גָּלָל
a circumstance (as rolled around); only used adverbially, on account of
Definition
The Hebrew noun גָּלָל (gâlâl) literally means 'a circumstance' or 'something rolled around,' but in the Bible it is used exclusively as an adverbial expression meaning 'on account of,' 'because of,' or 'for the sake of.' It functions to explain the reason or cause behind an action or situation. For example, in Genesis 12:13, Abram asks Sarai to say she is his sister 'because of' (gâlâl) the danger he perceives. In Deuteronomy 1:37, Moses states that the Lord was angry with him 'because of' the Israelites. The word consistently introduces the motivating factor in a narrative or divine pronouncement.
Biblical Usage
This word appears 10 times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative and legal contexts. It is used in Genesis (12:13, 30:27, 39:5), Deuteronomy (1:37, 15:10, 18:12), 1 Kings (14:16), and Jeremiah (11:17). Its usage is formulaic, always setting up a causal relationship. It often explains divine actions or judgments, as in Deuteronomy 18:12, where certain practices are an abomination 'because of' which nations are driven out, or 1 Kings 14:16, where God gives Israel up 'because of' the sins of Jeroboam.
Etymology
The noun גָּלָל (gâlâl, H1558) is derived from the root verb גָּלַל (gâlal, H1556), which means 'to roll, roll away, or roll together.' The noun form carries the sense of a 'circumstance'—something that is 'rolled around' an event or person, hence the adverbial meaning 'on account of.' This connection to rolling emphasizes the idea of a situation or cause enveloping and influencing an outcome.
Semantic Range
While not a major theological term itself, גָּלָל is significant because it consistently highlights the principle of cause and effect, especially in the context of covenant relationships. It underscores that blessings, judgments, and divine actions in the biblical narrative are not arbitrary but are directly 'because of' human obedience or sin. Understanding this term enriches reading by clarifying the stated reasons behind God's interactions with individuals like Abram (Genesis 12:13) and nations like Israel (1 Kings 14:16), reinforcing themes of responsibility and consequence.
In its original setting, the word's derivation from 'rolling' may have conveyed a tangible sense of circumstances gathering or accumulating around a person, much like stones rolled together. This differs from a modern, abstract understanding of 'because.' Its exclusive adverbial use in biblical texts shows it was a formal, literary expression for stating causation, often in solemn declarations of blessing or judgment.
בַּעֲבוּר (baʿăbûr, H5668) — a more common preposition meaning 'for the sake of' or 'on account of,' often used in covenantal contexts. יַעַן (yaʿan, H3282) — a conjunction meaning 'because,' 'since,' or 'therefore,' frequently introducing divine speech or reasons for prophecy.
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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