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גִּיל

𐤂𐤉𐤋

gîyl

H1524 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A state or expression of exultant joy, jubilant celebration, or gladness—often overt and demonstrative, expressed in dance, circling, or shouts. The term can refer both to the internal emotion of joy and to its outward physical expression, commonly in communal or religious contexts. In rarer instances, it can denote a specific occasion or time marked by joy, though such uses are secondary and context-dependent.

Semantic Range

joy, jubilation, exuberant celebration, rejoicing, gladness, outburst of joy, festival joy, exultation (sometimes with implication of dance or whirling), rarely: a cause or occasion of joy

Root / Etymology

Root: גיל (g-y-l). The root fundamentally refers to 'to circle around, whirl, writhe'—originally conveying physical movement, such as twirling or dancing, that accompanied intense emotion. From this base meaning, the derived noun גִּיל develops into 'rejoicing, jubilation, exuberant joy,' highlighting the outward expression of joy through physical demonstration. The semantic shift is from literal whirling or circling in dance to the figurative sense of ecstatic joy, especially in ritual, celebratory, or poetic contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

גִּיל in the Hebrew Bible typically appears in poetic or liturgical contexts (e.g., Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah), used for intense, communal joy, often with a cultic or celebratory connotation. Unlike שִׂמְחָה (simchah), which tends to denote a broader range of happiness or cheerfulness (including quiet joy or contentment), גִּיל connotes a more exuberant, sometimes physical, manifestation of joy. Its usage is prominent in portrayals of restoration or eschatological hope, especially in the prophetic literature (e.g., Isaiah 35:1, Joel 1:16). The association with dance and communal festivities is clearer in older Israelite contexts; its meaning narrowed somewhat post-exile as physical celebrations became more restrained in certain religious settings. English translations often render גִּיל as 'joy' or 'rejoicing,' but may miss the overt, active aspect of the word. The use of the word to mean 'an age' or 'period' is not attested outside conjectural or lexicographical tradition; nearly all biblical occurrences relate to the concept of exuberant joy.

Translation Consistency

primary "joy" 4 occurrences

'Joy' is the most natural, common English noun that covers the full SILEX range—internal gladness, outward rejoicing or jubilation, and occasional festival sense. It is simple, broadly understood, and fits both emotional and demonstrative expressions (dance, shouts, exultation) without sounding overly formal.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"joyful exultation" (3x) "exultation" (1x) "exultant jubilation" (1x) "exult" (1x) "age" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from גִּיל; a revolution (of time, i.e. an age); also joy; [idiom] exceedingly, gladness, [idiom] greatly, joy, rejoice(-ing), sort.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

גיל (g-y-l) — to circle, to whirl, to rejoice, to exult

Root גיל to circle, to whirl, to rejoice, to exult
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1525 גִּילָה exultant joy of

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1524-05 וָ/גִיל֙ vagil HC/Ncmsa and gladness and exultant joy and exultant joy 4
H1524-01 גִּיל֙ gil HNcmsa exultation jubilant exultation joyful exultation 3
H1524-03 גול gvl HVqa rejoice to exult to exult 1
H1524-06 וְ֝/גִ֗יל vegil HC/Ncmsa and rejoice exultant jubilation exultant jubilation 1
H1524-02 גִּ֫ילִ֥/י gili HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my exultation Exult! my exultation 1
H1524-04 כְּ/גִֽילְ/כֶ֔ם kegilekhem HR/Ncmsc/Sp2mp of your age like your jubilation of your age 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1524-05 Isaiah 16:10 וָ/גִיל֙ vagil HC/Ncmsa and gladness and exultant joy and exultant joy
H1524-05 Jeremiah 48:33 וָ/גִ֛יל vagil HC/Ncmsa and gladness and exultant joy and exultant joy
H1524-01 Hosea 9:1 גִּיל֙ gil HNcmsa exultation jubilant exultation joyful exultation
H1524-05 Joel 1:16 וָ/גִֽיל vagil HC/Ncmsa and gladness and exultant joy and exultant joy
H1524-02 Psalms 43:4 גִּ֫ילִ֥/י gili HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my exultation Exult! my exultation
H1524-05 Psalms 45:16 וָ/גִ֑יל vagil HC/Ncmsa and-rejoicing and exultant joy and exultant joy
H1524-06 Psalms 65:13 וְ֝/גִ֗יל vegil HC/Ncmsa and rejoice exultant jubilation exultant jubilation
H1524-03 Proverbs 23:24 גול gvl HVqa rejoice to exult to exult
H1524-01 Proverbs 23:24 גִּ֣יל gil HVqa greatly jubilant exultation joyful exultation
H1524-01 Job 3:22 גִ֑יל gil HNcmsa exultation jubilant exultation joyful exultation
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