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גֻּלָּה

𐤂𐤋𐤄

gullâh

H1543 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גלל to roll, to be round, to revolve

Definition

Circular object, particularly a basin or bowl, often a round vessel used for holding water or other substances; occasionally a globe, sphere, or spring as related to roundness or rolling shape. The term emphasizes the object's rounded form rather than its use.

Semantic Range

circular or globular object, bowl, basin, cap or pommel (of a pillar or post), globe, spring (by similarity of roundness); focuses on objects notable for their rounded shape

Root / Etymology

From the root גָּלַל (galal), meaning 'to roll, be round.' This noun is a feminine derivative denoting something produced by rolling or characterized by roundness. The specific lexical sense here refers to a round vessel or object, distinct from the act of rolling itself.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical contexts, גֻּלָּה occurs infrequently, most notably as the term for the large bowl-shaped vessels or globular structures atop the pillars of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 7:41-42, 2 Kings 25:17, 2 Chronicles 4:12-13), often translated as 'capitals' or 'bowls.' The term emphasizes the rounded, globe-like aspect of the objects, unlike other words for basin (such as כִּיּוֹר kîyôr, which refers specifically to a washbasin). Occasionally the word may refer metaphorically to round springs or fountains, but this sense is secondary and less attested. Standard translations often render the term variably as 'bowl,' 'cap,' 'capitel,' or 'pommel,' but these may obscure the primary focus on the object's shape rather than its decorative or functional elements. In later Hebrew usage outside the Bible, the word may expand to include globes or spherical forms more generally. In none of its biblical uses is there any direct association with ethnicity or cultic status; the meaning remains strictly descriptive of form.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine from גָּלַל; a fountain, bowl or globe (all as round); bowl, pommel, spring.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גלל (g-l-l) — to roll, to be round, to revolve

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1530 גַּל rolled heap
H1534 גַּלְגַּל in the rolling-wheel
H1535 גַּלְגַּל his wheels
H1536 גִּלְגָּל Rolling-Circle
H1537 גִּלְגָּל in Gilgal

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1543-02 גֻּלֹּ֣ת gulot HNcfpc springs round vessels of 10
H1543-06 וְ/הַ/גֻּלּ֧וֹת vehagulot HC/Td/Ncfpa and-the-bowls and the round bowls 1
H1543-04 וְ/גֻלָּ֣הּ vegulah HC/Ncfsa with its bowl and her rounded bowl 1
H1543-01 גֻּלַּ֣ת gulat HNcfsc bowl round basin of 1
H1543-03 הַ/גֻּלָּ֔ה hagulah HTd/Ncfsa of the bowl the rounded basin 1
H1543-05 וְ/גֻלֹּ֧ת vegulot HC/Ncfpc and-the-bowls and round-bowls of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1543-02 Joshua 15:19 גֻּלֹּ֣ת gulot HNcfpc springs round vessels of
H1543-02 Joshua 15:19 גֻּלֹּ֣ת gulot-2 HNcfpa springs round vessels of
H1543-02 Joshua 15:19 גֻּלֹּ֥ת gulot-3 HNcfpa springs round vessels of
H1543-02 Judges 1:15 גֻּלֹּ֣ת gulot HNcfpc springs round vessels of
H1543-02 Judges 1:15 גֻּלֹּ֣ת gulot-2 HNcfpc springs round vessels of
H1543-02 Judges 1:15 גֻּלֹּ֥ת gulot-3 HNcfpc springs round vessels of
H1543-05 1 Kings 7:41 וְ/גֻלֹּ֧ת vegulot HC/Ncfpc and-the-bowls and round-bowls of
H1543-02 1 Kings 7:41 גֻּלֹּ֣ת gulot HNcfpc bowls round vessels of
H1543-02 1 Kings 7:42 גֻּלֹּ֣ת gulot HNcfpc bowls round vessels of
H1543-04 Zechariah 4:2 וְ/גֻלָּ֣הּ vegulah HC/Ncfsa with its bowl and her rounded bowl
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