Original Word: גָּרֹל
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: garol
Pronunciation: gah-ROLE
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-role')
KJV: man of great (as in the margin which reads H1419)
Word Origin: [from the same as H1486 (גּוֹרָל גּוֹרָל - lot)]

1. harsh

harsh

From the same as gowral; harsh -- man of great (as in the margin which reads gadowl).

see HEBREW gowral

see HEBREW gadowl

Word Origin
another reading for gadol, q.v. goral
Definition
see NH1486.

[גָּרֹל] adjective גְּרָלחֵֿמָה Proverbs 19:19 Kt; < Qr גְּדָלֿ compare Vrss, AV RV Now Str and others

Overview

The form גָּרֹל appears twice within the Hebrew text of Proverbs 19:19 as a scribally variant spelling for the common adjective meaning “great.” In context it qualifies the noun “anger,” portraying wrath that has swelled beyond normal bounds. Although limited in occurrence, the word opens a doorway to several important biblical themes concerning unchecked anger, personal responsibility, and the repeated consequences that follow indulgent rescue.

Occurrences in Scripture

Proverbs 19:19 – “A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Because the same verse contains the word twice, many concordances list two attestations even though they occur in a single proverb. No additional canonical uses are attested.

Contextual Emphasis in Proverbs 19:19

1. Personal accountability: The proverb insists that an irascible person “must pay the penalty,” underscoring the link between character and consequence (compare Proverbs 14:17; Proverbs 22:24-25).
2. Futility of enabling: “If you rescue him, you will have to do so again.” Repeated bailing-out merely postpones—but never removes—the inevitable harvest of anger (Galatians 6:7-8).
3. Greatness of wrath: By intensifying “anger,” גָּרֹל highlights a settled disposition rather than a momentary flare. This depth of wrath contrasts sharply with God’s “slow to anger” nature (Exodus 34:6) and sets the stage for wisdom’s call to self-rule (Proverbs 16:32).

Historical and Cultural Insights

• Ancient Near-Eastern wisdom literature often treated anger as a destructive social force. Mesopotamian texts warn against alliances with hot-headed people, paralleling the biblical concern.
• In Hebrew manuscripts the letters ד (dalet) and ר (resh) are similar in shape; the spelling גָּרֹל likely reflects an early copying interchange. The prophetic authority of the text is not diminished, for both spellings convey the same sense, and the Masoretic tradition preserves the reading with precision marks.
• Rabbinic discussion (e.g., Mekhilta on Exodus 20) used Proverbs 19:19 to caution community leaders against repeatedly paying fines for violent offenders, foreshadowing later Christian reflections on church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17).

Theological Themes

1. Justice and Mercy: Scripture balances mercy with justice (Micah 6:8). The proverb warns that mercy detached from repentance breeds repeat offense.
2. Sanctification of Temperament: Believers are exhorted to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). The “great anger” man resists such sanctification, living contrary to the Spirit’s fruit of self-control (Galatians 5:23).
3. Divine Pattern: God’s greatness is displayed in His longsuffering (Psalm 145:8). Human “great anger” is thus a distortion of true greatness, pointing to our need for regeneration.

Practical Life and Ministry Applications

• Pastoral care: Shepherds must distinguish between compassionate help and enabling. Where chronic anger persists, loving confrontation and boundaries are acts of true grace.
• Discipleship: Memorizing Proverbs 19:19 equips believers to counsel those wrestling with temper issues, reminding them of natural consequences and the call to repentance.
• Family and civil governance: Parents and magistrates are cautioned not to shield habitual offenders indefinitely; otherwise society, like the individual, reaps repeated harm.

New Testament Resonance

Jesus warns that anger nurtures the seed of murder (Matthew 5:21-22). Paul likewise commands: “In your anger do not sin … do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27). These passages echo the wisdom of Proverbs 19:19—unchecked anger invites ongoing penalty.

Illustrative Reflection

Jonathan Edwards noted in his diary that a single unbridled passion entangles the soul in “many inevitable snares.” Proverbs 19:19 captures that insight in miniature: the larger the anger, the larger the cost, and the more often others will be tempted to step in vainly. The gospel offers deliverance not by constant rescue from consequences but by the inner transformation that turns “great wrath” into “great grace” (Acts 4:33).

Summary

Though גָּרֹל surfaces in only one verse, its witness is weighty: true greatness is incompatible with explosive temper; wisdom lets consequences teach; and lasting deliverance comes through heart change wrought by the Lord who is “abounding in steadfast love” rather than in wrath.

גְּֽדָל־ גדל־ חֵ֭מָה חמה Chemah gə·ḏāl- gəḏāl- gedol ḥê·māh ḥêmāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts