What does גָּעַל mean in the Bible?
גָּעַל is a Hebrew word meaning "to detest ; by implication, to reject".
Hebrew · H1602
גָּעַל
To detest ; by implication, to reject
Reading a lexicon entry
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גָּעַלH1602
What does גָּעַל mean in the Bible?
גָּעַל is a Hebrew word meaning "to detest ; by implication, to reject".
Full entry for גָּעַל (H1602) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1602?
The BSB source-word alignment has 10 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include despise (3), and abhorred (1), despise them (1), despised (1), fail (1).
Where does גָּעַל appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Leviticus 26:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (5), Ezekiel (2), 2 Samuel (1), Jeremiah (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 Itdespise3×Leviticus 26:11, Leviticus 26:15, Jeremiah 14:19
and abhorred1×Leviticus 26:43
despise them1×Leviticus 26:44
despised1×Ezekiel 16:45
fail1×Job 21:10
was defiled1×2 Samuel 1:21
who despised1×Ezekiel 16:45
will despise1×Leviticus 26:30
Show sample aligned rows
Leviticus 26:11תִגְעַ֥לtodespiseVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularLeviticus 26:15תִּגְעַ֣לtodespiseVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularLeviticus 26:30וְגָעֲלָ֥הtowill despiseConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularLeviticus 26:43גָּעֲלָ֥הtoand abhorredVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularLeviticus 26:44גְעַלְתִּים֙todespise themVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural2 Samuel 1:21נִגְעַל֙towas defiledVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularJob 21:10יַגְעִ֑לtofailVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJeremiah 14:19גָּעֲלָ֣הtodespiseVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularEzekiel 16:45גֹּעֶ֥לֶתtowho despisedVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularEzekiel 16:45גָּֽעֲ֙לוּ֙todespisedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowLeviticus 26:11
Aligned rows10
Books represented5
Leviticus52 Samuel1Job1Jeremiah1Ezekiel2
Source forms
גָּעֲלָ֥ה1xgā·‘ă·lāhLeviticus 26:43
גָּעֲלָ֣ה1xgā·‘ă·lāhJeremiah 14:19
גָּֽעֲ֙לוּ֙1xgā·‘ă·lūEzekiel 16:45
גֹּעֶ֥לֶת1xgō·‘e·leṯEzekiel 16:45
גְעַלְתִּים֙1xḡə·‘al·tîmLeviticus 26:44
וְגָעֲלָ֥ה1xwə·ḡā·‘ă·lāhLeviticus 26:30
יַגְעִ֑ל1xyaḡ·‘ilJob 21:10
נִגְעַל֙1xniḡ·‘al2 Samuel 1:21
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular2xLeviticus 26:11, Leviticus 26:15
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular2xLeviticus 26:43, Jeremiah 14:19
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular1xLeviticus 26:30
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xJob 21:10
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1x2 Samuel 1:21
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular1xEzekiel 16:45
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural1xLeviticus 26:44
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural1xEzekiel 16:45
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to detest ; by implication, to reject
Source Gloss
to detest ; by implication, to reject
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to detest; by implication, to reject BDB: abhor Usage: abhor, fail, lothe, vilely cast away.
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 groups3Aligned forms8
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense6×
PerfectJer 14:19 · Lev 26:43 · Ezek 16:453×
ImperfectLev 26:11 · Lev 26:152×
Participle activeEzek 16:451×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
Perfect2Sam 1:211×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
ImperfectJob 21:101×
Word Origins
גָּעַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.