גָּלַם (ga.lam)
ga.lam
to fold
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb galam appears only once in the Old Testament, recorded in 2 Kings 2:8. In this specific context, it describes the action of Elijah striking the waters of the Jordan River with his cloak. The word conveys a sense of wrapping or folding together, capturing the physical motion of gathering the garment to create a barrier that parts the water.
Because its usage is so singular, the term does not develop a broad semantic range across Scripture. It serves as a precise descriptor for this miraculous event, emphasizing the tangible means by which Elijah’s authority was exercised. The image relies on the concrete act of folding or wrapping, linking the prophet’s physical gesture directly to the divine power that followed.
Translators typically render this rare verb as "smote" or "struck," focusing on the result rather than the specific hand motion. This choice highlights the miraculous outcome—the division of the river—while preserving the underlying sense of a deliberate, wrapped action that initiated the parting.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word galam describes a simple, physical act: folding or rolling up a garment. In 2 Kings 2:8, Elijah takes his mantle and rolls it tight before striking the water. This small motion of gathering fabric becomes the instrument of a great miracle. It reminds us that God often uses ordinary, tangible actions to accomplish extraordinary things.
When we face obstacles that seem as wide and deep as the Jordan River, we might feel powerless. Yet this verse shows that our faithful steps, however small they seem, are seen by God. He does not require grand gestures from us, only a willing heart ready to act in obedience. The folded cloak was not magic; it was the means by which divine power flowed through human hands.
Let this encourage you today. Your daily acts of faith—prayer, service, kindness—are like that rolled mantle. They may seem insignificant in your own eyes, but God can use them to part waters and make a way where there seems to be none. Trust that He is working through your faithful steps.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he folded it up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּגְלֹם֙1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 2:8
Elijah took his mantle, and rolled it up, and struck the waters; and they were divided here and there, so that they both went over on dry ground.
This verse captures the precise moment Elijah folds his mantle to strike the water, showing how a simple physical gesture initiates divine intervention.