גֵּלֶל
𐤂𐤋𐤋
gêlel
H1561 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A spherical mass, primarily referring to dung; most often used for a pellet or ball of excrement produced by animals, especially large grazing animals. In extended usage, may refer generically to a ball or lump of matter, typically of refuse or something considered unclean.
Semantic Range
ball of dung, pellet of dung, spherical mass (especially of refuse), lump (esp. excremental); not generic dung
Root / Etymology
From the root גָּלַל (galal), meaning 'to roll, roll away, roll together.' The noun גֵּלֶל (gêlel) is formed as a diminutive or concrete noun, signifying 'that which is rolled' or 'ball.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical contexts, גֵּלֶל generally refers to balls of animal dung, such as those left by cattle or possibly camelids, and deliberately highlights their spherical, rolled shape. This distinguishes it from other Hebrew terms for dung (such as פֶּרֶשׁ peʾresh or צֹאָה tsoʾah), which do not emphasize physical configuration. While sometimes translated generically as 'dung,' גֵּלֶל is semantically narrower, focusing on the form (pellet or ball), and not used for dung in general. The term's use in the Hebrew Bible is infrequent and nearly always in contexts where the rolled shape is relevant, often in similes or illustrative language (e.g., describing idols as being cast out like dung balls in Ezekiel 4:12, 17). Later translation traditions sometimes render it more generically, but the specificity of the form is important in understanding the imagery employed by biblical writers. There is no evidence for significant change in meaning across historical periods represented in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a variation of גָּלָל; dung (plural balls of dung); dung.
Bantu Hebrew
| Language | Bantu Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kikongo (other dialects) | nkala | pellet, lump, clot (of earth or faeces) | |
| Kimbundu | nkala | clod, lump | |
| Kongo | nkala | pellet, lump | |
| Lingala | nkala | clod, lump, pellet |
Root Family
גלל (Gilegal) — to roll, to revolve, to turn
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1530 | גַּל | rolled heap |
| H1531 | גֹּל | |
| H1535 | גַּלְגַּל | his wheels |
| H1536 | גִּלְגָּל | Rolling-Circle |
| H1537 | גִּלְגָּל | in Gilgal |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1561-01 |
בְּ/גֶֽלְלֵי֙ | begeleley | HR/Ncmpc |
with-dung-of | in balls of dung | with dung pellets | 1 |
H1561-02 |
גֶּלְלֵ֣י | geleley | HNcmpc |
dung | dung-pellets | dung-pellets | 1 |
H1561-03 |
כַּ/גְּלָלִֽים | kagelalim | HRd/Ncmpa |
like-dung-pellets | like dung-pellets | like dung pellets | 1 |
H1561-04 |
כְּֽ֭/גֶלֲל/וֹ | kegelalo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
like his dung | like his dung-pellet | like his dung-pellet | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1561-01 |
Ezekiel 4:12 | בְּ/גֶֽלְלֵי֙ | begeleley | HR/Ncmpc |
with-dung-of | in balls of dung | with dung pellets |
H1561-02 |
Ezekiel 4:15 | גֶּלְלֵ֣י | geleley | HNcmpc |
dung | dung-pellets | dung-pellets |
H1561-03 |
Zephaniah 1:17 | כַּ/גְּלָלִֽים | kagelalim | HRd/Ncmpa |
like-dung-pellets | like dung-pellets | like dung pellets |
H1561-04 |
Job 20:7 | כְּֽ֭/גֶלֲל/וֹ | kegelalo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
like his dung | like his dung-pellet | like his dung-pellet |