גּוֹרָל (go.ral)
go.ral
allotted
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 58 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gôrâl refers to a small stone or pebble used as a tool for casting lots, a common ancient method for making decisions or determining outcomes. Its etymology connects it to rough stones, reflecting the physical objects thrown into a container to be drawn out. In Scripture, this practice appears in various contexts, from dividing land among the tribes of Israel in Joshua to selecting sacrifices on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:8.
Beyond the physical object, gôrâl carries the metaphorical weight of destiny or portion. When a lot is cast, it is seen not as random chance but as a divine assignment. This meaning shines through in passages like Psalm 16:5, where the psalmist declares, "The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup," using gôrâl to describe God’s sovereign allocation of his life’s direction. Similarly, in Daniel 12:13, it points to a future inheritance or share in the end times.
Translators usually render gôrâl as "lot" or "portion," capturing both the method of determination and the result received. The word underscores a worldview where God’s will is actively revealed through these tangible means, whether allocating territory in Numbers 26:55 or deciding the fate of Jonah in Jonah 1:7. It serves as a reminder that what falls to one person is viewed as a specific assignment from God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word gôrâl refers to a small stone or pebble used in casting lots, an ancient method for determining outcomes. While it describes a physical object, its deeper meaning points to divine assignment. In the Old Testament, this practice was not about random chance but about recognizing God’s sovereign hand in directing history and individual lives.
For your faith, this word offers comfort in uncertainty. When life feels unpredictable, gôrâl reminds us that our portions are held by God. Whether it involved dividing the Promised Land or selecting sacrifices for atonement, the lot signified that every detail of existence is under His care. You can trust that your path is not left to accident but is guided by a faithful Creator.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 58 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ lot22×
- lots8×
- a lot8×
- by/ lot7×
- by the/ lot4×
- lot/ their3×
- [is] the/ lot2×
- to/ allotted portion/ your1×
- lot/ your1×
- lot/ my1×
- lot/ his1×
- in/ lot/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/גּוֹרָ֖ל5×
- הַ/גּוֹרָ֣ל4×
- הַ/גּוֹרָל֙2×
- הַ/גּוֹרָ֤ל2×
- הַ/גּוֹרָ֜ל2×
- הַ/גּוֹרָ֔ל2×
- הַ/גּוֹרָ֑ל2×
- גוֹרָל֜וֹת2×
- גּוֹרָ֤ל2×
- גּוֹרָ֛ל2×
- גּֽוֹרָל֔וֹת2×
- בַּ/גּוֹרָ֔ל2×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 14:2
by the lot of their inheritance, as Yahweh commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.
This verse establishes the lot as the specific mechanism through which Yahweh commanded the distribution of inheritance, linking physical territory directly to divine instruction.
-
Leviticus 16:8
Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Here the lot determines the fate of two goats on the Day of Atonement, highlighting its role in sacred rituals where God’s will regarding atonement is revealed.
-
Joshua 18:10
Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Yahweh. There Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.
Joshua casts lots in Shiloh before Yahweh, demonstrating that the division of the remaining land was an act of worship and obedience to divine direction rather than mere administrative planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does gôrâl mean in the Bible?
How is gôrâl different from modern ideas of luck?
Where does this word appear in Scripture?
Every Occurrence (58 verses across 15 books)
Leviticus 3 verses
Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Leviticus 16:9Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer him for a sin offering.
Leviticus 16:10But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him,…