גְּמוּל
𐤂𐤌𐤅𐤋
gᵉmûwl
H1576 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Concrete result or consequence of an action, typically a recompense, reward, or requital—either positive (reward, benefit) or negative (retribution, punishment). The word emphasizes the outcome or repayment rendered in response to a deed or behavior.
Semantic Range
recompense, requital, reward, retribution, deserved outcome, benefit, repayment, act repaid, what is due
Root / Etymology
From the root גמל (gml), which broadly means 'to deal with, to treat, to recompense, to wean.' גְּמוּל (gemûl) is a noun form that signifies 'what comes from dealing with someone'—the concrete outcome, usually a recompense, reward, or the due consequence of an act, whether positive or negative.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In earlier biblical texts, גְּמוּל primarily denotes the concept of receiving what one has merited, without the evaluative connotation of 'reward' as strictly positive or 'punishment' as strictly negative. The term is often used in poetic and wisdom literature (Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah) to articulate themes of divine justice, whether as beneficent reward or as punishment. Unlike שָׂכָר (sāḵār, H7939), which focuses more narrowly on positive compensation or wages, גְּמוּל centers on the result—the 'portion' due, whether for good or ill. In exilic and post-exilic literature, the nuance remains primarily of deserved result rather than payment for hired service. Later English translations sometimes render the term as 'benefit' or 'deserving,' but its usage encompasses both sides of recompense and is not limited to positive reward. Theological developments associated the term with later ideas of reward or punishment, but in biblical usage, it is contextually flexible, simply indicating the return or outcome that matches a prior action. Not to be confused with unrelated terms for 'grace' or 'gift.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גָּמַל; treatment, i.e. an act (of good or ill); by implication, service or requital; [phrase] as hast served, benefit, desert, deserving, that which he hath given, recompense, reward.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גמל (g-m-l) — deal with, recompense, wean
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1014 | בֵּית גָּמוּל | recompensed one |
| H1577 | גָּמוּל | to Repaid-one |
| H1578 | גְּמוּלָה | recompenses |
| H1580 | גָּמַל | camel |
| H1581 | גָּמָל | on the camels |
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1576-01 |
גְמ֥וּל | gemul | HNcmsc |
recompense | recompense of | 8 |
H1576-06 |
גְּמֻלְ/כֶ֖ם | gemulekhem | HNcmsc/Sp2mp |
your recompense | your due-recompense | 2 |
H1576-08 |
כִ/גְמֻ֤ל | khigemul | HR/Ncmsa |
according to the benefit | according to recompense | 1 |
H1576-11 |
וּ֝/גְמֻל֗/וֹ | ugemulo | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
his recompense | his due recompense | 1 |
H1576-02 |
גְּמוּלָ֣/ם | gemulam | HNcmsc/Sp3mp |
their recompense | their due recompense | 1 |
H1576-07 |
הַ/גְּמ֗וּל | hagemul | HTi/Ncmsa |
the recompense | the due recompense | 1 |
H1576-09 |
כִּ/גְמ֥וּל | kigemul | HR/Ncmsc |
according to the recompense | as recompense-of | 1 |
H1576-05 |
גְּ֝מוּלֵ֗/ךְ | gemulekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
the recompense | your recompense | 1 |
H1576-03 |
גְּמוּלָֽי/ו | gemulayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
His benefits | his recompenses | 1 |
H1576-10 |
וּ/גְמ֥וּל | ugemul | HC/Ncmsc |
and the recompense | and recompense-of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
19 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1576-09 |
Judges 9:16 | כִּ/גְמ֥וּל | kigemul | HR/Ncmsc |
according to the recompense | as recompense-of |
H1576-01 |
Isaiah 3:11 | גְמ֥וּל | gemul | HNcmsc |
the recompense | recompense of |
H1576-01 |
Isaiah 35:4 | גְּמ֣וּל | gemul | HNcmsc |
recompense | recompense of |
H1576-01 |
Isaiah 59:18 | גְּמ֖וּל | gemul | HNcmsa |
recompense | recompense of |
H1576-01 |
Isaiah 59:18 | גְּמ֥וּל | gemul-2 | HNcmsa |
recompense | recompense of |
H1576-01 |
Isaiah 66:6 | גְּמ֖וּל | gemul | HNcmsa |
recompense | recompense of |
H1576-01 |
Jeremiah 51:6 | גְּמ֕וּל | gemul | HNcmsa |
recompense | recompense of |
H1576-07 |
Joel 4:4 | הַ/גְּמ֗וּל | hagemul | HTi/Ncmsa |
the recompense | the due recompense |
H1576-06 |
Joel 4:4 | גְּמֻלְ/כֶ֖ם | gemulekhem | HNcmsc/Sp2mp |
your recompense | your due-recompense |
H1576-06 |
Joel 4:7 | גְמֻלְ/כֶ֖ם | gemulekhem | HNcmsc/Sp2mp |
your retribution | your due-recompense |