What does גָּלַח mean in the Bible?
e. (causatively) to shave ; figuratively to lay waste".
Hebrew · H1548
גָּלַח
Properly, to be bald , i.e. (causatively) to shave ; figuratively to lay waste
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גָּלַחH1548
What does גָּלַח mean in the Bible?
גָּלַח is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to be bald , i.e. (causatively) to shave ; figuratively to lay waste".
Full entry for גָּלַח (H1548) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1548?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (3), - (2), After he had shaved (1), And when he cut the hair (1), he must shave (1).
Where does גָּלַח appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 41:14. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (6), 2 Samuel (4), Numbers (4), Judges (3).
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. . .3×Leviticus 14:9, Leviticus 21:5, 2 Samuel 14:26
-2×Leviticus 13:33, Numbers 6:9
After he had shaved1×Genesis 41:14
And when he cut the hair1×2 Samuel 14:26
he must shave1×Numbers 6:9
he must shave off1×Leviticus 14:9
he shaved1×2 Samuel 14:26
I am shaved1×Judges 16:17
is to shave1×Numbers 6:18
it had been shaved1×Judges 16:22
shave1×Ezekiel 44:20
shave off1×Leviticus 14:8
shaved1×Numbers 6:19
shaved [their beards]1×1 Chronicles 19:4
shaved off1×2 Samuel 10:4
She must shave1×Deuteronomy 21:12
then the person must shave himself1×Leviticus 13:33
to shave1×Isaiah 7:20
to shave off1×Judges 16:19
who had shaved off1×Jeremiah 41:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 41:14וַיְגַלַּח֙toAfter he had shavedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 13:33וְהִ֨תְגַּלָּ֔חtothen the person must shave himselfConjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 13:33יְגַלֵּ֑חַto-Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 14:8וְגִלַּ֣חtoshave offConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 14:9יְגַלַּ֣חtohe must shave offVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 14:9יְגַלֵּ֑חַto. . .Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 21:5יְגַלֵּ֑חוּto. . .Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralNumbers 6:9וְגִלַּ֤חtohe must shaveConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 6:9יְגַלְּחֶֽנּוּ׃to-Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularNumbers 6:18וְגִלַּ֣חtois to shaveConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 41:14
Aligned rows23
Books represented10
Genesis1Leviticus6Numbers4Deuteronomy1Judges32 Samuel41 Chronicles1Isaiah1Jeremiah1Ezekiel1
Source forms
וְגִלַּ֣ח2xwə·ḡil·laḥLeviticus 14:8, Numbers 6:18
וַיְגַלַּח֙2xway·ḡal·laḥGenesis 41:14, 2 Samuel 10:4
יְגַלֵּ֑חַ2xyə·ḡal·lê·aḥLeviticus 13:33, Leviticus 14:9
יְגַלַּ֣ח2xyə·ḡal·laḥLeviticus 14:9, Isaiah 7:20
גֻּלָּֽח׃פ1xgul·lāḥJudges 16:22
גֻּלַּ֙חְתִּי֙1xgul·laḥ·tîJudges 16:17
הִֽתְגַּלְּח֥וֹ1xhiṯ·gal·lə·ḥōwNumbers 6:19
וּֽבְגַלְּחוֹ֮1xū·ḇə·ḡal·lə·ḥōw2 Samuel 14:26
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular5xLeviticus 13:33, Leviticus 14:9, 2 Samuel 14:26, Isaiah 7:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular3xLeviticus 14:8, Numbers 6:9, Numbers 6:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xGenesis 41:14, 2 Samuel 10:4
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xLeviticus 21:5, Ezekiel 44:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xLeviticus 13:33
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular1xDeuteronomy 21:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular1x2 Samuel 14:26
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular1xJudges 16:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, to be bald , i.e. (causatively) to shave ; figuratively to lay waste
Source Gloss
properly, to be bald , i.e. (causatively) to shave ; figuratively to lay waste
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, to be bald, i.e. (causatively) to shave; figuratively to lay waste BDB: be bald Usage: poll, shave (off).
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 groups2Aligned forms10
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action7×
Imperfect2Sam 14:26 · Isa 7:20 · Lev 13:33 · Lev 14:9 · Ezek 44:20 · Lev 21:57×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject3×
PerfectJudg 16:17 · Judg 16:222×
Participle passiveJer 41:51×
Word Origins
גָּלַח is a primitive root - no further derivation.