גִּילֹנִי (gi.lo.ni)
gi.lo.ni
Gilonite
N:N--LGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--LG
Word Overview
The term gi.lonî is a gentilic adjective meaning “Gilonite,” identifying someone as an inhabitant of Giloh. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in the second book of Samuel (2 Samuel 23:26 and 1 Chronicles 11:28). In these lists of David’s mighty men, it serves to distinguish a soldier by his hometown rather than his lineage or profession.
Etymologically, the word is derived directly from Giloh (H1542), a town in the hill country of Judah. The suffix -î marks it as a demonym, similar to how “New Yorker” identifies a resident of New York. Its rarity underscores how specific biblical genealogies and military rolls valued local identity, anchoring heroes like Elam to their geographic roots.
Though brief, this single word preserves the memory of Giloh’s contribution to David’s army. It reminds readers that even obscure towns played roles in Israel’s history, with ordinary men from places like Giloh standing alongside legendary figures in Scripture’s most trusted warriors.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The term Gilonite identifies a person by their hometown, specifically Giloh in the hill country of Judah. This simple label appears in the Bible to anchor individuals to their geographic roots, showing that local identity mattered deeply in ancient Israel. It reminds us that ordinary people from specific places played significant roles in God’s unfolding story.
When we read about figures like Ahithophel or Eliam being called Gilonites, we see how Scripture values the concrete reality of where people come from. These labels are not just historical footnotes but reminders that God uses individuals within their real-world contexts. Your own background and community shape your journey, yet God meets you exactly where you are.
This focus on place encourages us to appreciate our own communities and histories. Even obscure towns like Giloh contributed to the larger narrative of Israel’s kingship. Similarly, every person in your life has a story and a place that contributes to the wider tapestry of faith. We find comfort in knowing that God knows each of us by name and origin.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Gilonite2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/גִּלֹנִֽי\׃\ \ס1×
- הַ/גִּֽילֹנִ֜י1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 15:12
Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.
This verse identifies Ahithophel as a Gilonite, linking his counsel to Absalom directly with his hometown of Giloh, which highlights the political weight of local alliances.
-
II Samuel 23:34
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
Here Eliam is called the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, using the title to trace lineage and establish family identity within David’s military records.