גִּלּוּל (gil.lul)
gil.lul
idol
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word gilul refers to an idol, specifically a worthless or contemptible thing. It carries a sense of disgust, describing objects that people mistakenly trust instead of God. These idols are often depicted as lifeless statues that cannot hear, see, or help their owners.
In the Old Testament, this term highlights the tragedy of exchanging the living Creator for dead images. When Israel served these idols, they turned away from Yahweh’s covenant. The prophets used this word to show how empty such worship is compared to the faithful love of God.
For your faith today, gilul reminds us to examine what we rely on for security and meaning. It invites you to place your trust only in the one true God, who alone can sustain your life and offer lasting hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ idols5×
- with/ idols/ his1×
- idols/ your1×
- idols/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/גִּלֻּלִ֑ים2×
- הַ/גִּלֻּלִים֙1×
- הַ/גִּלֻּלִ֜ים1×
- הַ/גִּלֻּלִ֔ים1×
- גִּלּוּלֶֽי/הָ\׃1×
- גִּלּוּלֵי/כֶ֑ם1×
- בְּ/גִלּוּלָֽי/ו\׃\ \פ1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 26:30
I will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and cast your dead bodies upon the bodies of your idols; and my soul will abhor you.
This verse links idol worship with divine judgment, showing that serving gilul leads to God's rejection.
-
II Kings 23:24
Moreover, Josiah removed those who had familiar spirits, the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in Yahweh’s house.
Josiah’s reform specifically targeted gilul, demonstrating the need to remove false gods from the land to restore true worship.
-
Jeremiah 50:2
“Declare among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don’t conceal; say, ‘Babylon has been taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed! Her images are disappointed. Her idols are dismayed.’
Here gilul is personified as being 'dismayed,' emphasizing their powerlessness and shame in the face of God's sovereignty.