גָּדַל
to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
Definition
The Hebrew verb גָּדַל (gâdal) fundamentally means 'to be or become great, large, or significant.' It describes physical growth, as when a child grows up (Genesis 21:8, 20), and material increase, such as the growth of wealth (Genesis 24:35, 26:13). In its causative (Hiphil) stem, it means 'to make great' or 'to magnify,' which can refer to exalting someone's status or reputation, as seen in God's promise to make Abraham's name great (Genesis 12:2). This sense of exaltation can also carry a negative connotation of pride or arrogance, as in the 'great sin' of Sodom (Genesis 19:13, 19).
Biblical Usage
גָּדַל is used over 110 times across the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, poetic, and prophetic books. It frequently describes the natural growth of people, animals, and plants (e.g., Genesis 25:27). A significant pattern is its use for God's active role in causing increase, whether in blessing a person's family and possessions or in magnifying His own name and works (Psalm 35:27, 40:16). The causative form is also used for human acts of exaltation, both positive (honoring others) and negative (boastful pride).
Etymology
גָּדַל is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to becoming large or increasing. A possible connection is to the root for 'twist' (גָּדַל, H1434, meaning 'twisted thread' or 'tassel'), suggesting an original sense of something becoming thick or substantial through twisting or piling up. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'gadālu,' also carry meanings of becoming large or powerful.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is central to the biblical theme of God's blessing and exaltation. God is the primary agent who 'makes great,' fulfilling His covenant promises, as with Abraham (Genesis 12:2). Human attempts to 'make themselves great' apart from God often lead to pride and judgment (e.g., Sodom in Genesis 19:13). Understanding גָּדַל enriches reading by highlighting the contrast between divinely ordained growth and human arrogance, pointing to God as the true source of all increase and honor.
In ancient Israelite culture, 'greatness' was a holistic concept encompassing physical size, material wealth, social honor, and influential reputation. A 'great' family meant numerous offspring and large herds, which were direct signs of divine favor and social security. The negative sense of 'growing great in sin' (Genesis 19:13) reflects a communal understanding of corporate guilt and pride that could lead to societal destruction.
רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — focuses more on numerical multiplication or becoming many. גָּדוֹל (gâdôl, H1419) — the related adjective meaning 'great' or 'large.' עָלָה (ʿālâ, H5927) — can mean 'to go up' or 'ascend,' sometimes overlapping in the sense of increase or exaltation. כָּבֵד (kâbêd, H3513) — means 'to be heavy' or 'honorable,' sharing the concept of weightiness and honor.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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