בִּלְגָּה (bil.gah)
bil.gah
Bilgah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Bilgah means "cheerfulness" or joy. It appears only three times in Scripture, identifying two distinct priests who served during different eras of Israel’s history. In 1 Chronicles 24:14, a Bilgah is listed as the head of the fifteenth priestly course established by King David, showing that his family held a significant role in temple worship long before the exile.
A second individual named Bilgah (or Bilgai) appears in Nehemiah 10:8 among the leaders who sealed the covenant to return to Jerusalem. This connection suggests he was part of the community that rebuilt the city walls and restored religious life after the Babylonian captivity. The repetition of this joyful name across centuries highlights how families maintained their identity and service to God through periods of stability and restoration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Bilgah carries a simple, bright meaning: cheerfulness or joy. It is not found in stories of great battles or royal decrees, but rather in the quiet lists of those who served God in the temple and in the community. For us, this reminds us that faithfulness often looks like steady service rather than dramatic events. Joy is not just a feeling we experience; it is a posture we bring to our duties.
When we look at the families listed under this name, we see continuity. Across centuries of change, from the temple days of David to the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, these individuals remained committed to their roles. Their joy was rooted in their identity and their service. We can find encouragement in knowing that our own faithful steps, however small they seem, are part of a larger story of God’s people.
This word invites us to consider how we serve today. Whether in our homes, workplaces, or local gatherings, we are called to bring a spirit of gladness to our tasks. It is a gentle reminder that joy and duty are not separate things. Instead, they work together to build up the community around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ Bilgah1×
- of/ Bilgah1×
- Bilgah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/בִלְגָּה֙1×
- לְ/בִלְגָּ֣ה1×
- בִּלְגָּֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 24:14
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
This verse establishes Bilgah as a leader of a priestly division, showing that joy was integral to the structured worship God ordained for Israel.
-
Nehemiah 12:5
Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
Bilgah is listed among those who returned from exile, highlighting the continuity of his family’s presence in the restored community.