What does גֻּלְגֹּלֶת mean in the Bible?
גֻּלְגֹּלֶת is a Hebrew word meaning "a skull (as round ); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons)".
Hebrew · H1538
גֻּלְגֹּלֶת
A skull (as round ); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons)
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 the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
גֻּלְגֹּלֶת H1538
What does גֻּלְגֹּלֶת mean in the Bible?
גֻּלְגֹּלֶת is a Hebrew word meaning "a skull (as round ); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons)".
Full entry for גֻּלְגֹּלֶת (H1538) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1538?
The BSB source-word alignment has 12 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include one by one (3), - (1), for each (1), for each one (1), his head (1).
Where does גֻּלְגֹּלֶת appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 16:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (5), 1 Chronicles (3), Exodus (2), 2 Kings (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 It one by one 3× Numbers 1:2, Numbers 1:18, Numbers 1:22
- 1× 1 Chronicles 23:3
for each 1× Exodus 16:16
for each one 1× Numbers 3:47
his head 1× 1 Chronicles 10:10
his skull 1× Judges 9:53
individually 1× 1 Chronicles 23:24
one 1× Numbers 1:20
per person 1× Exodus 38:26
skull 1× 2 Kings 9:35
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 16:16 לַגֻּלְגֹּ֗לֶת to for each Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular Exodus 38:26 לַגֻּלְגֹּ֔לֶת to per person Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 1:2 לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם׃ to one by one Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Numbers 1:18 לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם׃ to one by one Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Numbers 1:20 לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם to one Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Numbers 1:22 לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם to one by one Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural Numbers 3:47 לַגֻּלְגֹּ֑לֶת to for each one Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular Judges 9:53 גֻּלְגָּלְתּֽוֹ׃ to his skull Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 2 Kings 9:35 הַגֻּלְגֹּ֛לֶת to skull Article | Noun - feminine singular 1 Chronicles 10:10 גֻּלְגָּלְתּ֥וֹ to his head Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 16:16
Aligned rows 12
Books represented 5
Exodus 2 Numbers 5 Judges 1 2 Kings 1 1 Chronicles 3
Source forms
לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם 3x lə·ḡul·gə·lō·ṯām Numbers 1:20, Numbers 1:22, 1 Chronicles 23:24
לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם׃ 2x lə·ḡul·gə·lō·ṯām Numbers 1:2, Numbers 1:18
גֻּלְגָּלְתּ֥וֹ 1x gul·gā·lə·tōw 1 Chronicles 10:10
גֻּלְגָּלְתּֽוֹ׃ 1x gul·gā·lə·tōw Judges 9:53
הַגֻּלְגֹּ֛לֶת 1x hag·gul·gō·leṯ 2 Kings 9:35
לַגֻּלְגֹּ֗לֶת 1x lag·gul·gō·leṯ Exodus 16:16
לַגֻּלְגֹּ֔לֶת 1x lag·gul·gō·leṯ Exodus 38:26
לַגֻּלְגֹּ֑לֶת 1x lag·gul·gō·leṯ Numbers 3:47
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural 6x Numbers 1:2, Numbers 1:18, Numbers 1:20, Numbers 1:22
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular 3x Exodus 16:16, Exodus 38:26, Numbers 3:47
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 2x Judges 9:53, 1 Chronicles 10:10
Article | Noun - feminine singular 1x 2 Kings 9:35
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. a skull (as round ); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons)
Source Gloss
a skull (as round ); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
a skull (as round); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons) BDB: skull Usage: head, every man, poll, skull.
Word Origins
גֻּלְגֹּלֶת is built from this root:
Cross-Language Connections
Greek words that correspond to or develop the meaning of this Hebrew word in the New Testament.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain