What does גָּלַל (gôl) mean in the Bible?
גָּלַל (gôl): Rolls physically but also carries trust/commitment sense; metaphorical extension from rolling away burden to entrusting it
Hebrew · H1556
גָּלַל
To roll (literally or figuratively)
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גָּלַלH1556
Pronunciationgôl
What does גָּלַל (gôl) mean in the Bible?
גָּלַל (gôl): Rolls physically but also carries trust/commitment sense; metaphorical extension from rolling away burden to entrusting it
Full entry for גָּלַל (H1556) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1556?
The BSB source-word alignment has 18 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Commit (2), Roll (2), and he who rolls (1), and rolled (1), has been rolled (1).
Where does גָּלַל (gôl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 29:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (4), Psalms (3), Isaiah (2), Joshua (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItCommit2×Psalms 37:5, Proverbs 16:3
Roll2×Joshua 10:18, 1 Samuel 14:33
and he who rolls1×Proverbs 26:27
and rolled1×Genesis 29:10
has been rolled1×Genesis 29:8
He trusts1×Psalms 22:8
I have rolled away1×Joshua 5:9
I will roll you1×Jeremiah 51:25
Remove1×Psalms 119:22
roll on1×Amos 5:24
rolled1×Isaiah 9:5
the shepherds would roll away1×Genesis 29:3
They intend1×Genesis 43:18
they keep rolling in1×Job 30:14
wallowed1×2 Samuel 20:12
will be rolled up1×Isaiah 34:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 29:3וְגָלֲל֤וּtothe shepherds would roll awayConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralGenesis 29:8וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙tohas been rolledConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralGenesis 29:10וַיָּ֤גֶלtoand rolledConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 43:18לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤לtoThey intendPreposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive constructJoshua 5:9גַּלּ֛וֹתִיtoI have rolled awayVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularJoshua 10:18גֹּ֛לּוּtoRollVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural1 Samuel 14:33גֹּֽלּוּ־toRollVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural2 Samuel 20:12מִתְגֹּלֵ֥לtowallowedVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularJob 30:14הִתְגַּלְגָּֽלוּ׃tothey keep rolling inVerb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person common pluralPsalms 22:8גֹּ֣לtoHe trustsVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 29:3
Aligned rows18
Books represented10
Genesis4Joshua21 Samuel12 Samuel1Job1Psalms3Proverbs2Isaiah2Jeremiah1Amos1
Source forms
גֹּ֣ל2xgōlPsalms 22:8, Proverbs 16:3
גּ֣וֹל1xgō·wlPsalms 37:5
גַּ֣ל1xgalPsalms 119:22
גֹּ֛לּוּ1xgōl·lūJoshua 10:18
גֹּֽלּוּ־1xgōl·lū-1 Samuel 14:33
גַּלּ֛וֹתִי1xgal·lō·w·ṯîJoshua 5:9
הִתְגַּלְגָּֽלוּ׃1xhiṯ·gal·gā·lūJob 30:14
וְגִלְגַּלְתִּ֙יךָ֙1xwə·ḡil·gal·tî·ḵāJeremiah 51:25
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular4xPsalms 22:8, Psalms 37:5, Psalms 119:22, Proverbs 16:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xGenesis 29:3, Genesis 29:8
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural2xJoshua 10:18, 1 Samuel 14:33
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xAmos 5:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural1xIsaiah 34:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular1xJeremiah 51:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xGenesis 29:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xProverbs 26:27
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Rolls physically but also carries trust/commitment sense; metaphorical extension from rolling away burden to entrusting it
Strong'sH1556
Lexical occurrences18 versesWord forms5 forms10 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalms 37:1–6Source Gloss
to roll (literally or figuratively)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Rolls physically but also carries trust/commitment sense; metaphorical extension from rolling away burden to entrusting it
to roll (literally or figuratively) BDB: roll Usage: commit, remove, roll (away, down, together), run down, seek occasion, trust, wallow.
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 groups5Aligned forms10
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense6×
Sequential imperfectProv 16:3 · Ps 22:9 · Ps 37:5 · 1Sam 14:33 · Josh 10:185×
PerfectJosh 5:91×
Hithpolel1×
Participle active2Sam 20:121×
Poal1×
Participle passiveIsa 9:41×
Pealal1×
PerfectJob 30:141×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
Sequential imperfectPs 119:221×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Commit; roll; roll away; to transfer a physical or emotional burden from one's self to another
Showing 1 selected witness from 18 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
גָּלַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.