גָּלוּת (ga.lut)
ga.lut
captivity
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun galut refers to the state of exile or the community of exiles themselves. In the Hebrew Bible, it describes the forced displacement of people from their homeland, most notably the Babylonian captivity. The word carries a heavy weight of loss and separation, marking a rupture in the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
It appears eleven times in Scripture, with significant usage in Jeremiah, Obadiah, and Isaiah. These prophets use galut to describe both the judgment that sends people away and the prolonged period they endure in foreign lands. It is not merely a geographical term but a theological one, signifying a time of discipline and waiting for restoration.
Translators typically render it as "captivity" or "exile," depending on whether the context emphasizes the event or the condition. The sources note its Aramaic equivalent, which shares this same root meaning. The term underscores the reality that even when God’s people are scattered, their identity remains tied to the land and the covenant they have left behind.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word galut describes the heavy reality of exile, a time when God’s people were separated from their home and covenant community. It is not just a geographical term but a theological one, marking a season of discipline and waiting for restoration. Even in the darkest moments of displacement, the text reminds us that identity remains tied to the promises made long ago.
For believers today, this word offers a perspective on seasons of feeling distant or scattered. It assures us that our connection to God is not broken by circumstance or location. The prophets used galut to speak of both judgment and hope, showing that even in foreign lands, the people of God are still seen and remembered.
This understanding brings comfort when life feels unstable. We can trust that our spiritual home is secure, regardless of where we find ourselves physically. The narrative of exile always points toward a future return, reminding us that no season of separation is permanent in the eyes of the Lord.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] exile[s] of5×
- of/ [the] exile of2×
- exile2×
- and/ [the] exile[s] of2×
- and/ exile[s]/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/גָלוּת֙2×
- גָּל֥וּת2×
- גָּל֤וּת2×
- גָּל֣וּת2×
- וְ/גָלוּתִ֣/י1×
- וְ/גָלֻ֥ת1×
- וְ/גָלֻ֣ת1×
- גָּל֨וּת1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 45:13
I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward,” says Yahweh of Armies.
This verse highlights God’s sovereignty by showing He uses foreign rulers to release His exiles, turning a tool of judgment into an instrument of freedom.
-
Jeremiah 24:5
“Yahweh, the God of Israel says: ‘Like these good figs, so I will regard the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans, as good.
Here the word shifts from describing a curse to a blessing, as God regards those in captivity with favor, similar to good figs, promising their future restoration.
-
Obadiah 1:20
The captives of this army of the children of Israel, who are among the Canaanites, will possess even to Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, who are in Sepharad, will possess the cities of the Negev.
This occurrence provides a powerful hope for the scattered community, predicting that those in exile will eventually reclaim their inheritance and possess new lands.