What does גָּאַל (gāʾal) mean in the Bible?
גָּאַל (gāʾal): Defilement that renders something ritually unfit or morally corrupted, often involving violation of sacred boundaries
Hebrew · H1351
גָּאַל
To soil or (figuratively) desecrate
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
גָּאַלH1351
Pronunciationgāʾal
What does גָּאַל (gāʾal) mean in the Bible?
גָּאַל (gāʾal): Defilement that renders something ritually unfit or morally corrupted, often involving violation of sacred boundaries
Full entry for גָּאַל (H1351) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1351?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include defiled (3), and so were excluded (2), and defiled (1), are stained (1), defile himself (1).
Where does גָּאַל (gāʾal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Ezra 2:62. Its strongest book concentrations include Malachi (3), Daniel (2), Isaiah (2), Ezra (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itdefiled3×Lamentations 4:14, Malachi 1:7, Malachi 1:12
and so were excluded2×Ezra 2:62, Nehemiah 7:64
and defiled1×Zephaniah 3:1
are stained1×Isaiah 59:3
defile himself1×Daniel 1:8
have we defiled You1×Malachi 1:7
to defile himself1×Daniel 1:8
were stained1×Isaiah 63:3
Show sample aligned rows
Ezra 2:62וַֽיְגֹאֲל֖וּtoand so were excludedConjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralNehemiah 7:64וַיְגֹֽאֲל֖וּtoand so were excludedConjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralIsaiah 59:3נְגֹאֲל֣וּtoare stainedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralIsaiah 63:3אֶגְאָֽלְתִּי׃towere stainedVerb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singularLamentations 4:14נְגֹֽאֲל֖וּtodefiledVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralDaniel 1:8יִתְגָּאַ֛לtodefile himselfVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singularDaniel 1:8יִתְגָּאָֽל׃toto defile himselfVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singularZephaniah 3:1וְנִגְאָלָ֑הtoand defiledConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularMalachi 1:7מְגֹאָ֔לtodefiledVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine singularMalachi 1:7גֵֽאַלְנ֑וּךָtohave we defiled YouVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common plural | second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowEzra 2:62
Aligned rows11
Books represented7
Ezra1Nehemiah1Isaiah2Lamentations1Daniel2Zephaniah1Malachi3
Source forms
אֶגְאָֽלְתִּי׃1x’eḡ·’ā·lə·tîIsaiah 63:3
גֵֽאַלְנ֑וּךָ1xḡê·’al·nū·ḵāMalachi 1:7
וַֽיְגֹאֲל֖וּ1xway·ḡō·’ă·lūEzra 2:62
וַיְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ1xway·ḡō·’ă·lūNehemiah 7:64
וְנִגְאָלָ֑ה1xwə·niḡ·’ā·lāhZephaniah 3:1
יִתְגָּאַ֛ל1xyiṯ·gā·’alDaniel 1:8
יִתְגָּאָֽל׃1xyiṯ·gā·’ālDaniel 1:8
מְגֹאָ֔ל1xmə·ḡō·’ālMalachi 1:7
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2xEzra 2:62, Nehemiah 7:64
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xDaniel 1:8
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural2xIsaiah 59:3, Lamentations 4:14
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular2xMalachi 1:7, Malachi 1:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular1xZephaniah 3:1
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular1xIsaiah 63:3
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common plural | second person masculine singular1xMalachi 1:7
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Defilement that renders something ritually unfit or morally corrupted, often involving violation of sacred boundaries
Source Gloss
to soil or (figuratively) desecrate
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Defilement that renders something ritually unfit or morally corrupted, often involving violation of sacred boundaries
to soil or (figuratively) desecrate BDB: defile Usage: defile, pollute, stain.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms7
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others2×
ImperfectDan 1:82×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
PerfectIsa 59:3 · Lam 4:142×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject2×
Participle passiveMal 1:7 · Mal 1:122×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
PerfectIsa 63:31×