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גָּמָל

𐤂𐤌𐤋

gâmâl

H1581 noun

SILEX Entry

Root גמל to deal with, to ripen, to requite

Definition

A large domesticated mammal (Camelus dromedarius, the one-humped camel) used by peoples of the ancient Near East for transport, burden-bearing, and sometimes milk and meat. In the Hebrew Bible, גָּמָל refers literally to the animal camel, especially in contexts relating to trade, travel, herding, or wealth. The term does not extend to figurative use or other animals.

Semantic Range

camel (the animal), beast of burden, domesticated herd animal, symbol of wealth or resource

Root / Etymology

From the root גמל (g-m-l), which carries the primary sense of 'to deal with, to requite, to ripen.' The connection between the root meaning and the noun גָּמָל is likely due to the animal's role in bearing burdens and transporting goods, but the exact etymological development remains debated. The noun denotes the animal itself, not an abstract concept derived from the root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The גָּמָל appears frequently in narratives concerning travel, trade, and wealth in the patriarchal period (Genesis, e.g., the journeys of Abraham's and Jacob's households), indicating the prominence of camels as valuable domesticated animals among peoples of the southern Levant. In earlier biblical traditions, the presence of camels has sometimes been debated in archaeological scholarship, but according to biblical narrative they are established as herd animals among the patriarchs. The word does not designate any religious or ethnic identity but rather a specific animal. Later, in the prophetic and historical writings, גָּמָל continues to denote the animal, maintaining its sense as a symbol of wealth or resource in lists and imagery. Not to be confused with similarly spelled roots involving 'maturing' or 'dealing' that do not refer to the animal itself. English translations consistently render it as 'camel'; however, English readers may not capture the full importance of the animal's economic and social role in ancient Near Eastern society.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently from גָּמַל (in the sense of labor or burden-bearing); a camel; camel.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גמל (g-m-l) — to deal with, to ripen, to requite

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1014 בֵּית גָּמוּל recompensed one
H1576 גְּמוּל recompense of
H1577 גָּמוּל to Repaid-one
H1578 גְּמוּלָה recompenses
H1580 גָּמַל camel

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1581-08 הַ/גְּמַלִּ֛ים hagemalim HTd/Ncmpa the camels the camels 10
H1581-06 גְמַלִּ֜ים gemalim HNcmpa camels camels 10
H1581-14 וּ/גְמַלִּֽים ugemalim HC/Ncmpa and camels and camels 6
H1581-07 הַ/גָּמָֽל hagamal HTd/Ncmsa of the camel the camel 5
H1581-04 גְמַלֵּי/הֶֽם gemaleyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their camels their camels 5
H1581-05 גְּמַלֶּ֖י/ךָ gemaleykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your camels your camels 2
H1581-09 לַ/גְּמַלִּֽים lagemalim HRd/Ncmpa for the camels to the camels 2
H1581-17 וְ/לִ/גְמַלֵּי/הֶ֖ם veligemaleyhem HC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their camels and to their camels 2
H1581-13 וּ/גְמַלֵּי/הֶ֣ם ugemaleyhem HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp and their camels and their camels 2
H1581-02 גָּמָ֑ל gamal HNcmsa camels camel 2

Occurrences in Scripture

54 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1581-14 Genesis 12:16 וּ/גְמַלִּֽים ugemalim HC/Ncmpa and camels and camels
H1581-06 Genesis 24:10 גְמַלִּ֜ים gemalim HNcmpa camels camels
H1581-12 Genesis 24:10 מִ/גְּמַלֵּ֤י migemaley HR/Ncmpc of from camels of
H1581-08 Genesis 24:11 הַ/גְּמַלִּ֛ים hagemalim HTd/Ncmpa the camels the camels
H1581-05 Genesis 24:14 גְּמַלֶּ֖י/ךָ gemaleykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your camels your camels
H1581-10 Genesis 24:19 לִ/גְמַלֶּ֨י/ךָ֙ ligemaleykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms for your camels to your camels
H1581-03 Genesis 24:20 גְּמַלָּֽי/ו gemalayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his camels his camels
H1581-08 Genesis 24:22 הַ/גְּמַלִּים֙ hagemalim HTd/Ncmpa the camels the camels
H1581-08 Genesis 24:30 הַ/גְּמַלִּ֖ים hagemalim HTd/Ncmpa the camels the camels
H1581-09 Genesis 24:31 לַ/גְּמַלִּֽים lagemalim HRd/Ncmpa for the camels to the camels
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