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גַּלְגַּל

𐤂𐤋𐤂𐤋

galgal

H1534 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גּלל to roll, to make round, to move in a circle

Definition

A round or rolling object, most commonly a wheel; also refers to rolling debris, like whirling dust or chaff. In poetic or prophetic contexts, denotes movement or something in rapid, circular motion, sometimes used metaphorically of the celestial spheres or of a whirlwind. The word thus commonly refers both to an ordinary wheel and, by analogy, to objects caught in or characterized by rolling, spinning, or sweeping circular movement.

Semantic Range

wheel, rolling thing, whirlwind, spinning debris, whirling dust, chaff blown by wind, round object, in poetic or visionary contexts—objects or phenomena characterized by circular or rolling movement

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root ג-ל-ל, which broadly expresses the idea of rolling, roundness, or circling; גָּלַל ('galal') means 'to roll' or 'to roll away.' גַּלְגַּל ('galgal') is a reduplicated noun formation that mimics rolling motion, echoing the root's sense of repetitive circular movement. The word thus derives from the general notion of 'rolling' or 'something round/rolling.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, גַּלְגַּל refers literally to wheels (such as those of chariots or carts), but it takes on additional figurative meanings, especially in poetic texts (e.g., Psalms, Isaiah). In metaphoric usage, it can refer to chaff or debris swept away by the wind, highlighting instability or impermanence (e.g., Psalm 83:14). In some prophetic literature (notably Ezekiel), it appears in descriptions of complex visionary machinery, as in the wheels of Ezekiel’s chariot vision (Ezekiel 10). There are rare usages denoting whirlwind or rapid circling motion (Isaiah 17:13). Occasionally, later translations and traditions interpreted the term as referring to 'heavenly spheres,' but this is not present in primary biblical usage. The semantic overlap with other words for wheel or circular movement (e.g., אוֹפַן 'ofan') is notable, though גַּלְגַּל more strongly evokes the sense of rolling or whirling rather than merely a static wheel. English renderings such as 'heaven,' reflecting later interpretive traditions, are not supported by original contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

by reduplication from גָּלַל; a wheel; by analogy, a whirlwind; also dust (as whirled); heaven, rolling thing, wheel.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גלל (g-l-l) — to roll, to make round, to move in a circle

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1530 גַּל rolled heap
H1535 גַּלְגַּל his wheels
H1536 גִּלְגָּל Rolling-Circle
H1537 גִּלְגָּל in Gilgal
H1538 גֻּלְגֹּלֶת his skull

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1534-05 לַ/גַּלְגַּ֜ל lagalegal HRd/Ncmsa the wheels to the rolling-wheel 2
H1534-07 וְ/גַלְגַּל֙ vegalegal HC/Ncmsa and wheels and rolling-wheel 2
H1534-03 הַ/גַּלְגַּ֖ל hagalegal HTd/Ncmsa the wheel the rolling-wheel 2
H1534-08 וְ/גַלְגִּלָּ֖י/ו vegalegilayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and their wheels and his rolling-wheels 1
H1534-04 כַ/גַּלְגַּ֑ל khagalegal HRd/Ncmsa like a wheel like a rolling wheel 1
H1534-01 בַּ/גַּלְגַּ֗ל bagalegal HRd/Ncmsa in the whirlwind in the rolling-wheel 1
H1534-06 וּ/כְ/גַלְגַּ֖ל ukhegalegal HC/R/Ncmsa and like a whirling and like a rolling wheel 1
H1534-02 גַּלְגִּלָּ֑י/ו galegilayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms of his wheels his rolling-wheels 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1534-08 Isaiah 5:28 וְ/גַלְגִּלָּ֖י/ו vegalegilayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and their wheels and his rolling-wheels
H1534-06 Isaiah 17:13 וּ/כְ/גַלְגַּ֖ל ukhegalegal HC/R/Ncmsa and like a whirling and like a rolling wheel
H1534-02 Jeremiah 47:3 גַּלְגִּלָּ֑י/ו galegilayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms of his wheels his rolling-wheels
H1534-05 Ezekiel 10:2 לַ/גַּלְגַּ֜ל lagalegal HRd/Ncmsa the wheels to the rolling-wheel
H1534-05 Ezekiel 10:6 לַ/גַּלְגַּ֔ל lagalegal HRd/Ncmsa the wheels to the rolling-wheel
H1534-03 Ezekiel 10:13 הַ/גַּלְגַּ֖ל hagalegal HTd/Ncmsa the wheelwork the rolling-wheel
H1534-07 Ezekiel 23:24 וְ/גַלְגַּל֙ vegalegal HC/Ncmsa and-wheels and rolling-wheel
H1534-07 Ezekiel 26:10 וְ/גַלְגַּ֜ל vegalegal HC/Ncmsa and wheels and rolling-wheel
H1534-01 Psalms 77:19 בַּ/גַּלְגַּ֗ל bagalegal HRd/Ncmsa in the whirlwind in the rolling-wheel
H1534-04 Psalms 83:14 כַ/גַּלְגַּ֑ל khagalegal HRd/Ncmsa like a wheel like a rolling wheel
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