גָּלַע (ga.la)
ga.la
to quarrel
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb galaa literally means to expose or lay bare something hidden. In the Old Testament, it appears only three times, and always in the Hithpael stem, which changes the meaning to reflexive: to disclose oneself or break out into view. This grammatical shift is crucial because the word never describes a passive uncovering; it depicts an active, often sudden, emergence of what was previously concealed.
Its most notable usage occurs in Proverbs 20:3, where it describes the glory of kings to "pass over" matters or let disputes remain unresolved. Here, the image is one of restraint—choosing not to "break out" into contention. The word captures the tension between the impulse to expose every fault and the wisdom of covering it over. It suggests that true honor sometimes lies in keeping a lid on conflict rather than airing every grievance.
Translators often render this sense as "avoiding strife" or "passing over" an offense. The underlying idea is not ignorance, but a deliberate choice to withhold exposure. By refusing to lay bare every slight, the wise person prevents a minor disagreement from exploding into public shame. The word thus serves as a linguistic marker for the virtue of discretion in social relationships.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word galaa paints a vivid picture of conflict as something that bursts forth like water breaking through a dam. In Proverbs 17:14, we see this imagery clearly: stopping strife early is the only way to prevent a small disagreement from becoming a flood. The text warns us that once quarreling breaks out, it is often too late to contain the damage.
Yet there is another side to this wisdom. Proverbs 20:3 suggests that true honor lies in choosing not to engage when provoked. This does not mean ignoring injustice or remaining silent about serious wrongs. Instead, it invites us to practice discretion, recognizing that not every slight requires a public response. Sometimes the wisest path is to let minor offenses pass without escalating them.
Reflecting on this helps us navigate our own relationships with greater peace. We are called to be people who resolve conflict rather than create it. By choosing restraint over reaction, we reflect a wisdom that protects both our reputation and our peace of mind.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he bursts out2×
- it has broken out1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִתְגַּלָּֽע\׃2×
- הִ֝תְגַּלַּ֗ע1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
This verse uses the word to describe the sudden, destructive emergence of strife, comparing it to a breached dam that cannot be easily stopped once it starts.
-
Proverbs 20:3
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
Here the word highlights the virtue of avoiding contention, showing that honor comes from choosing not to engage in quarrels even when provoked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word galaa mean?
How is galaa different from other words for quarrel?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Proverbs 3 verses
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
Proverbs 18:1A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Proverbs 20:3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.