גָּאַל (ga.al)
ga.al
to redeem: redeem; redemption; to redeem: avenge; to redeem: relative
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 81 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ga'al describes the duty of a close relative, known as a kinsman-redeemer, to restore what was lost or protect family integrity. This role involved buying back sold land, freeing enslaved relatives, or marrying a brother’s widow to preserve his lineage. The word carries a heavy sense of personal obligation and blood ties, making it distinct from general acts of charity.
Scripture applies this concept in two main ways. In the book of Ruth, Boaz acts as ga'al for Naomi and Ruth, fulfilling the legal and familial duties required by the law. Later prophets use the image to describe God’s relationship with Israel, portraying Him as the ultimate kinsman who redeems His people from slavery in Egypt or exile in Babylon (Isaiah 43:1). This usage emphasizes that redemption is not a distant transaction but a commitment rooted in covenant love.
Translators often render ga'al as "redeem," though this English term can feel abstract. The Hebrew original points to specific, tangible actions taken by a family member to restore honor and stability. By using this word for God, the biblical writers highlight His intimate involvement in human history, acting not just as a sovereign ruler but as a relative who refuses to let His people remain in distress.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ga'al describes a deep family duty where a close relative steps in to restore what was lost. In ancient Israel, this meant buying back land, freeing enslaved relatives, or caring for a widow to keep the family line intact. It was not a distant act of charity but a personal commitment rooted in blood ties and covenant love.
Scripture uses this powerful image to describe God’s relationship with His people. He is portrayed as the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer who does not stand far away but acts intimately to rescue Israel from slavery and exile. This reminds us that our salvation is not just a legal transaction but a personal restoration of honor and stability by One who cares deeply for us.
When we face loss or hardship, this truth offers great comfort. We serve a God who sees our distress as a family matter. He promises to restore what feels broken and to guide us back to our true home, showing that His love is both powerful and personal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 81 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] avenger of11×
- he will redeem7×
- it will be redeemed5×
- redeemer/ your4×
- the/ kinsman-redeemer3×
- he will redeem/ him3×
- he has redeemed3×
- certainly [if] <to redeem>3×
- a kinsman-redeemer3×
- you have redeemed2×
- to/ redeem [it]2×
- redeemer/ their2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גֹּאֵ֣ל6×
- יִגָּאֵ֖ל3×
- יִגְאַל֙3×
- וְ/גֹאֲלֵ֖/ךְ3×
- גֹּאֵ֤ל3×
- גֹּאֵ֨ל2×
- גֹּאֵ֖ל2×
- גְּאוּלֵ֣י2×
- גְּאוּלִֽים\׃2×
- גֹאֵ֖ל2×
- תִּגָּאֵֽלוּ\׃1×
- תִּגְאַל֙1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 25:25
“‘If your brother becomes poor, and sells some of his possessions, then his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold.
This verse establishes the legal duty of the kinsman-redeemer to buy back sold property, showing the tangible nature of the word.
-
Exodus 6:6
Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments.
Here God uses the term to describe His personal intervention to free Israel from Egyptian bondage with an outstretched arm.
-
Genesis 48:16
the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”
Jacob acknowledges that the angel who redeemed him from all evil acted as a protective relative, linking divine care to family loyalty.