גִּלְעָד (gil.ad)
gil.ad
Gilead
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 118 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Gilead refers to a rugged mountainous region east of the Jordan River, stretching from Bashan in the north to Moab and Ammon in the south. The sources suggest the meaning is "rocky region" or "hard, stony ground," which fits the terrain’s steep slopes and rocky soil. This area was settled by the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh, who relied on its pastures for their livestock (Numbers 32:1). It appears frequently in Judges and Chronicles as both a geographic landmark and a political entity.
Beyond geography, Gilead carries significant narrative weight. In Genesis 31, Jacob and Laban erect a stone heap called Galeed, meaning "witness," to mark their covenant boundary (Genesis 31:47-48). Later, the judge Jephthah identifies himself as a Gileadite, rooting his authority in this tribal heritage (Judges 11:1). The region is also noted for its balsam resin, which ancient writers prized as a healing balm, linking the land’s name to ideas of restoration and remedy.
Translators consistently render the Hebrew term as "Gilead," preserving its identity as a distinct place rather than translating it literally. This consistency helps readers track the region’s role in Israel’s history, from the initial settlement under Moses to the later conflicts involving Ammon and Assyria (Amos 1:3). The name endures in Scripture as a symbol of both territorial inheritance and divine provision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Gilead stands as a rugged landscape east of the Jordan, defined by steep slopes and rocky soil. This terrain shaped the lives of the tribes who settled there, requiring resilience and careful stewardship of their livestock. The name itself points to hard ground, yet it became a place of deep covenant and provision for God's people.
Beyond its physical borders, Gilead holds a special place in biblical memory as a source of healing balm. In Genesis 31, Jacob and Laban erect a stone heap there to mark their peace, turning a boundary into a witness of reconciliation. The region’s reputation for restorative resin reminds us that God often brings comfort from places of difficulty.
When we encounter this word in Scripture, it invites us to consider how God uses difficult circumstances to foster growth and healing. Just as the land provided resources for survival and trade, our own seasons of trial can yield spiritual balm for ourselves and others. This history encourages trust in a God who provides even in rugged places.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 118 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Gilead69×
- <the>/ Gilead38×
- in <the>/ Gilead5×
- and/ <the>/ Gilead3×
- and/ Gilead2×
- Gilead/ towards2×
- of/ Gilead1×
- of Gilead1×
- of <the>/ Gilead1×
- in/ Gilead1×
- from/ Gilead1×
- [is] in <the>/ Gilead1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גִּלְעָ֑ד16×
- הַ/גִּלְעָֽד\׃10×
- הַ/גִּלְעָ֔ד9×
- גִּלְעָֽד\׃9×
- גִלְעָ֔ד9×
- הַ/גִּלְעָד֙6×
- גִּלְעָ֛ד6×
- הַ/גִּלְעָ֑ד4×
- גִּלְעָד֙4×
- הַ/גִּלְעָ֖ד3×
- גִּלְעָ֗ד3×
- גִּלְעָ֔ד3×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 31:25
Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead.
This verse marks the moment Laban catches Jacob in Gilead, setting the stage for the establishment of a covenant boundary that signifies peace between two former rivals.
-
Genesis 37:25
They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
Here Gilead is identified as the source of spices and balm, linking the region directly to the trade goods carried by Ishmaelite merchants toward Egypt.
-
Numbers 32:1
Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock. They saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead. Behold, the place was a place for livestock.
The Reubenites and Gadites see Gilead as ideal pastureland, demonstrating how the land’s physical characteristics influenced tribal settlement decisions.
-
Deuteronomy 3:12
This land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with its cities, I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites;
Moses recounts giving half of Gilead to the Reubenites and Gadites, highlighting the region's role in fulfilling God's promise of land inheritance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Gilead mean?
Why is Gilead famous for balm?
Who lived in the land of Gilead?
Every Occurrence (118 verses across 18 books)
Genesis 4 verses
So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.
Genesis 31:23He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.
Genesis 31:25Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in…
Genesis 37:25They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from…