גִּלְגָּל (gil.gal)
gil.gal
wheel
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun gilgal denotes a wheel, specifically appearing in Isaiah 28:28 to describe the wheel of a cart or threshing sledge. Its occurrence is singular in the Hebrew Bible, marking it as a rare lexical item that anchors a specific agricultural image within the prophet’s warning.
In this context, the word highlights the mechanical reality of grain processing. The imagery suggests the heavy, rolling motion of equipment used to separate wheat from chaff. This concrete detail grounds Isaiah’s metaphor in the daily labor of ancient Israel, where such tools were essential for survival.
The rarity of gilgal makes its single usage significant. By focusing on a common object in an uncommon way, the text emphasizes the inevitability and physicality of judgment. The wheel does not merely spin; it crushes, illustrating how divine purposes unfold with the same steady, unyielding force as a threshing instrument.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gilgal appears only once in Scripture, found in Isaiah 28:28. It describes the heavy wheel of a threshing cart used to separate grain from chaff. This image reminds us that God’s work in our lives often involves necessary processes that feel intense or difficult. Just as the wheel rolls over the harvest to produce clean flour, divine discipline aims to refine rather than destroy.
When we face seasons of pressure, this verse offers a grounded perspective. The process is not random chaos but a purposeful action. The wheel does not grind endlessly; it has a specific goal. We can trust that these moments are shaping us for something better, just as the threshing sledge prepares the grain for the table.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] wheel of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גִּלְגַּ֧ל1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 28:28
Bread flour must be ground; so he will not always be threshing it. Although he drives the wheel of his threshing cart over it, his horses don’t grind it.
This verse uses gilgal to depict the physical reality of divine discipline, showing that judgment is a structured process with a clear end goal rather than aimless destruction.