Original Word: גָּלַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: galal
Pronunciation: gah-LAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-lal')
KJV: commit, remove, roll (away, down, together), run down, seek occasion, trust, wallow
NASB: roll, commit, rolled, lay wallowing, roll down, roll you down, rolled away
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to roll (literally or figuratively)

commit, remove, roll away, down, together, run down, seek occasion, trust,

A primitive root; to roll (literally or figuratively) -- commit, remove, roll (away, down, together), run down, seek occasion, trust, wallow.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to roll, roll away
NASB Translation
commit (3), lay wallowing (1), roll (5), roll you down (1), roll down (1), rolled (3), rolled away (1), rolls (1), seek occasion (1), take away (1).

II. [גָּלַל] verb roll, roll away (Late Hebrew id., & derivatives; Aramaic Pa`el גַּלֵּל, Palpel גַּלְגֵּיל roll, Ithpalpel reflexive, & derivatives; compare Ethpe`el, Ethpalpel (see PS), rota, fluctus, etc.) —

Qal Perfect1singular גַּלּוֺתִי Joshua 5:9, וְגָָֽלֲלוּ consecutive Genesis 29:3,8; Imperative גֹּל Psalm 22:9 (ᵑ0 De; but ᵐ5 Bi Che read גַּל3masculine singular perfect, so AV RVm) Proverbs 16:3, גּוֺל Psalm 37:5, גַּל Psalm 119:22 (but read גֹּל Ew Hi Ri Gr Che), גֹּלּוּ Joshua 10:18; 1 Samuel 14:33; Participle גֹּלֵל Proverbs 26:27; — roll a stone Proverbs 26:27; roll away stone from upon (מֵעַל) the mouth of a well Genesis 29:3,8; roll stones unto (אֶל) the mouth of a cave Joshua 10:18; stone unto (אֶל) Saul, at which to slay beasts 1 Samuel 14:33; figurative reproach from upon (מֵעַל) the people Joshua 5:9 (subject ׳י), compare Psalm 119:22 (followed by מֵעַל); but also דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ ׳גּוֺל עַליֿ Psalm 37:5, compare Psalm 22:9; Proverbs 16:3 (both followed by אֶלֿ).

Niph`al Perfect וְנָגֹלּוּ consecutive Isaiah 34:4; Imperfect וְיִגַּל (jussive) Amos 5:24; — roll, roll up or along (intransitive), וְנָגֹלּוּ כַסֵּפֶר הַשָּׁמַיִם Isaiah 34:4 and the heavens shall roll up like a book; יִגַּל כַּמַּיִם מִשְׁמָּט Amos 5:24 let judgement roll along (flow down) as the waters.

Pilpel Perfect וְגִלְגַּלְתִּיךָ consecutive Jeremiah 51:25 and I will roll thee down from (מִן) the rocks (subject ׳י; object Babylon under figure of mountain)

Po`al Participle שִׂמְלָה מְגוֺלָלָה בְדָמִים Isaiah 9:4 garment rolled (dabbled, rolled over and over) in blood.

Hithpo`el Infinitive לְהִתְגֹּלֵל Genesis 43:8; Participle מִתְגֹּלֵל 2 Samuel 20:12; rol oneself over and over, בַּדָּם ׳וַעֲמָשָׂא מִתְג 2 Samuel 20:12 now Amasa was wallowing in his blood; figurative Genesis 43:18 עָלֵינוּ ׳לְהִתְג to roll himself upon us, i.e. assail us with overwhelming force ("" וּלְהִתְנַמֵּל עָלֵינוּ).

Hithpalpel Perfect הִתְגַּלְגָּ֑לוּ Job 30:14 (absolute; "" כְּפֶרֶץ רָחָב יֶאֱתָ֑יוּ) compare Hithpo`el Genesis 43:8.

Hiph`il Imperfect וַיָּ֫גֶל Genesis 29:10; — roll away stone from upon (מֵעַל) mouth of well; as

Qal (which it really is, Imperfect in i, according to Ba^{ZMG 1888, 178}).

גלל (√ of following; Biblical Hebrew גלל; Palmyrene גללא Lzb²⁵⁰ SAC³⁶ Cooke³³⁴, = στήλη λιθίνη).

Root Imagery: Rolling, Removal, and Transfer

The Hebrew verb גָּלַל paints the picture of something set in motion, transferred, or displaced by rolling. Whether a stone, disgrace, blood-soaked garments, or the burdens of the human heart, the action consistently involves a change of place or state brought about by decisive motion.

Physical Uses: Stones, Wells, and Warfare

1. Watering Flocks (Genesis 29:3, 8, 10). Jacob “rolled the stone from the mouth of the well” so the sheep could drink. The verb conveys both the physical exertion and the resulting access to life-sustaining water.
2. Securing or Blocking Entrances (Joshua 10:18; 1 Samuel 14:33). Large stones are “rolled” over cave mouths or brought near an altar, emphasizing protection, containment, or readiness for sacrifice.
3. Battlefield Carnage (2 Samuel 20:12; Isaiah 9:5). Amasa “wallowed in his blood,” and garments are “rolled in blood.” The verb captures the gruesome momentum of violence and the contamination it brings.
4. Cosmic Cataclysm (Isaiah 34:4). “The sky will be rolled up like a scroll,” shifting the scene from earthbound motion to a universal unraveling when God judges the nations.

Metaphorical Uses: Removal of Reproach and Sin

Joshua 5:9 records the LORD’s declaration at Gilgal: “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” The verb highlights the divine initiative that shifts Israel’s shame off their shoulders. Similarly, Psalm 119:22 pleads, “Take away scorn and contempt from me,” asking God to roll off hostile derision.

Faith and Trust: Committing One’s Way to the LORD

The psalmist employs גָּלַל for an act of surrender:
• Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.”
• Psalm 22:8 records mockers twisting the same concept: “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD deliver him.”
• Proverbs 16:3 echoes the counsel: “Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established.”

In every case, life’s direction or burden is rolled from human shoulders onto the covenant-keeping God.

Judgment and Retribution

Proverbs 26:27 warns, “He who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him,” illustrating poetic justice: the momentum one sets in motion returns upon the perpetrator. Jeremiah 51:25 intensifies the concept: Babylon, the “destroying mountain,” will be “rolled down from the cliffs,” a picture of unstoppable downfall initiated by God Himself.

Prophetic and Eschatological Imagery

Amos 5:24 transforms the verb into a rallying cry for righteousness: “But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” The rolling motion becomes continuous, cleansing, and life-giving—anticipating the messianic age of equity and peace.

Ministry Implications

• Casting Burdens: Preaching and pastoral care can draw on Psalm 37:5 to call believers to hand over anxieties to the LORD, trusting His providential action.
• Discipleship at Gilgal: The “rolling away” of reproach provides a template for teaching on baptism, repentance, and new identity.
• Social Justice: Amos 5:24 summons the church to be channels through which God’s rolling river of justice continually flows into society.

Christological Echoes

Psalm 22:8, fulfilled at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:43), links גָּלַל with Christ’s act of entrusting Himself to the Father. Moreover, the literal stone rolled away from Jesus’ tomb (though a different Greek term) resonates thematically: God removed the reproach of death, launching resurrection life.

Summary Themes

1. Divine Removal of Disgrace.
2. Human Surrender and Trust.
3. Inevitable Retribution for Evil.
4. Ongoing Flow of Justice.
5. Ultimate Cosmic Renewal.

Across its eighteen appearances, גָּלַל traces a theological arc from a shepherd’s stone in Genesis to the cosmic scroll of Isaiah, always underscoring that what God sets in motion—whether mercy or judgment—is unstoppable and transformative.

גַּ֣ל גַּלּ֛וֹתִי גֹּ֛לּוּ גֹּ֣ל גֹּֽלּוּ־ גּ֣וֹל גול גל גלו גלו־ גלותי הִתְגַּלְגָּֽלוּ׃ התגלגלו׃ וְגִלְגַּלְתִּ֙יךָ֙ וְגָֽלֲלוּ֙ וְגָלֲל֤וּ וְגֹ֥לֵ֥ל וְיִגַּ֥ל וְנָגֹ֥לּוּ וַיָּ֤גֶל וגלגלתיך וגלל וגללו ויגל ונגלו לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל להתגלל מְגוֹלָלָ֣ה מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל מגוללה מתגלל gal gal·lō·w·ṯî galLoti gallōwṯî gō·wl gol gōl gōl·lū gōl·lū- Gollu gōllū gōllū- gōwl hiṯ·gal·gā·lū hitgalGalu hiṯgalgālū lə·hiṯ·gō·lêl lehitgoLel ləhiṯgōlêl mə·ḡō·w·lā·lāh megolaLah məḡōwlālāh miṯ·gō·lêl mitgoLel miṯgōlêl vaiYagel vegalaLu vegilgalTicha veGoLel venaGollu veyigGal way·yā·ḡel wayyāḡel wə·ḡā·lă·lū wə·ḡil·gal·tî·ḵā wə·ḡō·lêl wə·nā·ḡōl·lū wə·yig·gal wəḡālălū wəḡilgaltîḵā wəḡōlêl wənāḡōllū wəyiggalInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts