גָּמַל (ga.mal)
ga.mal
to wean
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb gamal carries a dual sense of bringing something to completion, whether in human relationships or natural processes. In its most common usage, it describes how one person treats another with full measure, either by showing kindness or by exacting justice. This idea of complete treatment appears when David acknowledges Saul’s mercy in 1 Samuel 24:17, and when the Psalms speak of God repaying people according to their deeds, such as in Psalm 18:20.
The word also has a concrete physical meaning: to wean a child from nursing. This usage highlights the natural conclusion of a dependent stage, marking the transition to independence. Genesis 21:8 records Isaac being weaned, signaling his growth into a new phase of life. Similarly, Psalm 131:2 uses the image of a weaned child to describe a soul that has found quiet rest and stability in God.
A third, less frequent meaning involves ripening or bearing fruit, as seen in Numbers 17:8 where almond branches bud and bloom. This connects the idea of completion to natural cycles, suggesting that just as a child is weaned or almonds ripen, relationships and divine actions reach their intended end.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word gamal carries a rich dual meaning that bridges the physical and the spiritual. At its core, it describes bringing something to its intended completion. In the natural world, this is seen when a child is weaned from nursing, marking a healthy transition toward independence. This image appears in Psalm 131:2, where the psalmist compares his soul to a weaned child, finding quiet rest and stability after a season of dependence.
Beyond physical growth, gamal describes how people treat one another with full measure. It is used when David acknowledges King Saul’s kindness, or when Scripture speaks of God repaying individuals according to their deeds. This reminds us that our actions have weight and consequence, but also that God’s treatment of us is precise and just. Whether in human relationships or divine justice, the word points to a complete and fitting outcome.
For your faith life, this word offers comfort in seasons of transition. Just as weaning marks a necessary step in a child’s development, spiritual growth often requires moving beyond initial dependencies to find deeper rest in God. It also encourages integrity, reminding us that how we treat others matters deeply. May you find peace in trusting that God brings all things to their proper end.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he has dealt bountifully2×
- wean/ you1×
- we dealt out to1×
- was weaned1×
- they have done1×
- they dealt out to/ you1×
- that/ you dealt1×
- she had weaned/ him1×
- she feeds/ him1×
- ripening1×
- like/ a weaned [child]1×
- he will be weaned1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גָּמַ֥ל2×
- תִּגְמְלוּ\־1×
- שֶׁ/גָּמַ֥לְתְּ1×
- כַּ/גָּמֻ֖ל1×
- כְּ֭/גָמֻל1×
- יִגָּמֵ֤ל1×
- יִגְמְלֵ֥/נִי1×
- וַ/תִּגְמֹ֖ל1×
- וַ/תִּגְמְלֵ֣/הוּ1×
- וַ/יִּגָּמַ֑ל1×
- הִגָּמֵ֥ל1×
- גֹּמֵ֣ל1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 21:8
The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
This verse uses the concrete meaning of weaning to mark Isaac’s growth into a new phase of life, signaling the completion of his infancy.
-
Psalms 131:2
Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
The psalmist uses the image of a weaned child to describe a soul that has found quiet rest and stability in God after a period of dependence.
-
I Samuel 1:22
But Hannah didn’t go up, for she said to her husband, “Not until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and stay there forever.”
Hannah’s vow to wait until her child is weaned before dedicating him shows how the word marks a significant milestone in family life and religious commitment.
-
Genesis 50:15
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.”
Here the brothers fear Joseph will fully repay them for past evil, using the sense of giving someone their due treatment or just retribution.
-
Psalms 103:10
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.
This verse highlights God’s mercy by stating He does not deal with us according to our sins, contrasting human deserving with divine grace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does gamal mean in the Bible?
How is gamal different from other words for repayment?
Where does gamal appear in Scripture?
What is the connection between weaning and God’s justice?
Every Occurrence (25 verses across 10 books)
Genesis 3 verses
The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
Genesis 50:15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully…
Genesis 50:17‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to…