← H1485 H1487 →

גּוֹרָל

𐤂𐤅𐤓𐤋

gôwrâl

H1486 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גורל to assign, to roll (by extension: to determine fate, to allot)

Definition

A stone or object used in the casting of lots as a means of selection or decision-making; by extension, the result of casting lots, understood as an assigned portion, share, fate, or destiny determined by chance or divine will. The term encompasses both the physical act of casting lots and the abstract concept of one's divinely-allotted share or fate.

Semantic Range

pebble or object for casting lots, lot (chance selection), assigned portion, allotment (especially land), fate, destiny

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: Root גָּרַל (uncertain, as the root does not occur as a verb in Hebrew); possibly related to the act of rolling or roughness, referencing the use of stones or small objects. The noun גּוֹרָל ('lot') developed from this root, signifying the objects employed in the practice and, more abstractly, the resulting outcome, portion, or destiny assigned thereby.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historical & Contextual Notes: In the Hebrew Bible, גּוֹרָל refers primarily to the practice of casting lots to make decisions or divide land, particularly in the division of Canaan among the Israelite tribes (e.g., Joshua 18). The term shifts with context from the physical object used in lottery practices (e.g., pebbles, sticks, or marked items) to the outcome or allocation produced by the lot, and finally to 'portion' or 'fate' in poetic or wisdom literature. The underlying notion is that casting lots represents submitting to impartial chance, yet in biblical thought, this is often depicted as under divine control. In later periods, the use of lots continued in administrative decisions, temple service assignments, or legal contexts. English translations such as 'lot,' 'portion,' or 'destiny' may each capture only one facet of the term; in some contexts, the nuance of God-determined fate is central. No closely related Hebrew term fully overlaps with גּוֹרָל; חֵלֶק (ḥēleq, 'share, portion') can overlap in the sense of 'share' but lacks the element of random or divinely-mediated assignment. The later English term 'lot' preserves much of the ancient meaning but often neglects the sense of divinely-directed fate present in many biblical passages.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) גֹּרָל; from an unused root meaning to be rough (as stone); properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot); lot.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

גורל (g-w-r-l) — to roll, to assign, to allot, to determine fate

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1486-12 הַ/גּוֹרָ֖ל hagoral HTd/Ncmsa the lot the allotted lot 24
H1486-05 גּוֹרָ֤ל goral HNcmsa lot allotted portion 14
H1486-11 גּוֹרָל֑וֹת goralot HNcmpa lots allotted lots 8
H1486-02 בְּ/גוֹרָ֕ל begoral HR/Ncmsa by lot by lot-allotment 8
H1486-01 בַּ/גּוֹרָ֔ל bagoral HRd/Ncmsa by lot in the allotted lot 6
H1486-06 גּֽוֹרָלָ֔/ם goralam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their lot their assigned lot 3
H1486-16 וְ/גוֹרָ֥ל vegoral HC/Ncmsa and lot and allotted lot 2
H1486-08 גּוֹרָלֵ֑/ךְ goralekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your lot your allotted portion 2
H1486-03 בְּ/גוֹרָלֶ֑/ךָ begoralekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms into your lot in your assigned lot 1
H1486-07 גּ֭וֹרָ֣לְ/ךָ goralekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your lot your allotted portion 1

Occurrences in Scripture

77 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1486-11 Leviticus 16:8 גּוֹרָל֑וֹת goralot HNcmpa lots allotted lots
H1486-05 Leviticus 16:8 גּוֹרָ֤ל goral HNcmsa lot allotted portion
H1486-16 Leviticus 16:8 וְ/גוֹרָ֥ל vegoral HC/Ncmsa and lot and allotted lot
H1486-12 Leviticus 16:9 הַ/גּוֹרָ֖ל hagoral HTd/Ncmsa the lot the allotted lot
H1486-12 Leviticus 16:10 הַ/גּוֹרָל֙ hagoral HTd/Ncmsa the lot the allotted lot
H1486-02 Numbers 26:55 בְּ/גוֹרָ֕ל begoral HR/Ncmsa by lot by lot-allotment
H1486-12 Numbers 26:56 הַ/גּוֹרָ֔ל hagoral HTd/Ncmsa the lot the allotted lot
H1486-02 Numbers 33:54 בְּ/גוֹרָ֜ל begoral HR/Ncmsa by lot by lot-allotment
H1486-12 Numbers 33:54 הַ/גּוֹרָ֖ל hagoral HTd/Ncmsa the lot the allotted lot
H1486-02 Numbers 34:13 בְּ/גוֹרָ֔ל begoral HR/Ncmsa by lot by lot-allotment
← H1485 Hebrew Lexicon H1487 →