Original Word: גִּדַּלְתִּי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Giddaltiy
Pronunciation: gid-DAL-tee
Phonetic Spelling: (ghid-dal'-tee)
KJV: Giddalti
NASB: Giddalti
Word Origin: [from H1431 (גָּדַל - grew)]

1. I have made great
2. Giddalti, an Israelite

Giddalti

From gadal; I have made great; Giddalti, an Israelite -- Giddalti.

see HEBREW gadal

Word Origin
from gadal
Definition
"I magnify (God)," an Isr.
NASB Translation
Giddalti (2).

גִּדַּ֫לְתִּי proper name, masculine (I magnify (God)) son of Heman 1 Chronicles 25:4 (compare on this remarkable list of names Ew^{§ 274 b} We RS^{OTJC 422; 2nd ed. 143}) 1 Chronicles 25:29.

Place within the Davidic Worship Structure

Giddalti appears only in the roster of Temple musicians compiled by King David (1 Chronicles 25:4, 29). He is one of the fourteen sons of Heman, “the king’s seer in matters of God” (1 Chronicles 25:5). The list is not a mere census; it sets in place twenty-four rotating courses for continual praise in the sanctuary. Giddalti is associated with the twenty-second lot, meaning that every twenty-two weeks in the sacred calendar his family led the liturgy for an entire week, with twelve skilled musicians under him (1 Chronicles 25:29). Thus, although his name appears only twice, his ministry echoed through Israel’s annual cycle of worship.

Prophetic Music Ministry

The chronicler says the sons of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman “prophesied with lyres, harps, and cymbals” (1 Chronicles 25:1). In this setting prophecy is not limited to predictive speech; it is Spirit-empowered declaration of the greatness of God through music. As part of Heman’s line, Giddalti would have stood before the congregation proclaiming truth in song, reinforcing theology and shaping the spiritual atmosphere of Israel’s worship.

The Theology of Magnification

The verbal root behind Giddalti is used elsewhere for “magnifying” the Lord, as in “Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3). By bearing a name that testifies to divine greatness, Giddalti’s very identity aligns with the purpose of Temple worship—to make much of God. His presence in the roster underscores that Israel’s liturgy was designed to keep the focus on the LORD’s majesty rather than on the performers.

Family Legacy and Generational Continuity

Heman’s fourteen sons and three daughters (1 Chronicles 25:5) illustrate a household devoted to ministry. Their names, including Giddalti, form a chain of testimony. The chronicler’s deliberate preservation of these details highlights the importance of cultivating worshipers across generations. Giddalti’s assignment in the twenty-second course ensured that his descendants would remain visible participants in the national worship life long after David’s reign.

Connection to Revelation Worship Imagery

The twenty-four courses of musicians correspond to the pattern of priestly divisions (1 Chronicles 24) and prefigure the twenty-four elders around the heavenly throne (Revelation 4:4). Giddalti’s role therefore fits into a larger biblical motif: ordered praise offered continually before God. His lot as the twenty-second leader contributes to a complete circle of praise that anticipates eternal worship.

Lessons for Contemporary Ministry

1. Scheduled, Spirit-led worship guards against neglect of praise.
2. Musical prophecy remains a valid and powerful means of declaring God’s greatness.
3. Families can and should be nurtured into multigenerational service.
4. Every individual, though briefly mentioned, holds a vital place in the larger tapestry of God’s redemptive plan.

Giddalti’s two brief mentions remind readers that faithful service, however hidden in the text, resonates in the ongoing symphony of God’s glorification.

גִדַּ֙לְתִּי֙ גדלתי לְגִדַּ֔לְתִּי לגדלתי ḡid·dal·tî gidDalti ḡiddaltî lə·ḡid·dal·tî legidDalti ləḡiddaltîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts