גֹּעַל
𐤂𐤏𐤋
gôʻal
H1604 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A feeling or state of revulsion, contempt, or intense dislike; the act or experience of loathing or detesting something, usually as a reaction to moral, ritual, or physical impurity. The term denotes not only emotional abhorrence but also a distancing or separation resulting from perceived defilement or unacceptability, often manifested in religious or social contexts.
Semantic Range
abhorrence, loathing, revulsion, detestation, object of abhorrence, state of being detested
Root / Etymology
From the root געל, meaning 'to abhor, loathe, feel revulsion.' The noun form גֹּעַל (gôʻal) derives from this verbal root, signifying the state, quality, or result of being loathed.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, גֹּעַל is used to express a strong negative reaction toward things considered ritually or morally unacceptable. It occurs in poetic and prophetic texts to describe both human and divine responses to behavior, objects, or persons regarded as contaminated or abhorrent—such as idols, impure practices, or communal apostasy (cf. Ezekiel 7:20). The nuance of גֹּעַל is more visceral than terms like טֻמְאָה (ṭum'ah, 'impurity') or שִׁקּוּץ (shiqquts, 'detestable thing'), highlighting the intense emotional or psychological aspect of loathing rather than legal status. While some English translations render the term as 'abomination,' 'loathing,' or 'stuff for abhorrence,' these do not always communicate the concrete dimension and depth of repulsion implied. The root and noun are relatively rare and remain closely tied to contexts of pollution, idolatry, and acts provoking communal or divine disgust. In later Hebrew, related forms continue to denote strong moral or physical disgust but may lose the ritual implications present in biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גָּעַל; abhorrence; loathing.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
געל (g-ʿ-l) — to abhor, to loathe, to feel revulsion
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1604-01 |
בְּ/גֹ֣עַל | begoal | HR/Ncmsc |
in the loathsomeness | in loathing of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1604-01 |
Ezekiel 16:5 | בְּ/גֹ֣עַל | begoal | HR/Ncmsc |
in the loathsomeness | in loathing of |