גֹּעַל
abhorrence
Definition
The Hebrew noun גֹּעַל (gôʻal) refers to a state of intense disgust, abhorrence, or loathing. It describes something that is utterly rejected or considered repulsive. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 16:5, it is used to depict the extreme neglect and rejection of an infant, left in a field and regarded with complete contempt. The word conveys a powerful emotional and moral revulsion, stronger than mere dislike.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 16:5. It appears in a metaphorical context where God describes Jerusalem's origins as an abandoned newborn, 'cast out in the open field, for your person was abhorred (גֹּעַל).' The usage is highly emotive, emphasizing total rejection and the absence of compassion in a situation of profound vulnerability.
Etymology
גֹּעַל (gôʻal) is a noun derived from the verb גָּעַל (gāʻal, H1602), which means 'to abhor, loathe, reject, or spurn.' This root carries the core idea of casting something away in disgust. Related cognates in other Semitic languages also convey meanings of rejection or disdain, confirming this sense of strong aversion.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it powerfully illustrates the depth of human sin and alienation from God's original design. In Ezekiel 16, God uses this stark imagery of being 'abhorred' at birth to highlight Israel's utterly helpless and undeserving state before He intervened with grace and covenant love. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this passage by emphasizing the magnitude of God's redemptive action—He chooses and loves what was once considered utterly loathsome and rejected, a profound picture of unconditional election and grace.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, abandoning a newborn was a desperate act, often due to poverty, illegitimacy, or deformity. To be 'abhorred' in this way meant being considered outside the bounds of human care and kinship, with no claim to life or protection. This cultural reality makes the metaphor in Ezekiel 16:5 shockingly vivid to its original audience, underscoring total worthlessness and societal rejection.
תּוֹעֵבָה (tôʻēḇâ, H8441) — a stronger, more ritual or moral term often translated 'abomination,' referring to what is detestable to God. שִׁקּוּץ (shiqqûṣ, H8251) — 'detested thing' or 'abomination,' frequently used for idolatrous objects or practices.
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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