גָּדוֹל (ga.dol)
ga.dol
great: large; Haggedolim; Great (Sea); great: old
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 437 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective gadol describes something that is large in size, intense in degree, or significant in rank. It applies to physical dimensions, such as a great city, but also to abstract qualities like loud noise or advanced age. In the Old Testament, it appears hundreds of times to modify people, places, and actions, serving as a versatile term for magnitude across many contexts.
A key distinction lies in its use for status rather than just size. When applied to God, gadol emphasizes supreme power and majesty, distinguishing the Creator from all other beings. It is also used for distinguished men or important matters, showing that "greatness" in Hebrew thought often combines physical scale with social or spiritual weight.
This word carries theological depth when describing divine acts. For example, Deuteronomy references God’s great works to highlight His unmatched authority. Translators usually render it as "great," though the context determines whether the focus is on physical bulk, numerical strength, or high honor. The term remains central to understanding how biblical writers viewed power and presence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gadol paints a picture of magnitude that reaches far beyond physical size. It describes the vastness of the sea creatures in Genesis or the heavy weight of Cain’s regret, but it also marks the dignity of age and the honor of a leader. When we encounter this term applied to God, it reminds us that His power is not just large; it is supreme. He stands apart from all creation, holding authority that no human ruler can match.
For your daily life, this word offers comfort in how God views you and your future. In Genesis 12:2, God promises to make Abraham a great nation, showing that He takes an interest in building legacies and blessing families. You do not need to measure your worth by worldly standards of success. Instead, you can rest in the truth that the Creator who fills the heavens with stars also cares for the details of your path.
Whether you are facing a challenge that feels too heavy to bear or looking back on years of experience, gadol invites you to see the bigger picture. It encourages us to recognize the significant role we play in God’s story and to trust in His ability to bring good out of difficult circumstances. This perspective helps us navigate life with a sense of purpose and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 437 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- great204×
- <the>/ great119×
- large26×
- [is] great21×
- <the>/ old8×
- great [things]7×
- [the] great7×
- [was] great6×
- the/ great4×
- as the/ great4×
- loud3×
- great [people]3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גָּד֖וֹל26×
- גָּד֑וֹל18×
- הַ/גָּד֔וֹל17×
- גָּד֔וֹל17×
- הַ/גָּד֖וֹל16×
- גָּדֽוֹל\׃12×
- הַ/גָּדוֹל֙11×
- גָּד֥וֹל11×
- גְדוֹלָ֑ה10×
- גָּדוֹל֙9×
- גְדוֹלָ֖ה9×
- גְדוֹלָ֔ה8×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:16
God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.
This verse establishes the word's use for immense physical scale, describing the celestial bodies that govern day and night.
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Genesis 12:2
I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.
Here the term shifts to divine promise, marking the beginning of a lineage that will carry blessing to all nations.
-
Genesis 4:13
Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Cain uses this word to express the overwhelming intensity of his guilt, showing how it applies to emotional weight.
-
Genesis 27:1
When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My son?” He said to him, “Here I am.”
The description of Isaac’s advanced age highlights the respect associated with wisdom and long life in biblical culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does gadol mean in the Old Testament?
How is gadol different from other words for greatness?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (437 verses across 32 books)
Genesis 31 verses
God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made…
Genesis 1:21God created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their…
Genesis 4:13Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 10:12and Resen between Nineveh and the great city Calah.
Genesis 10:21Children were also born to Shem (the elder brother of Japheth), the father of all the children of Eber.
Genesis 12:2I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.
Genesis 12:17Yahweh afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
Genesis 15:12When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.
Genesis 15:14I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth;
Genesis 15:18In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of…
Genesis 17:20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him…
Genesis 18:18since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?
Genesis 19:11They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied…
Genesis 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have…
Genesis 21:8The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
Genesis 21:18Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”
Genesis 27:1When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My…
Genesis 27:15Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her…
Genesis 27:33Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of…
Genesis 27:34When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father,…
Genesis 27:42The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him,…
Genesis 29:2He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they…
Genesis 29:7He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go…
Genesis 29:16Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Genesis 39:9No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife.…
Genesis 39:14she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He…
Genesis 41:29Behold, seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt are coming.
Genesis 44:12He searched, beginning with the oldest, and ending at the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
Genesis 45:7God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
Genesis 46:3He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down into Egypt, for there I will make of you a great…
Genesis 50:10They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and…