גִּלְגָּל
Gilgal, the name of three places in Palestine
Definition
Gilgal is a proper noun referring to several significant locations in ancient Israel, most notably the first Israelite encampment west of the Jordan River after the miraculous crossing (Joshua 4:19-20). This primary Gilgal became a major religious and military base during the conquest of Canaan, where the Israelites were circumcised, celebrated the Passover, and where the manna ceased (Joshua 5:9-12). The name also refers to a place near Jericho associated with prophets (2 Kings 2:1, 4:38) and a site in the northern kingdom mentioned by the prophet Hosea (Hosea 4:15, 9:15, 12:11).
Biblical Usage
Gilgal is used 39 times in the Old Testament, primarily in the historical books of Joshua, Samuel, and Kings. In Joshua, it is the central camp for the conquest (Joshua 9:6, 10:6-7). Later, it appears as a sanctuary where sacrifices were offered (1 Samuel 10:8, 11:14-15) and a site associated with the prophets Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:1). In the prophetic books, especially Amos (Amos 4:4, 5:5) and Hosea, Gilgal is often condemned as a place of idolatrous worship.
Etymology
The name Gilgal (גִּלְגָּל) comes from the Hebrew root גלל (g-l-l), meaning 'to roll.' It is directly related to the common noun גִּלְגָּל (gilgāl, H1536), meaning 'wheel' or 'rolling thing.' The name was given to the first encampment because God said, 'Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you' (Joshua 5:9), linking the place name to a specific theological event.
Semantic Range
Gilgal is theologically significant as the place of new beginnings and covenant renewal for Israel. It marks the transition from the wilderness wanderings to life in the Promised Land, symbolized by the renewal of circumcision and Passover (Joshua 5:2-10). However, its legacy becomes ambivalent; while it begins as a holy site of God's faithfulness, it later becomes associated with empty ritual and idolatry, serving as a warning against trusting in sacred places rather than in God Himself (Hosea 9:15, Amos 5:5).
In ancient Israel, place names often commemorated events. Gilgal was not originally a city but a camping ground that gained lasting religious and historical significance. Its role evolved from a military base and national shrine to, eventually, a condemned high place. For later prophets, mentioning 'Gilgal' invoked the entire history of Israel's covenant relationship—from faithful beginnings to corrupt practice.
בֵּית הַגִּלְגָּל (Bêyth ha-Gilgāl, H1019) — 'House of Gilgal,' a later village name possibly referring to the same general region.
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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