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גָּעַל

𐤂𐤏𐤋

gâʻal

H1602 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To abhor or loathe, to experience intense aversion or disgust toward something or someone, often resulting in active rejection or repudiation. Used of emotional, psychological, or ritual revulsion, especially in the context of divine or social rejection of individuals, groups, or practices considered offensive or impure.

Semantic Range

to abhor, to feel revulsion, to loathe, to reject (often for moral or ritual reasons), to be repelled, to cast away, to express detestation

Root / Etymology

From the root געל, which carries the core sense of intense loathing or aversion. The verb in its various forms denotes the act of abhorring, turning away from, or rejecting due to extreme disapproval or disgust. The root itself does not give rise to many derivations in Biblical Hebrew, and its primary sense centers on negative emotional response.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, גָּעַל commonly describes either a human subject's disgust for certain actions, objects, or persons, or more frequently, the deity's rejection of those who have become unacceptable due to disobedience, impurity, or other covenantal failures (e.g., Leviticus 26:11,43; Zechariah 11:8). The verb appears in both literal and metaphorical contexts—ranging from physical revulsion to moral or covenantal rejection. In priestly and prophetic texts, it often signifies YHWH's revulsion at Israelite or Judahite disloyalty or ritual impurity, leading to withdrawal of favor or discipline. Some English translations use "abhor" or "loathe," but these terms may not fully convey the intensity or the social/covenantal dimensions of the divine rejection described by גָּעַל. The verb should be distinguished from similar Hebrew roots such as תעב (to detest, abominate) or קוץ (to feel dread or disgust), which may carry overlapping but contextually distinct nuances. The usage of גָּעַל is relatively rare, appearing primarily in exilic and post-exilic passages, with theological significance tied to the rupture and possible restoration of covenantal relationship. The term evolved little in post-biblical usage, remaining a literary and biblical term without wide attestation in later Hebrew dialects.

Translation Consistency

primary "detest" 1 occurrence

Detest is a natural, widely understood verb that conveys strong moral or emotional disgust and active rejection, matching the typical biblical uses of גָּעַל (abhorrence, loathing, casting away). It is more current than "abhor" yet still forceful enough for ritual or moral contexts, and it cleanly covers the SILEX range (abhor, loathe, reject).

Alternatives (9 occurrences):
"loathed" (4x) "soul loathes" (1x) "loathe" (1x) "abhorred" (1x) "who loathes" (1x) "fails" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to detest; by implication, to reject; abhor, fail, lothe, vilely cast away.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

געל (g-ʿ-l) — to loathe, to abhor, to reject with aversion

Root געל to loathe, to abhor, to reject with aversion
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1350 גָּאַל Gaal
H1603 גַּעַל Gaal
H1604 גֹּעַל in loathing of

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1602-06 תִגְעַ֥ל tigeal HVqi3fs abhors she will loathe it will detest 2
H1602-01 גָּעֲלָ֥ה gaalah HVqp3fs abhorred she loathed she loathed 2
H1602-05 נִגְעַל֙ nigeal HVNp3ms was defiled was abhorred was abhorred 1
H1602-03 גְעַלְתִּי/ם֙ gealetim HVqp1cs/Sp3mp I will abhor them I loathed them I loathed them 1
H1602-08 יַגְעִ֑ל yageil HVhi3ms fails he will reject with loathing fails 1
H1602-02 גָּֽעֲ֨לוּ֙ gaalu HVqp3cp loathed they loathed they loathed 1
H1602-04 גֹּעֶ֥לֶת goelet HVqrfsa who loathes she who loathes who loathes 1
H1602-07 וְ/גָעֲלָ֥ה vegaalah HC/Vqq3fs and shall abhor and she loathed and it will loathe 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1602-06 Leviticus 26:11 תִגְעַ֥ל tigeal HVqi3fs will abhor she will loathe it will detest
H1602-06 Leviticus 26:15 תִּגְעַ֣ל tigeal HVqi3fs abhors she will loathe your soul loathes
H1602-07 Leviticus 26:30 וְ/גָעֲלָ֥ה vegaalah HC/Vqq3fs and shall abhor and she loathed and it will loathe
H1602-01 Leviticus 26:43 גָּעֲלָ֥ה gaalah HVqp3fs abhorred she loathed she loathed
H1602-03 Leviticus 26:44 גְעַלְתִּי/ם֙ gealetim HVqp1cs/Sp3mp I will abhor them I loathed them I loathed them
H1602-05 2 Samuel 1:21 נִגְעַל֙ nigeal HVNp3ms was defiled was abhorred was abhorred
H1602-01 Jeremiah 14:19 גָּעֲלָ֣ה gaalah HVqp3fs loathed she loathed she loathed
H1602-04 Ezekiel 16:45 גֹּעֶ֥לֶת goelet HVqrfsa who loathes she who loathes who loathes
H1602-02 Ezekiel 16:45 גָּֽעֲ֨לוּ֙ gaalu HVqp3cp loathed they loathed they loathed
H1602-08 Job 21:10 יַגְעִ֑ל yageil HVhi3ms fails he will reject with loathing fails
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