Original Word: גֹּדֶל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: godel
Pronunciation: GO-del
Phonetic Spelling: (go'-del)
KJV: greatness, stout(-ness)
NASB: greatness, arrogance, arrogant
Word Origin: [from H1431 (גָּדַל - grew)]

1. magnitude (literally or figuratively)

greatness, stoutness

From gadal; magnitude (literally or figuratively) -- greatness, stout(-ness).

see HEBREW gadal

Word Origin
from gadal
Definition
greatness
NASB Translation
arrogance (1), arrogant (1), greatness (11).

גֹּ֫דֶל noun masculine greatness — Deuteronomy 32:3 5t.; suffix גָּדְלוֺ Deuteronomy 5:21 5t.; גֻּדְלוֺ Psalm 150:2; —

1 greatness, magnitude, tree Ezekiel 31:7, arm of God Psalm 79:11; גְּדֹל Exodus 15:16, mercy of God Numbers 14:19.

2 magnificence,

a. king Ezekiel 31:2,18;

b. God Deuteronomy 3:24; Deuteronomy 5:21; Deuteronomy 9:26; Deuteronomy 11:2; Deuteronomy 32:3; Psalm 150:2.

3 in a bad sense, גֹּדֶל לֵבָב = pride, insolence of heart Isaiah 9:8; Isaiah 10:12.

Range of Biblical Usage

גֹּדֶל appears thirteen times, describing either (1) the incomparable magnitude of God’s person and works or (2) the self-exalting pride of human beings and nations. The word therefore functions as a literary fulcrum, exalting the LORD while exposing the futility of creaturely arrogance.

Divine Greatness in the Pentateuch

Moses repeatedly anchors Israel’s faith in the “greatness” of their Redeemer. In Deuteronomy 3:24 he confesses, “O Lord GOD, You have only begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like Yours?” Moses links this greatness to the Exodus (Deuteronomy 9:26) and to covenant discipline (Deuteronomy 11:2). The Song of Moses culminates the Torah’s theology of גֹּדֶל: “Ascribe greatness to our God!” (Deuteronomy 32:3). In each case, the word summons the nation to acknowledge the LORD’s supremacy as the basis for obedience.

Greatness as Motive for Intercession

Numbers 14:19 sets a pattern for prayer that appeals to divine magnitude: “Please pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your loving devotion.” Moses’ plea models how God’s own greatness—especially the greatness of His steadfast love—forms the sure ground for forgiveness and continued covenant fellowship.

The Call to Worship

The final psalm explodes with praise rooted in גֹּדֶל: “Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him for His excellent greatness” (Psalm 150:2). The Psalter thus climaxes by directing all creation to celebrate the very attribute that secured Israel’s deliverance. In liturgical settings the term invites believers to move from remembrance of mighty deeds to adoration of the God who performs them.

Greatness Invoked in Lament

When the psalmist grieves over Jerusalem’s devastation he appeals to the same greatness for rescue: “May the groans of the prisoners reach You; by the strength of Your arm preserve those condemned to death” (Psalm 79:11). The word encourages sufferers to trust that the LORD’s magnitude is sufficient to overturn the most desperate circumstances.

Human Greatness and Pride in the Prophets

Isaiah turns גֹּדֶל against Israel’s northern kingdom, exposing self-exalting confidence: they speak “in pride and arrogance of heart” (Isaiah 9:9). The prophet then warns Assyria: “I will punish the fruit of the king of Assyria’s proud heart” (Isaiah 10:12). Ezekiel 31 employs the cedar parable to mock Pharaoh’s self-comparison: “Who can be compared to your greatness?” (verse 2). The same chapter records the cedar’s beauty “in its greatness” (verse 7) and its inevitable humiliation (verse 18). Thus, whenever greatness is claimed apart from the LORD, it becomes grounds for judgment.

Illustrative Imagery of Nations

Ezekiel’s cedar of Lebanon stands “beautiful in its greatness,” yet its downfall proves that human or imperial magnitude is transient. God alone determines the rise and fall of empires, and their vaunted greatness serves only to magnify His sovereignty when He brings them low.

Theological Trajectory

Throughout Scripture, true greatness belongs exclusively to God. When people acknowledge this, the result is worship, obedience, and deliverance; when they usurp it, the result is downfall. The word therefore bridges doxology and moral exhortation: the greatness we admire in God must foster humility in us.

Practical and Ministry Applications

• Worship: Structure corporate praise around recounting the LORD’s mighty deeds and “excellent greatness” (Psalm 150:2).
• Prayer: Follow Moses’ model by appealing to divine greatness as the basis for pleas of pardon and intervention (Numbers 14:19).
• Discipleship: Teach believers that recognizing God’s greatness cultivates holy fear and loving obedience (Deuteronomy 11:2).
• Pastoral Care: In lament, direct sufferers to the “strength of His arm” (Psalm 79:11), assuring them that His greatness prevails over affliction.
• Preaching: Warn against the pride denounced in Isaiah and Ezekiel; contrast the fleeting greatness of nations with the eternal greatness of God.

In every context גֹּדֶל draws a straight line from the LORD’s incomparable majesty to the believer’s posture of humble trust and wholehearted praise.

בְּגָדְל֔וֹ בְּגָדְלֶ֑ךָ בְגָדְלֶֽךָ׃ בגדלו בגדלך בגדלך׃ גָּדְל֔וֹ גָּדְל֕וֹ גָּדְלְךָ֔ גֹ֖דֶל גֹ֙דֶל֙ גֻּדְלֽוֹ׃ גדל גדלו גדלו׃ גדלך וּבְגֹ֖דֶל וּבְגֹ֥דֶל ובגדל כְּגֹ֣דֶל כְּגֹ֥דֶל כגדל bə·ḡā·ḏə·le·ḵā ḇə·ḡā·ḏə·le·ḵā bə·ḡā·ḏə·lōw begadeLecha bəḡāḏəleḵā ḇəḡāḏəleḵā begadeLo bəḡāḏəlōw gā·ḏə·lə·ḵā gā·ḏə·lōw gadeleCha gāḏələḵā gadeLo gāḏəlōw ḡō·ḏel Godel ḡōḏel guḏ·lōw gudLo guḏlōw kə·ḡō·ḏel keGodel kəḡōḏel ū·ḇə·ḡō·ḏel ūḇəḡōḏel uveGodel vegadeLechaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts