גַּלִּים (gal.lim)
gal.lim
Gallim
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Gallim refers to a location north of Jerusalem, with its name meaning “springs” or potentially “heaps.” This place appears in only two verses of Scripture, serving as a specific geographic marker within the narratives of Samuel and Isaiah.
In First Samuel, Gallim is identified as the home of Kish, the father of Saul. It is significant because it is where Saul’s messengers come to search for David, who has fled from his father-in-law’s wrath, highlighting the tension between the new king and the faithful heir. The book of Isaiah also mentions the place in a prophecy concerning judgment, noting that inhabitants will weep as they are led away into exile.
Though brief in its biblical footprint, Gallim anchors these stories in real terrain. It reminds readers that the political struggles of Israel’s early monarchy and the looming threat of Assyrian or Babylonian captivity were not abstract concepts but events unfolding in identifiable towns with water sources and families caught in the crossfire of history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Gallim is a small place name that appears only twice in Scripture, yet it anchors major biblical narratives in real geography. In First Samuel, it serves as the hometown of Kish, father of King Saul, and the origin of Palti, who married Michal after David fled for his life. This detail reminds us that God’s plans unfold within the specific, often messy, realities of human families and political tensions.
In Isaiah, the call to the daughter of Gallim to cry out signals impending judgment and exile. The prophet uses this local reference to convey a universal truth: no community is immune to the consequences of turning away from God. These brief mentions show that our own struggles with power, loss, or uncertainty are part of a larger story where God remains sovereign.
Even in times of displacement or conflict, Scripture assures us that God sees the specific places and people involved. The mention of Gallim invites us to trust that God is present in our particular circumstances, whether we are facing personal loss or societal upheaval. His word brings both warning and hope, grounding us in reality while pointing to His enduring faithfulness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] from/ Gallim1×
- Gallim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/גַּלִּֽים\׃1×
- גַּלִּ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 25:44
Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.
This verse identifies Gallim as the hometown of Palti, linking the location to the complex political and personal turmoil surrounding David’s flight from Saul.
-
Isaiah 10:30
Cry aloud with your voice, daughter of Gallim! Listen, Laishah! You poor Anathoth!
Here, Gallim is personified in a prophetic warning, showing how the place became a symbol of the sorrow and displacement faced by Israel before exile.