Lexical Summary
gaal: Redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, ransom, deliver
Original Word:גָּאַל
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:ga'al
Pronunciation:gah-ahl
Phonetic Spelling:(gaw-al')
KJV: X in any wise, X at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk(-man), purchase, ransom, redeem(-er), revenger
NASB:redeemed, redeem, Redeemer, avenger, close relative, closest relative, ever wish to redeem
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship)
2. to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)
3. kinsman redeemer
4. (in justice) avenger
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
in any wise, at all, avenger, deliver, next kinsfolk, purchase,
A primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), i.e. To be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.) -- X in any wise, X at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk(-man), purchase, ransom, redeem(-er), revenger.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto redeem, act as kinsman
NASB Translationavenger (13), bought back (1), buy back (1), claim (1), close relative (3), closest relative (3), closest relatives (1), ever wish to redeem (2), kinsman (2), redeem (22), redeemed (25), redeemer (1), Redeemer (18), redeems (1), relative (2), relatives (1), rescue (1), wishes to redeem (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (Late Hebrew, Niph`al
be redeemed; also , ) —
Perfect , etc.Isaiah 44:23 14t.;Imperfect , etc.Leviticus 25:33 18t.;Imperative , etc.Ruth 4:6 3t.;Infinitive absoluteLeviticus 27:13 2t.; constructRuth 4:4 2t.; suffixRuth 3:13;ParticipleLeviticus 25:26 24t.,Isaiah 59:20;Psalm 103:4; suffixIsaiah 48:17,Isaiah 54:8 (suffix 19 t.); passive plural , etc.Isaiah 35:9 4t.; —
act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin (chiefly in D H P Ruth),kinsmanLeviticus 25:25 (H)Numbers 5:8;Numbers 35:12 (P)Ruth 2:20;Ruth 3:9,12;Ruth 4:1,3,6,8,14;1 Kings 16:11.
if he will do thee the kinsman's part (raise up children by the widow)well, let him do the kinsman's part; but if he is not pleased to do thee the kinsman's part then I will do thee the kinsman's partRuth 3:13;
Leviticus 25:48,49 (H);
Leviticus 25:26,33 (H)Ruth 4:4,6;
Job 3:5;
the avenger of bloodNumbers 35:19,21,24,25,27 (twice in verse);Joshua 20:3,5 (?; not in )Joshua 20:9 (P).Deuteronomy 19:6,12 (D)2 Samuel 14:11.
redeem, by payment of value assessed, of consecrated things, by the original ownerLeviticus 27:13,15,19,20,31 (P).
redeem, with God as subject implying personal relationship, chiefly in poetry: —
, from deathPsalm 103:4;Lamentations 3:58;Hosea 13:14,Genesis 48:16 (E poetry),Psalm 69:19;Psalm 72:14, orphansProverbs 23:11;Jeremiah 50:34,Psalm 119:154,Job 19:25,Psalm 19:15.
Exodus 6:6 (P?)Exodus 15:13 (song)Psalm 74:2;Psalm 77:16;Psalm 78:35,Psalm 106:10.
(chiefly Isa3, the verb not in Isa1)Isaiah 43:1;Isaiah 44:22,23;Isaiah 48:20;Isaiah 52:9;Isaiah 63:9;Micah 4:10,Psalm 107:2;Jeremiah 31:11; Yahweh isIsaiah 41:14;Isaiah 43:14;Isaiah 44:6,24;Isaiah 47:4;Isaiah 48:17;Isaiah 49:7,26;Isaiah 54:5,8;Isaiah 59:20;Isaiah 60:16;Isaiah 63:16; and the peopleIsaiah 35:9;Isaiah 51:10;Isaiah 62:12;Isaiah 63:4 (compare below),Psalm 107:2.
PerfectLeviticus 25:49;ImperfectLeviticus 25:30 5t.;Isaiah 52:3; —
reflexiveredeem oneselfLeviticus 25:49 (H).
.be redeemed,
Leviticus 25:30 (H), slaveLeviticus 25:54 (H);
Leviticus 27:20,27,28,33 (P);
Isaiah 52:3.
Isaiah 63:4, in ,
redemption, according to Ges Hi De MV Che Di RVm; then either plural abstract suffixyear of (my)redemption (so most); or abstract form. in , after Syriac analogy, LagSymm. ii. 101 f. Semitic i. 19, 68. BN 192 ( omitmy); but < Passive participle plural suffixmy ransomed (released)ones Ew Br Brd AV RV compare below above.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewGaʾal appears about 105 times and consistently unites three spheres—family duty, legal justice, and divine salvation—into one redemptive theme. Whether the subject is a human kinsman or the LORD Himself, the verb always moves toward release from loss, debt, slavery, or death and toward restored wholeness inside the covenant community.
Family and Land Redemption
Leviticus anchors the duty of the gōʾēl (kinsman-redeemer).
•Leviticus 25:25: “If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, his nearest redeemer is to come and redeem what his brother has sold.”
•Leviticus 25:48-49 provides the same privilege for an Israelite sold into slavery.
Ruth illustrates the beauty of the statute: Boaz tells Ruth, “…there is a redeemer closer than I” (Ruth 3:12). The climactic transaction at the gate (Ruth 4:1-10) safeguards family name, inheritance, and posterity, modeling covenant faithfulness in daily life.
Blood Avenger and Justice
When life is taken, gaʾal obligates the nearest relative to seek just recompense.
•Numbers 35:19: “The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death.”
•Deuteronomy 19:6 protects the manslayer by cities of refuge until a proper trial.
By linking redemption to retributive justice, Scripture upholds both mercy (provision of refuge) and equity (life for life), anticipating the necessity of atonement for homicide not covered by human courts (Numbers 35:33-34).
Redemption from Bondage
God applies the root to Himself in the Exodus.
•Exodus 6:6: “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.”
The pattern continues whenever Israel faces captivity. Isaiah layers past grace onto future hope:
•Isaiah 44:22-23: “I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud…Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
Thus gaʾal moves Israel’s history from Egypt to Babylon and beyond, proving that no geopolitical power can nullify God’s covenant claim.
Covenant Faithfulness and Divine Compassion
The Psalms personalize the redemption motif:
•Psalm 19:14: “O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
•Psalm 34:22: “The LORD redeems His servants; none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”
Here the Redeemer is not merely a distant rescuer but an intimate protector who guarantees the worshiper’s security and vindication.
Messianic Hope
Job 19:25 bursts through suffering with a prophetic certainty: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.”Isaiah 59:20 names the coming Deliverer: “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression.” The singular person behind gaʾal in these texts points forward to the incarnate Son, “who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness” (Titus 2:14) and “redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13).
National Restoration
Jeremiah accords with Isaiah: “Their Redeemer is strong; He will vigorously plead their case” (Jeremiah 50:34).Lamentations 3:58, voiced amid ruin, clings to the same certainty: “You defended my cause, O Lord; You redeemed my life.” Post-exilic communities could rebuild walls and temple because the unseen Redeemer had already ransomed them from exile (Nehemiah 1:10).
Usage in Worship and Lament
Psalms and Lamentations repeatedly adopt gaʾal as urgent prayer. The worshiper cries, “Redeem me from human oppression” (Psalm 119:134) or “Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles” (Psalm 25:22). Corporate lament thus becomes an act of faith that the historical Redeemer still acts in the present.
Legal and Social Implications
1. Property rights: gaʾal guards ancestral allotments, preventing permanent alienation of land (Leviticus 25:23-28).
2. Social safety net: slavery due to poverty is temporary, not permanent (Leviticus 25:47-55).
3. Judicial balance: the blood-avenger system affirms both due process and the sanctity of life (Numbers 35).
4. Ethical economy:Proverbs 23:10-11 warns against moving ancient boundaries because “their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.”
Fulfillment and Continuing Ministry Significance
The New Testament explicitly identifies Jesus Christ as the ultimate gōʾēl. By purchasing believers “not with perishable things such as silver or gold…but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19), He satisfies every aspect of the Old Testament pattern—family solidarity (Hebrews 2:11-15), ransom from slavery (Romans 6:17-18), restitution of inheritance (Ephesians 1:7,14), and avenging justice (Revelation 6:10; 19:2).
Pastoral ministry today proclaims that the same Redeemer still liberates the captive, restores the estranged, and will finally avenge all wrongs. The biblical tapestry woven by gaʾal assures the church that redemption is not a mere metaphor but a legal, relational, and cosmic reality secured by the character of God Himself and manifested in Christ Jesus.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶגְאָֽל׃ אֶגְאָלֵ֑ם אגאל׃ אגאלם גְּ֝אָלָ֗ם גְּאַל־ גְּאָ֔ל גְּאוּלִֽים׃ גְּאוּלֵ֣י גְּאוּלַ֖י גְאַלְתִּ֔יךָ גְאַלְתִּֽיךָ׃ גְאָלָ֑הּ גְאָלָ֑ם גָּ֭אַלְתָּ גָּאַ֖ל גָּאַ֣לְתָּ גָּאַ֥ל גָּאַ֥לְתָּ גָּאָ֑לְתָּ גָּאֹ֖ל גָּאֹ֤ל גָּאֹ֥ל גָאַ֤ל גֹּ֣אֲלִי גֹּאֲלֵ֕נוּ גֹּאֲלֵ֖ךְ גֹּאֲלֵ֥נוּ גֹּאֲלֶ֔ךָ גֹּאֲלָ֣ם ׀ גֹּאֲלָֽם׃ גֹּאֵ֑ל גֹּאֵ֖ל גֹּאֵ֗ל גֹּאֵ֣ל גֹּאֵ֤ל גֹּאֵ֥ל גֹּאֵ֨ל גֹּאַלְךָ֖ גֹּאַלְכֶ֖ם גֹֽאֲלוֹ֙ גֹאֲלָ֥ם גֹאֵ֖ל גּוֹאֵ֔ל גאולי גאולים׃ גאל גאל־ גאלה גאלו גאלי גאלך גאלכם גאלם גאלם׃ גאלנו גאלת גאלתיך גאלתיך׃ גואל הַגֹּאֵ֗ל הַגֹּאֵ֛ל הַגֹּאֵ֤ל הַגֹּאֵ֨ל הַגּוֹאֵ֣ל הגאל הגואל וְגָאַ֕ל וְגָאַלְתִּ֤י וְגֹֽאֲלֵךְ֙ וְגֹאֲל֖וֹ וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃ וְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְ וְגֹאֲלָ֖יו וְנִגְאָֽל׃ וַ֝יִּגְאָלֵ֗ם וּגְאַלְתִּ֥יךְ וּגְאָל֕וֹ וּגְאָלֵ֑נִי וגאל וגאלו וגאלי׃ וגאליו וגאלך וגאלני וגאלתי וגאלתיך ויגאלם ונגאל׃ יִגְאַ֖ל יִגְאַ֛ל יִגְאַ֜ל יִגְאַ֣ל יִגְאַל֙ יִגְאָ֔ל יִגְאָלֵ֣ךְ יִגְאָלֵ֥ךְ יִגְאָלֶ֑נָּה יִגְאָלֶ֑נּוּ יִגְאָלֶ֔נּוּ יִגְאָלֶֽנּוּ׃ יִגְאָלֻ֡הוּ יִגָּאֵ֑ל יִגָּאֵ֖ל יִגָּאֵ֗ל יִגָּאֵֽל׃ יגאל יגאל׃ יגאלהו יגאלך יגאלנה יגאלנו יגאלנו׃ לְגָֽאֳלֵ֛ךְ לִגְא֔וֹל לִגְאָל־ לִגְאֹֽל׃ לַגֹּאֵ֔ל לגאול לגאל לגאל־ לגאל׃ לגאלך מִֽגֹּאֲלֵ֖נוּ מִגֹּאֵ֑ל מִגֹּאֵ֖ל מגאל מגאלנו ק תִּגְאַל֙ תִּגָּאֵֽלוּ׃ תגאל תגאלו׃ ’eḡ’āl ’eḡ’ālêm ’eḡ·’ā·lêm ’eḡ·’āl egAl egaLem gā’al ḡā’al gā’ālətā gā’altā gā’ōl gā·’ā·lə·tā gā·’al ḡā·’al gā·’al·tā gā·’ōl gaAl gaAleta Gaalta gaOl gə’āl gə’al- ḡə’ālāh gə’ālām ḡə’ālām ḡə’altîḵā gə’ūlay gə’ūlê gə’ūlîm ḡə·’ā·lāh gə·’ā·lām ḡə·’ā·lām gə·’āl gə·’al- ḡə·’al·tî·ḵā gə·’ū·lay gə·’ū·lê gə·’ū·lîm geAl geaLah geaLam gealTicha geuLai geuLei geuLim gō’ălām ḡō’ălām gō’ălêḵ gō’ăleḵā gō’ălênū gō’ălî gō’alḵā gō’alḵem ḡō’ălōw gō’êl ḡō’êl gō·’ă·lām ḡō·’ă·lām gō·’ă·le·ḵā gō·’ă·lê·nū gō·’ă·lêḵ gō·’ă·lî ḡō·’ă·lōw gō·’al·ḵā gō·’al·ḵem gō·’êl ḡō·’êl gō·w·’êl goaLam goalCha goalChem goaLech goaLecha goaLenu Goali goaLo goEl gōw’êl hag·gō·’êl hag·gō·w·’êl haggō’êl haggoEl haggōw’êl k lag·gō·’êl laggō’êl laggoEl lə·ḡā·’o·lêḵ ləḡā’olêḵ legooLech liḡ’āl- liḡ’ōl liḡ’ōwl liḡ·’āl- liḡ·’ō·wl liḡ·’ōl ligol mig·gō·’ă·lê·nū mig·gō·’êl miggō’ălênū miggō’êl miggoaLenu miggoEl q tiḡ’al tiḡ·’al tig·gā·’ê·lū tigAl tiggā’êlū tiggaElu ū·ḡə·’ā·lê·nî ū·ḡə·’ā·lōw ū·ḡə·’al·tîḵ ūḡə’ālênî ūḡə’ālōw ūḡə’altîḵ ugeaLeni ugeaLo ugealTich vaiyigaLem vegaAl vegaalTi vegoaLav vegoaLech vegoaLi vegoaLo venigAl way·yiḡ·’ā·lêm wayyiḡ’ālêm wə·ḡā·’al wə·ḡā·’al·tî wə·ḡō·’ă·lāw wə·ḡō·’ă·lêḵ wə·ḡō·’ă·lî wə·ḡō·’ă·lōw wə·niḡ·’āl wəḡā’al wəḡā’altî wəḡō’ălāw wəḡō’ălêḵ wəḡō’ălî wəḡō’ălōw wəniḡ’āl yiḡ’al yiḡ’āl yiḡ’ālêḵ yiḡ’ālennāh yiḡ’ālennū yiḡ’āluhū yiḡ·’ā·lêḵ yiḡ·’ā·len·nāh yiḡ·’ā·len·nū yiḡ·’ā·lu·hū yiḡ·’al yiḡ·’āl yig·gā·’êl yigAl yigaLech yigaLennah yigaLennu yigaLuhu yiggā’êl yiggaEl
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