גִּלְגָּל (gil.gal)
gil.gal
Gilgal
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 35 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Gilgal, meaning "wheel" or "rolling," identifies a significant location east of Jericho where the Israelites first camped after crossing the Jordan. The biblical narrative links this place to the rolling away of reproach, marking it as the site of the first Passover in the Promised Land and the stationing of the twelve memorial stones (Joshua 4:19-20; 5:9). It served as a crucial base for military campaigns against Jericho and Ai.
Over time, Gilgal evolved into a major religious center. Here, Samuel acted as judge and Saul was crowned king, establishing it as a place of national covenant renewal (1 Samuel 10:8; 11:14-15). However, the sources also note that this same site later became associated with illicit worship and idolatry, leading prophets like Hosea and Amos to condemn the people for their rituals there (Hosea 4:15; Amos 5:5).
The word’s root suggests motion or rolling, which fits its dual role in Scripture. It began as a place of divine provision and entry into the land but later symbolized spiritual drift when worship turned to empty ritual. This shift illustrates how a holy site can lose its meaning if the people’s hearts turn away from God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Gilgal marks the moment Israel stepped out of slavery and into God’s promise. The name itself means rolling, capturing the image of a wheel turning or something heavy being rolled away. In Joshua 5:9, God tells Joshua that He has rolled away the reproach of Egypt. This is a powerful reminder that God removes the shame and burden of our past so we can walk forward in freedom.
This place became a camp for worship and national renewal, where the first Passover was kept in the land. Yet it also shows how locations alone do not guarantee faithfulness. When rituals replace a sincere heart, even holy sites lose their meaning. The story of Gilgal invites us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our worship remains genuine rather than routine.
Ultimately, Gilgal points to the need for constant renewal in our relationship with God. Just as the Israelites had to return to this place to remember His faithfulness, we too are called to regularly reflect on how God has rolled away our burdens and brought us into His peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 35 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Gilgal21×
- at <the>/ Gilgal4×
- <the>/ Gilgal/ towards4×
- in <the>/ Gilgal3×
- and/ <the>/ Gilgal2×
- of/ Gilgal1×
- [was] at <the>/ Gilgal1×
- [is] in <the>/ Gilgal1×
- Gilgal1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/גִּלְגָּֽל\׃4×
- הַ/גִּלְגָּ֗ל4×
- הַ/גִּלְגָּ֔ל4×
- הַ/גִּלְגָּ֖ל3×
- הַ/גִּלְגָּ֑ל3×
- בַּ/גִּלְגָּ֔ל3×
- בַּ/גִּלְגָּֽל\׃2×
- לְ/גִלְגָּ֖ל1×
- וְ/הַ/גִּלְגָּל֙1×
- וְ/הַ/גִּלְגָּ֖ל1×
- הַ/גִּלְגָּל֙1×
- הַ/גִּלְגָּל֒1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 5:9
Yahweh said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal to this day.
This verse explains the origin of the name by linking it to God rolling away the shame of Egypt, establishing Gilgal as a place of fresh start.
-
Joshua 4:20
Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal.
The setting up of memorial stones here serves as a physical reminder for future generations of how God parted the Jordan River.