Original Word: גּאוּאֵל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Guw'el
Pronunciation: geh-oo-EL
Phonetic Spelling: (gheh-oo-ale')
KJV: Geuel
NASB: Geuel
Word Origin: [from H1342 (גָּאָה - highly exalted) and H410 (אֵל - God)]

1. majesty of God
2. Geuel, an Israelite

Geuel

From ga'ah and 'el; majesty of God; Geuel, an Israelite -- Geuel.

see HEBREW ga'ah

see HEBREW 'el

Word Origin
from gaah and el
Definition
"majesty of El," a Gadite spy
NASB Translation
Geuel (1).

גְּאוּאֵל proper name, masculine (majesty of El) the spy of the tribe of Gad Numbers 13:15.

Name Significance

Geuel means “Exaltation of God” or “Majesty of God,” a designation that implicitly calls its bearer to honor the Lord’s supremacy.

Biblical Occurrence

Geuel appears once in Scripture, in Numbers 13:15, as one of the twelve men Moses sent to spy out Canaan:

“from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Machi.” (Numbers 13:15)

Historical Setting

The mission of the spies took place in the second year after Israel’s exodus from Egypt, while the nation encamped in the Wilderness of Paran (Numbers 12:16; Numbers 13:1-3). The search party’s forty-day reconnaissance became a decisive event: ten spies returned with a faithless report that discouraged the people, while only Joshua and Caleb urged obedience (Numbers 14:6-10). Because Geuel is counted among the ten, his name stands within the tragic narrative that resulted in Israel’s forty years of wilderness wandering (Numbers 14:29-34).

Tribal Association

Geuel represented the tribe of Gad, a tribe noted for valor (Deuteronomy 33:20-21) and later renowned for its mighty warriors during David’s reign (1 Chronicles 12:8-15). Gad’s inheritance east of the Jordan (Joshua 13:24-28) placed the tribe on the frontier, where trust in God’s protection was essential. Geuel’s failure to encourage faith contrasts sharply with the tribe’s later record of courage, reminding readers that even strong communities can falter when individual leaders yield to fear.

Relation to the Mission of the Spies

1. Responsibility: As a tribal chief (Numbers 13:2-3), Geuel bore weighty influence over Gad’s destiny.
2. Report: Scripture does not record his words separately, yet he shared in the majority verdict that the land, though fruitful, could not be conquered (Numbers 13:31-33).
3. Consequence: His unbelief contributed to national rebellion, provoking divine judgment (Numbers 14:22-23). All the unfaithful spies died by plague (Numbers 14:36-37), and their generation perished in the desert.

Theological Reflections

• Leadership Accountability: Geuel’s example underscores James 3:1—greater responsibility brings stricter judgment.
• Faith versus Sight: Israel’s crisis shows that accurate observation without trust in God produces paralysis (Hebrews 3:16-19).
• Corporate Impact of Personal Sin: One leader’s unbelief can sway an entire tribe; conversely, one leader’s faith, as in Caleb, can inspire lasting blessing (Numbers 14:24).

Lessons for Ministry Today

1. Guard the Narrative: Church leaders shape congregational outlook; reporting challenges through a God-centered lens fosters courage.
2. Cultivate a Culture of Faith: Regular rehearsal of God’s past faithfulness counters the kind of fear Geuel succumbed to.
3. Finish Well: A promising name or heritage does not guarantee a faithful legacy; perseverance is vital (2 Timothy 4:7).

Cross References

Numbers 13; Numbers 14:1-38; Deuteronomy 1:22-40; Psalm 95:7-11; Hebrews 3:7-19.

גְּאוּאֵ֖ל גאואל gə’ū’êl gə·’ū·’êl geuElInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts