גְּדוּלָה
𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋𐤄
gᵉdûwlâh
H1420 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Greatness, majesty, or eminence—both as a quality and, in context, as the status, grandeur, or distinguished position of a person or entity. It denotes the state or condition of being great in physical, social, political, or moral terms. The term may also point to specific acts that express such greatness.
Semantic Range
greatness, majesty, eminence, grandeur, distinguished position or status, mighty acts, manifestation of greatness, dignity
Root / Etymology
Root: גדל (g-d-l), meaning primarily 'to be/become great, grow, make large.' The abstract noun גְּדוּלָה (gedûlah) is formed by adding the feminine noun ending -ָה (-ah) to the root, signifying the quality or state of being great. The root meaning is 'to be/become great,' but the noun indicates the condition, quality, or sometimes the manifestations of greatness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, גְּדוּלָה typically conveys the abstract quality of greatness, frequently attributed to YHWH (especially in poetic and liturgical contexts) as an affirmation of divine majesty or sovereignty. It appears in formulaic praise expressions (e.g., 1 Chron 29:11), reflecting theological and royal language of grandeur and exaltation, but is also occasionally applied to prominent persons for their distinguished status or achievements (e.g., Mordecai in Esther 6:3). In some texts, it refers not only to enduring qualities but also to specific acts or displays that demonstrate greatness—such as mighty deeds (cf. 2 Chron 9:6). The abstract noun overlaps in meaning with terms like גָּדוֹל (gadol, 'great') and עֹז ('strength, might'). Standard English translations often render the word as 'greatness' or 'majesty,' but nuance such as 'eminence' or 'magnificence' may be appropriate in certain contexts. During the First Temple period, its application is primarily royal or divine; in later periods, particularly in prayer and doxology, it takes on a more liturgical nuance, expressing praise and transcendence. The KJV's occasional renderings like 'mighty acts' reflect interpretation, not a direct semantic range; the core is the abstract quality or state of greatness or majesty.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or גְּדֻלָּה; (shortened) or (less accurately) גְּדוּלָּה; feminine of גָּדוֹל; greatness; (concretely) mighty acts; dignity, great things(-ness), majesty.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
ג־ד־ל (Gidaleti) — to be great, to grow, to become strong/powerful
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1419 | גָּדוֹל | in the great one |
| H1437 | גִּדַּלְתִּי | I have magnified |
| H3012 | יִגְדַּלְיָהוּ | Yahweh has grown great |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1420-05 |
הַ/גְּדוּלָּ֖ה | hagedulah | HTd/Ncfsa |
this greatness | the greatness | the greatness | 4 |
H1420-01 |
גְּדֻלַּ֣ת | gedulat | HNcfsc |
of the greatness | greatness of | greatness of | 1 |
H1420-02 |
גְּֽדֻלָּתִ֗/י | gedulati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my greatness | my greatness | my greatness | 1 |
H1420-03 |
גְּדוּלָּת֑/וֹ | gedulato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
of his greatness | his greatness | his greatness | 1 |
H1420-04 |
גְּדֻלּ֣וֹת | gedulot | HNcfpa |
great | greatnesses | greatnesses | 1 |
H1420-06 |
הַ/גְּדֻלּֽוֹת | hagedulot | HTd/Ncfpa |
these great things | the greatnesses | the great things | 1 |
H1420-07 |
וּ/גְדוּלָּ֛ה | ugedulah | HC/Ncfsa |
and greatness | and greatness | and greatness | 1 |
H1420-08 |
וּ/גְדוּלָּתְ/ךָ֥ | ugedulatekha | HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
your greatness | your greatness | your greatness | 1 |
H1420-09 |
וְ֝/לִ/גְדֻלָּת֗/וֹ | veligedulato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and-to-greatness-his | and to his greatness | and to his greatness | 1 |
H1420-10 |
ו/גדולתי/ך | vgdvltykh | HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms |
of your greatness | your greatnesses | and your greatness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
13 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1420-05 |
2 Samuel 7:21 | הַ/גְּדוּלָּ֖ה | hagedulah | HTd/Ncfsa |
this greatness | the greatness | the greatness |
H1420-05 |
2 Samuel 7:23 | הַ/גְּדוּלָּ֤ה | hagedulah | HTd/Ncfsa |
greatness | the greatness | the greatness |
H1420-02 |
Psalms 71:21 | גְּֽדֻלָּתִ֗/י | gedulati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my greatness | my greatness | my greatness |
H1420-09 |
Psalms 145:3 | וְ֝/לִ/גְדֻלָּת֗/וֹ | veligedulato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and-to-greatness-his | and to his greatness | and to his greatness |
H1420-10 |
Psalms 145:6 | ו/גדולתי/ך | vgdvltykh | HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms |
of your greatness | your greatnesses | and your greatness |
H1420-08 |
Psalms 145:6 | וּ/גְדוּלָּתְ/ךָ֥ | ugedulatekha | HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
your greatness | your greatness | your greatness |
H1420-03 |
Esther 1:4 | גְּדוּלָּת֑/וֹ | gedulato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
of his greatness | his greatness | his greatness |
H1420-07 |
Esther 6:3 | וּ/גְדוּלָּ֛ה | ugedulah | HC/Ncfsa |
and greatness | and greatness | and greatness |
H1420-01 |
Esther 10:2 | גְּדֻלַּ֣ת | gedulat | HNcfsc |
of the greatness | greatness of | greatness of |
H1420-05 |
1 Chronicles 17:19 | הַ/גְּדוּלָּ֖ה | hagedulah | HTd/Ncfsa |
this greatness | the greatness | the greatness |
H1420-06 |
1 Chronicles 17:19 | הַ/גְּדֻלּֽוֹת | hagedulot | HTd/Ncfpa |
these great things | the greatnesses | the great things |
H1420-04 |
1 Chronicles 17:21 | גְּדֻלּ֣וֹת | gedulot | HNcfpa |
great | greatnesses | greatnesses |
H1420-05 |
1 Chronicles 29:11 | הַ/גְּדֻלָּ֨ה | hagedulah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the-greatness | the greatness | the greatness |