גָּלָה
To denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
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.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does גָּלָה (galah) mean in the Bible?
גָּלָה (galah) is a Hebrew word meaning "to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal". The term emphasizes the betrayal of confidential information. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant.
Meaning
Exposure of shame or secrets; literal denudation bleeds into exile, disclosure, and divine revelation of hidden things.
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal BDB: uncover Usage: advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, × plainly, publish, remove, reveal, × shamelessly, shew, × surely, tell, uncover.
Why This Word Matters
The term emphasizes the betrayal of confidential information. Micah 1:10-16
It signals forced removal from the land, capturing the gravity of covenant curse and setting the theological backdrop for later restoration. Proverbs 11:13
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 41×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 20×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 34×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 16×
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 6×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 2×
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Showing 8 of 186 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.