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גֶּחֶל

𐤂𐤇𐤋

gechel

H1513 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A live coal, burning ember, or glowing piece of charcoal—specifically, a single live coal or ember that glows with heat, but may or may not be covered with flame. The term can denote a coal suitable for heating, kindling fire, or for use in ritual, and can refer to embers remaining after the main body of a fire has burned down. Plural and feminine forms (generally גַּחֶלֶת and גַּחֲלִים) are often used for collective embers or live coals.

Semantic Range

live coal, ember, burning coal, glowing charcoal; (collective) hot coals or embers; metaphorical usage for testing, judgement, or ritual purification

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root גח"ל, though the root itself does not appear elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew and is thus considered a fossilized or perhaps archaic form. The presumed root idea is 'to glow' or 'to kindle,' reflected in related Semitic languages but unattested as a verb in Hebrew. The noun is derived from this root and signifies a burning or glowing coal.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word גֶּחֶל (gechel) and its feminine form גַּחֶלֶת (gachelet) typically occur in the singular or more commonly the feminine plural גַּחֲלִים (gachalim), meaning 'coals' or 'burning embers.' In biblical usage, these terms often refer to the glowing, enduring coals remaining on a hearth or altar after the main fire has faded. Such coals could be used for cooking, for ritual incense (e.g., Leviticus 16:12), or as imagery of punishment or testing (e.g., Proverbs 25:22, Isaiah 6:6). Unlike אֵשׁ ('fire'), which refers to the flame itself, גֶּחֶל/גַּחֶלֶת emphasizes smoldering, glowing coals. The Septuagint generally translates גַּחֶלֶת as 'anthrax' (ἄνθραξ), meaning charcoal or live coal, while the Vulgate uses 'carbo.' English 'coal' is often correct, but 'ember' can be more precise where glowing, rather than burning or flaming, is indicated. Later rabbinic literature continues this usage, often with ritual or legal nuance. The term, while uncommon in daily ancient Hebrew outside biblical or ritual contexts, remains in modern Hebrew in the form 'gachelet.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) גַּחֶלֶת; from an unused root meaning to glow or kindle; an ember; (burning) coal.

Bantu Hebrew

Language Bantu Word Transliteration Meaning
Ewe gakɔ charcoal
Fon gákún charcoal
Gen (Mina) gako charcoal

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Root Family

גחל (gechel) — to glow, to kindle, to burn dimly

Root גחל to glow, to kindle, to burn dimly

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1513-06 גֶּחָלִ֖ים gechalim HNcbpa coals glowing coals glowing coals 5
H1513-02 גַּחֲלֵי gachaley HNcbpc coals glowing coals of coals of 4
H1513-10 וְ/גַֽחֲלֵי vegachaley HC/Ncbpc and coals and glowing coals of and glowing coals of 2
H1513-01 גַּֽחַלְתִּ/י֙ gachaleti HNcbsc/Sp1cs my coal my glowing coal my glowing coal 1
H1513-03 גַּחֶ֣לֶת gachelet HNcbsa coal glowing ember glowing ember 1
H1513-04 גֶּחָלָי/ו֙ gechalayv HNcbpc/Sp3ms its-coals his glowing embers its coals 1
H1513-05 גֶּחָלֶ֖י/הָ gechaleyha HNcbpc/Sp3fs its-coals her glowing coals her glowing coals 1
H1513-07 הַ/גֶּחָלִ֑ים hagechalim HTd/Ncbpa the hot coals the glowing coals the glowing coals 1
H1513-08 כְּ/גַחֲלֵי kegachaley HR/Ncbpc like-coals like glowing embers of like glowing embers of 1
H1513-09 לְ֭/גֶחָלִים legechalim HR/Ncbpa to hot embers to glowing coals to hot embers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1513-02 Leviticus 16:12 גַּֽחֲלֵי gachaley HNcbpc coals glowing coals of glowing coals of
H1513-01 2 Samuel 14:7 גַּֽחַלְתִּ/י֙ gachaleti HNcbsc/Sp1cs my coal my glowing coal my glowing coal
H1513-06 2 Samuel 22:9 גֶּחָלִ֖ים gechalim HNcbpa coals glowing coals coals
H1513-02 2 Samuel 22:13 גַּחֲלֵי gachaley HNcbpc coals of glowing coals of glowing coals of
H1513-04 Isaiah 44:19 גֶּחָלָי/ו֙ gechalayv HNcbpc/Sp3ms its-coals his glowing embers its coals
H1513-03 Isaiah 47:14 גַּחֶ֣לֶת gachelet HNcbsa coal glowing ember glowing ember
H1513-08 Ezekiel 1:13 כְּ/גַחֲלֵי kegachaley HR/Ncbpc like-coals like glowing embers of like glowing embers of
H1513-02 Ezekiel 10:2 גַֽחֲלֵי gachaley HNcbpc coals glowing coals of coals of
H1513-05 Ezekiel 24:11 גֶּחָלֶ֖י/הָ gechaleyha HNcbpc/Sp3fs its-coals her glowing coals her glowing coals
H1513-06 Psalms 18:9 גֶּ֝חָלִ֗ים gechalim HNcbpa coals glowing coals glowing coals
H1513-10 Psalms 18:13 וְ/גַֽחֲלֵי vegachaley HC/Ncbpc and coals of and glowing coals of and glowing coals of
H1513-10 Psalms 18:14 וְ/גַֽחֲלֵי vegachaley HC/Ncbpc and coals and glowing coals of and glowing coals of
H1513-02 Psalms 120:4 גַּחֲלֵ֥י gachaley HNcbpc coals glowing coals of coals of
H1513-06 Psalms 140:11 גֶּֽחָ֫לִ֥ים gechalim HNcbpa burning coals glowing coals glowing coals
H1513-07 Proverbs 6:28 הַ/גֶּחָלִ֑ים hagechalim HTd/Ncbpa the hot coals the glowing coals the glowing coals
H1513-06 Proverbs 25:22 גֶֽחָלִ֗ים gechalim HNcbpa coals glowing coals glowing coals
H1513-09 Proverbs 26:21 לְ֭/גֶחָלִים legechalim HR/Ncbpa to hot embers to glowing coals to hot embers
H1513-06 Job 41:13 גֶּחָלִ֣ים gechalim HNcbpa coals glowing coals glowing coals
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