גֵּל (ge.lel)
ge.lel
dung
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun gel refers to a ball of animal dung. In the ancient Near East, dried dung was a common fuel for fires because wood and other materials were often scarce. This practical use gives the word a grounded, everyday quality that contrasts sharply with its symbolic application in Scripture.
Its single biblical occurrence appears in Job 30:6, where Job describes outcasts who live among the brambles and salt pits. He says they are driven out of human society to such an extent that they must gather dung to survive. Here, the word underscores a state of total degradation and social exclusion.
The image is vividly concrete. It is not merely about waste; it is about the lowest level of human existence, where one’s only resource for warmth or cooking comes from animal refuse. Job uses this stark reality to express his profound isolation and suffering, showing how far he feels cast down from dignity and community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word gel refers to dried animal dung, a practical fuel source in the ancient Near East where wood was scarce. Its single biblical appearance in Job 30:6 paints a stark picture of social exclusion and degradation. Job uses this image to describe outcasts who live among brambles, gathering refuse just to survive. It is a vivid metaphor for the lowest level of human existence.
This word reminds us that suffering can strip away dignity and community in ways that feel profoundly isolating. When we face seasons of deep pain or rejection, it is okay to acknowledge how low we feel without shame. God sees our struggles even when we feel cast down to the dust. His presence does not depend on our social status or physical comfort.
In moments of despair, remember that your worth is not defined by your circumstances. The same God who hears Job’s cries invites you to bring your honest pain to Him. You are known and loved in your vulnerability, not despite it. May you find peace in the knowledge that no depth of suffering is beyond His reach.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like/ own dung/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּֽ֭/גֶלֲל/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Job 20:7
yet he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
This verse uses gel metaphorically to describe how quickly the wicked fade from memory, emphasizing total and permanent disappearance rather than physical survival.