גַּלְגַּל (H1534) — Hebrew Lexicon

גַּלְגַּל

𐤂𐤋𐤂𐤋

galgal

H1534 noun

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "wheel" 6 occurrences

The primary and most literal sense of גַּלְגַּל (galgal) is a wheel or rolling object, and most P2 renderings use forms of “wheel” (4x) or “rolling‑wheel” (3x). Choosing “wheel” gives the most natural, consistent English word across literal and metaphorical contexts (visions/whirlwinds can be rendered as ‘wheel’ figuratively or clarified in context), while rare alternate senses (e.g., ‘whirlwind’) can be handled by context-specific phrasing.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):

"rolling-wheel" (5x)

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

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

Root Family

גּלל (galgal) — to roll, to make round, to move in a circle

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

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H1534-03`	הַ/גַּלְגַּ֖ל	hagalegal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wheel	the rolling-wheel	the rolling-wheel	2
`H1534-05`	לַ/גַּלְגַּ֜ל	lagalegal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	the wheels	to the rolling-wheel	the wheel	2
`H1534-07`	וְ/גַלְגַּל֙	vegalegal	`HC/Ncmsa`	and wheels	and rolling-wheel	and rolling-wheel	2
`H1534-01`	בַּ/גַּלְגַּ֗ל	bagalegal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the whirlwind	in the rolling-wheel	in the rolling-wheel	1
`H1534-02`	גַּלְגִּלָּ֑י/ו	galegilayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	of his wheels	his rolling-wheels	his wheels	1
`H1534-04`	כַ/גַּלְגַּ֑ל	khagalegal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like a wheel	like a rolling wheel	like a rolling wheel	1
`H1534-06`	וּ/כְ/גַלְגַּ֖ל	ukhegalegal	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and like a whirling	and like a rolling wheel	and like a rolling wheel	1
`H1534-08`	וְ/גַלְגִּלָּ֖י/ו	vegalegilayv	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	and their wheels	and his rolling-wheels	and his wheels	1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H1534-08`	Isaiah 5:28	וְ/גַלְגִּלָּ֖י/ו	vegalegilayv	`HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms`	and their wheels	and his rolling-wheels	and his wheels
`H1534-06`	Isaiah 17:13	וּ/כְ/גַלְגַּ֖ל	ukhegalegal	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and like a whirling	and like a rolling wheel	and like a rolling wheel
`H1534-02`	Jeremiah 47:3	גַּלְגִּלָּ֑י/ו	galegilayv	`HNcmpc/Sp3ms`	of his wheels	his rolling-wheels	his wheels
`H1534-05`	Ezekiel 10:2	לַ/גַּלְגַּ֜ל	lagalegal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	the wheels	to the rolling-wheel	the wheel
`H1534-05`	Ezekiel 10:6	לַ/גַּלְגַּ֔ל	lagalegal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	the wheels	to the rolling-wheel	the wheel
`H1534-03`	Ezekiel 10:13	הַ/גַּלְגַּ֖ל	hagalegal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wheelwork	the rolling-wheel	the rolling-wheel
`H1534-07`	Ezekiel 23:24	וְ/גַלְגַּל֙	vegalegal	`HC/Ncmsa`	and-wheels	and rolling-wheel	and rolling-wheel
`H1534-07`	Ezekiel 26:10	וְ/גַלְגַּ֜ל	vegalegal	`HC/Ncmsa`	and wheels	and rolling-wheel	and rolling-wheel
`H1534-01`	Psalms 77:19	בַּ/גַּלְגַּ֗ל	bagalegal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the whirlwind	in the rolling-wheel	in the rolling-wheel
`H1534-04`	Psalms 83:14	כַ/גַּלְגַּ֑ל	khagalegal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like a wheel	like a rolling wheel	like a rolling wheel
`H1534-03`	Ecclesiastes 12:6	הַ/גַּלְגַּ֖ל	hagalegal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the wheel	the rolling-wheel	the rolling-wheel

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