גּוֹלָה (go.lah)
go.lah
captivity
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 31 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun golah refers to the state of exile or the collective group of exiles themselves. Derived from a verb meaning "to be carried away," it captures both the abstract condition of displacement and the concrete people who were removed from their land. In texts like Jeremiah 29:4, the term addresses the community living in Babylon, emphasizing their shared identity as those removed by force.
Its usage often highlights a transition between judgment and restoration. While it frequently appears in contexts of loss, such as the descriptions of destruction in Ezekiel, it also marks the beginning of return. Ezra 1:11 lists the vessels and people brought back from golah, showing how the word bridges the gap between the trauma of deportation and the hope of rebuilding.
Translators typically render golah as "captivity" or "exiles," though this can obscure the active sense of being moved. The term does not imply voluntary migration but rather a forced removal that defines a generation. This dual focus on people and place helps readers understand how the biblical writers processed national trauma through the lens of divine sovereignty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word golah describes a people carried away from their home. It captures both the heavy reality of displacement and the identity of those who survived it. This term does not describe a voluntary move but a forced removal that defined a generation. Yet, even in this state of loss, the biblical writers saw God’s hand at work.
For believers today, golah offers a perspective on life as a pilgrim people. We are not permanently settled in this world but are journeying toward our true home. This word reminds us that our identity is rooted in God, not in any earthly location or political power. It invites us to trust His sovereignty even when circumstances feel like exile.
When we read about the return from Babylon, we see a pattern of hope. The people did not just rebuild walls; they rebuilt their relationship with God. This transition from judgment to restoration shows that God’s purposes are never thwarted by human failure or foreign empires. We can find comfort in knowing that He brings life out of brokenness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 31 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ exile[s]12×
- the/ exile8×
- in <the>/ exile4×
- exile[s]3×
- in the/ exile1×
- from/ the/ exile1×
- exile1×
- and/ in <the>/ exile1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/גּוֹלָ֔ה7×
- הַ֨/גּוֹלָ֔ה2×
- הַ/גּוֹלָה֙2×
- הַ/גּוֹלָֽה\׃\ \ס2×
- בַּ/גּוֹלָ֔ה2×
- מֵֽ/הַ/גּוֹלָ֔ה1×
- וּ/בַ/גּוֹלָ֖ה1×
- הַ/גּוֹלָה֒1×
- הַ/גּוֹלָ֜ה1×
- הַ/גּוֹלָ֗ה1×
- הַ/גּוֹלָ֖ה1×
- הַ/גּוֹלָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 29:4
Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon:
This verse shows God addressing the exiles directly, affirming His presence and plan even in a foreign land.
-
Ezra 1:11
All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all these up when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
The return of vessels and people marks the beginning of restoration after the long period of captivity.
-
Ezra 2:1
Now these are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city;
This list identifies the specific group who returned, grounding their identity in their shared history of exile.
-
Ezra 6:19
The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
The exiles keeping Passover demonstrates their commitment to worship despite their displaced status.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does golah mean in the Bible?
How is golah different from other words for captivity?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (31 verses across 8 books)
II Kings 3 verses
He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and…
II Kings 24:15He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, with the king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers, and the chief men of the…
II Kings 24:16All the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths one thousand, all of them strong and fit…