יִגְאָל
Jigal, the name of three Israelites
Definition
Yigʼâl is a proper name meaning 'He will redeem' or 'He will avenge,' derived from the Hebrew verb gāʼal (גָּאַל). It is borne by three distinct individuals in the Old Testament. The first is Igal son of Joseph, from the tribe of Issachar, one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan (Numbers 13:7). The second is Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, one of King David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:36). The third is an Igeal (spelled with an extra 'e') listed in the genealogy of the royal line of Judah (1 Chronicles 3:22).
Biblical Usage
The name Yigʼâl is used exclusively as a personal name for three different Israelite men across three biblical books: the historical narrative of Numbers, the royal history of 2 Samuel, and the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles. In Numbers 13:7, Igal is part of a significant national story (the spying mission). In 2 Samuel 23:36, he is noted among David's elite warriors, a context of military loyalty. In 1 Chronicles 3:22, the name appears in a list of descendants from the line of King Jehoiachin, a context of dynastic lineage.
Etymology
The name Yigʼâl (יִגְאָל) is derived from the root גָּאַל (gāʼal, H1350), a primary verb meaning 'to redeem,' 'to act as a kinsman-redeemer,' or 'to avenge.' It is formed as a jussive or imperfect verb form, meaning 'He (i.e., God) will redeem/avenge.' It is thus a theophoric name, implicitly invoking God's redemptive or vindicating action, similar to names like Eliab ('My God is father') or Elijah ('Yahweh is my God').
Semantic Range
As a theophoric name meaning 'He will redeem/avenge,' Yigʼâl serves as a small but potent reminder of a core biblical theme: God's commitment to act as the redeemer (gōʼēl) for His people. This connects to the broader theology of redemption seen in the Exodus, the laws of the kinsman-redeemer (Leviticus 25, Ruth), and ultimately in messianic prophecy (Isaiah 59:20). While the individuals bearing this name are not major figures, the name itself points to the character of God and the hope of His people.
In ancient Israel, names were often meaningful statements of faith, circumstance, or parental hope. Giving a child a name like Yigʼâl ('He will redeem') was an act of piety, expressing trust in God's future deliverance or justice. It reflects a culture where identity was deeply tied to theology and the story of God's relationship with Israel. The spelling variation in 1 Chronicles (Igeal) is a common feature of biblical transmission and does not change the name's essential meaning.
gāʼal (גָּאַל, H1350) — the root verb meaning 'to redeem' or 'to avenge,' from which Yigʼâl is derived. pāḏâh (פָּדָה, H6299) — another verb for 'to redeem,' often used for redemption by payment. gōʼēl (גֹּאֵל, H1350) — the noun 'redeemer' or 'kinsman-avenger,' the active person fulfilling the role.
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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