trust a wall destined to fall. Summary אֶלְגָּבִישׁ stands as a vivid emblem of the Lord’s power to judge, expose, and deliver. Whether dismantling deceptive structures in Ezekiel 13 or defeating eschatological foes in Ezekiel 38, the hailstones remind every generation that God’s word is unbreakable, His justice unstoppable, and His salvation certain. Forms and Transliterations אֶלְגָּבִ֖ישׁ אֶלְגָּבִ֜ישׁ אֶלְגָּבִישׁ֙ אלגביש ’el·gā·ḇîš ’elgāḇîš elgaVishLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 13:11 HEB: וְאַתֵּ֜נָה אַבְנֵ֤י אֶלְגָּבִישׁ֙ תִּפֹּ֔לְנָה וְר֥וּחַ INT: and ye stones great hail will fall wind Ezekiel 13:13 Ezekiel 38:22 3 Occurrences |
    |