Lexical Summary
gadol: Great, large, important, mighty
Original Word:גָּדוֹל
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:gadowl
Pronunciation:gah-DOHL
Phonetic Spelling:(gaw-dole')
KJV: + aloud, elder(-est), + exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, X sore, (X ) very
NASB:great, large, loud, high, greater, greatest
Word Origin:[fromH1431 (גָּדַל - grew)]
1. great (in any sense)
2. (hence) older
3. also insolent
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
aloud, elder, exceedingly, far, man of great man, matter, thing, high,
Or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; fromgadal; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent -- + aloud, elder(-est), + exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, X sore, (X) very.
see HEBREWgadal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
gadalDefinitiongreat
NASB Translationall* (2), bigger (1), bitterly (1), bitterly* (3), deep (1), elder (3), exceedingly (2), extremely* (2), far more (1), Great (12), great (340), great man (2), great men (7), great one (1), great ones (1), great things (7), greater (18), greatest (9), greatly (3), greatness (1), hard (1), heavy (2), high (21), highest (1), impressed (1), large (30), larger (1), loud (22), loudly (1), main (1), major (1), many (1), marvelous (1), mighty (1), mighty and great (1), more* (1), much (1), nobles (1), old (1), older (8), oldest (3), prominent (1), rich (1), screamed* (1), severe (1), spacious (1), vast (1), very* (2), violently* (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
522 — Genesis 4:13 279t.;
Deuteronomy 26:8 22t.; construct
Ezekiel 17:3,7;
Jeremiah 32:19,
Proverbs 19:19,
Psalm 145:8;
Nahum 1:3; suffix
Jeremiah 6:13 2t.; plural
Exodus 7:4 11t.,
Genesis 12:17 22t.; construct
2 Kings 10:6; suffix
2 Kings 10:11;
Jonah 3:7; Nahum 3:10; feminine
Numbers 22:18 96t.;
Genesis 15:12 31t.; plural
Nehemiah 9:26;
Nehemiah 12:31,
Deuteronomy 27:2 30t.,
Numbers 13:28 7t.; —
great,
in magnitude and extent, e.g. seaNumbers 34:6, riverGenesis 15:18, wildernessDeuteronomy 1:19, rain1 Kings 18:45, mountainZechariah 4:7, cityGenesis 10:12, houseJeremiah 52:13, altarJoshua 22:10, throne 2Chronicles 9:17, sea-monstersGenesis 1:21, fishJonah 2:1, eagleEzekiel 17:3, terebinth2 Samuel 18:9, substanceGenesis 15:14, wealthDaniel 11:2, victory1 Samuel 19:5,22 read according to We Dr.
in number, e.g. nationGenesis 12:2, congregationJeremiah 31:8, camp1 Chronicles 12:22, armyEzekiel 17:17, sacrifice2 Kings 10:19, slaughterDeuteronomy 28:59;1 Samuel 4:17.
in intensity, fearDeuteronomy 4:34, weepingIsaiah 38:3, powerExodus 32:11, joyJonah 4:6, angerDeuteronomy 29:23, indignationJeremiah 21:5, sinGenesis 20:9, iniquityGenesis 4:13, evilGenesis 39:9, trespassEzekiel 9:7.
in sound, loud voiceGenesis 39:14, cryExodus 11:6, shoutJoshua 6:5.
in age, elder, eldest, sonGenesis 27:1, daughterGenesis 29:16, brotherGenesis 10:21, sisterEzekiel 16:46.
in importance,
thingsan important thing oraffairExodus 18:22;Deuteronomy 4:32;1 Samuel 12:16;2 Kings 5:12;2 Kings 8:13;Jeremiah 30:7;Hosea 2:2;Joel 2:11;Joel 3:4;Zephaniah 1:14;Malachi 3:23.
of men, great, distinguished, MosesExodus 11:3, David2 Samuel 5:10, JobJob 1:3, MordecaiEsther 9:4, kingsEcclesiastes 9:14;Jeremiah 27:7; especially of king of Assyr.2 Kings 18:19,28 =Isaiah 36:4,18, = Assyrianšarru rabbu, šarru dannu, e.g. KBi. 94, 1. 1;the h.p.Leviticus 21:10 20t.;1 Samuel 25:2;2 Samuel 19:33;2 Kings 5:1;2 Kings 4:8;a great man2 Samuel 3:38;Micah 7:3;thou shalt not honour (favour)the person of a great man (opposed to )Leviticus 19:15 (H);the great2 Samuel 7:9 =1 Chronicles 17:8;Nehemiah 11:14 (see below)Proverbs 18:16;Proverbs 25:6;Jeremiah 5:5 (2 Kings 10:11L , Klo ); further2 Kings 10:6;2 Kings 10:11;Jonah 3:7;Nahum 3:10.
of God, himself2Chron 2:4;Nehemiah 4:8;Nehemiah 8:6;Psalm 86:10;Psalm 99:2;Psalm 135:5;Psalm 147:5;Isaiah 12:6;Jeremiah 10:6;Deuteronomy 7:21;Deuteronomy 10:17;Nehemiah 1:5;Nehemiah 9:32;Psalm 77:14;Psalm 95:3;Jeremiah 32:18;Daniel 9:4;Exodus 18:11;1 Chronicles 16:25;Psalm 48:2;Psalm 96:4;Psalm 145:3;Psalm 47:3;Psalm 95:3;Malachi 1:14;his worksDeuteronomy 11:7;Judges 2:7;Psalm 111:2,gloryPsalm 21:6;Psalm 138:5,nameJoshua 7:9;1 Samuel 12:22;1 Kings 8:42; 2Chronicles 6:32;Psalm 76:2;Psalm 99:3;Jeremiah 10:6;Jeremiah 44:26;Ezekiel 36:23;Malachi 1:11 (twice in verse),mercy1 Kings 3:6; 2Chronicles 1:8;Psalm 57:11;Psalm 86:13;Psalm 108:5,goodnessNehemiah 9:25,compassionIsaiah 54:7.
it is yet high day (Frenchgrand jour, Germanhoch am Tage, the day is at its height)Genesis 29:7; (or reverse)as well small as greatDeuteronomy 1:17;1 Chronicles 25:8;1 Chronicles 26:13; 2Chronicles 31:15; (or reverse)from small to greatGenesis 19:11;1 Samuel 5:9;1 Samuel 30:2,19;2 Kings 23:2;2 Kings 25:26; 2Chronicles 15:13; 34:30;Esther 1:5,20;Jeremiah 6:13;Jeremiah 8:10;Jeremiah 31:34;Jeremiah 42:1,8;Jeremiah 44:12;Jonah 3:5.
constructgreat of wingsEzekiel 17:8,7, so of angerProverbs 19:19 (Qr); usually of God, in powerNahum 1:3, counselJeremiah 32:19, mercyPsalm 145:8.
as substantive concretedo great things, of God's great acts of redemption and judgementDeuteronomy 10:21;Job 5:9;Job 9:10;Job 37:5;Psalm 71:19;Psalm 106:21; of the miracles of Elisha2 Kings 8:4; of thingstoo great and so presumptuous, haughtyJeremiah 45:5; Psalm 12:4;Psalm 131:1 (compare Biblical AramaicDaniel 7:8,11,20; alsoRevelation 13:5).
as substantive neutergreatness of armExodus 15:16; compare
Topical Lexicon
Range of Meaningגָּדוֹל describes magnitude, intensity, importance, or seniority. It can speak of physical size, social rank, age (“elder”), loudness, emotional depth, or moral and spiritual weight.
Occurrences and Distribution
About 528 uses span every major section of the Hebrew canon—Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets—underscoring its theological breadth.
Physical Magnitude
•Genesis 1:16 records “two great lights”—sun and moon—announcing the Creator’s mastery over the cosmos.
•Genesis 7:18–19 speaks of “greatly” rising waters at the Flood, portraying judgment of cosmic proportion.
•Jonah 1:4 refers to a “great wind,” andJonah 3:3 to Nineveh as a “very large city,” emphasizing the scale of divine intervention and mercy.
Age and Seniority
•Genesis 10:21 calls Shem the “older brother” of Japheth.
•Genesis 27:1 designates Esau as the “older son.”
In covenant families, firstborn privilege anticipates Christ, “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15).
Social Status and Political Power
•Genesis 12:2—Abraham promised to become “a great nation.”
•1 Kings 10:23—“King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.”
•Esther 1:4—Persia’s king displayed “the greatness of his royal glory,” contrasting human pomp with God’s enduring kingship.
Divine Majesty
גָּדוֹל most often magnifies the LORD Himself:
•Deuteronomy 10:17 “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God.”
•2 Samuel 7:22 “How great You are, O Lord GOD! For there is none like You.”
•Psalm 145:3 “Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.”
Such texts anchor worship, establishing God’s supremacy as Creator, Redeemer, and Judge.
Great Deeds and Salvation History
•Exodus 14:31—Israel saw “the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians,” leading to covenant faith.
•Deuteronomy 4:34 reminds Israel of “great and awesome signs and wonders” in the Exodus.
•Nehemiah 9:31 celebrates “Your great compassion,” connecting past deliverance to post-exilic hope.
These acts foreshadow the greater salvation accomplished in Christ (Hebrews 2:3).
Greatness in Worship
The Psalms employ גָּדוֹל to fuel praise:
•Psalm 48:1 “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God.”
•Psalm 95:3 “For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.”
Corporate worship thus declares both His incomparable greatness and covenant loyalty.
Great Nations and Cities
•Deuteronomy 4:7–8 contrasts Israel’s nearness to God with the “great nation” motif of surrounding peoples.
•Jeremiah 22:8–9 foresees nations asking why the LORD dealt with Jerusalem “so great” a destruction, teaching that covenant privilege brings covenant accountability.
Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions
•Joel 2:11—“The day of the LORD is great; it is very dreadful—who can endure it?” pointing to final judgment.
•Malachi 1:11 foretells a day when “My name will be great among the nations,” anticipating universal worship fulfilled in the gospel.
The prophetic use of גָּדוֹל frames both imminent and ultimate divine intervention.
Moral and Emotional Intensity
•Genesis 27:34—Esau cried “with an exceedingly great and bitter cry,” showing depth of emotion.
•Ezekiel 9:4 distinguishes those who “sigh and groan over all the abominations,” linking greatness of sorrow to genuine repentance.
•Nahum 1:3 “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,” pairing moral patience with irresistible strength.
Pastoral and Ministry Applications
• Preach God’s incomparable greatness to foster reverence and confidence (Psalm 145:3).
• Call believers to become “great” through servanthood (compareMatthew 20:26), reflecting the Old Testament tension between human pride and divine honor.
• Use the Exodus pattern of “great deliverance” (1 Samuel 14:45) to assure congregations of God’s power to save today.
• Encourage corporate worship that exalts God’s “great name” (Malachi 1:11) and personal discipleship that pursues growth from “small” beginnings to “great” maturity (Psalm 71:21).
Summary
גָּדוֹל weaves a golden thread through Scripture, attributing ultimate greatness to the LORD while evaluating human pretensions, describing physical enormity, and inspiring worshipful awe. The term invites every generation to proclaim, “Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised.”
Forms and Transliterations
בִּגְדֹ֥ל בִּגְדֹל֖וֹת בַּגָּד֣וֹל בגדול בגדל בגדלות גְ֝דֹל֗וֹת גְ֭דֹלוֹת גְּ֝דֹלִ֗ים גְּ֭דֹלִים גְּד֤וֹל גְּד֥וֹל גְּדֹל֑וֹת גְּדֹל֔וֹת גְּדֹל֖וֹת גְּדֹל֗וֹת גְּדֹל֙ גְּדֹל֜וֹת גְּדֹל֣וֹת גְּדֹל֥וֹת גְּדֹל֧וֹת גְּדֹלִ֑ים גְּדֹלִ֖ים גְּדֹלִ֣ים גְּדֹלִ֥ים גְּדֹלִ֧ים גְּדֹלִ֨ים גְּדֹלִֽים׃ גְּדֹלִים֙ גְּדֹלֵ֥י גְּדֹלָ֖ה גְּדֹלָ֖יו גְּדֹלָ֣ה גְּדֹלָ֥ה גְּדֹלָֽה׃ גְּדֹלֹ֥ת גְּדֹלֹת֙ גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃ גְּדֹלוֹת֙ גְּדוֹלִ֑ים גְּדוֹלִ֖ים גְּדוֹלִ֜ים גְּדוֹלִֽים׃ גְּדוֹלֶ֖יהָ גְּדוֹלָ֑ה גְּדוֹלָ֔ה גְּדוֹלָ֔ם גְּדוֹלָ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֜ה גְּדוֹלָ֡ה גְּדוֹלָ֣ה גְּדוֹלָ֥ה גְּדוֹלָֽה׃ גְּדוֹלָה֙ גְּדוֹלָם֙ גְּדוֹלֹ֨ת גְּדוֹלֹֽת׃ גְדֹל֑וֹת גְדֹל֖וֹת גְדֹל֣וֹת גְדֹלִ֣ים גְדֹלִ֧ים גְדֹלָ֑ה גְדֹלָ֔ה גְדֹלָ֖ה גְדֹלָ֗ה גְדֹלָֽה׃ גְדֹלָה֙ גְדוֹלָ֑ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה גְדוֹלָ֗ה גְדוֹלָ֛ה גְדוֹלָ֞ה גְדוֹלָ֤ה גְדוֹלָֽה גְדוֹלָֽה־ גְדוֹלָֽה׃ גְדוֹלָה֙ גָ֘ד֤וֹל גָ֝ד֗וֹל גָ֤דוֹל גָּ֘ד֤וֹל גָּ֝ד֗וֹל גָּ֝דוֹל גָּ֠דוֹל גָּ֭דוֹל גָּד֑וֹל גָּד֔וֹל גָּד֖וֹל גָּד֗וֹל גָּד֛וֹל גָּד֜וֹל גָּד֣וֹל גָּד֤וֹל גָּד֥וֹל גָּד֨וֹל גָּדֹ֑ל גָּדֽוֹל׃ גָּדוֹל֒ גָּדוֹל֙ גָּדוֹל֮ גָד֑וֹל גָד֔וֹל גָד֖וֹל גָד֗וֹל גָד֛וֹל גָד֜וֹל גָד֣וֹל גָד֤וֹל גָד֥וֹל גָד֧וֹל גָד֨וֹל גָדֹ֣ל גָדֽוֹל׃ גדול גדול׃ גדולה גדולה־ גדולה׃ גדוליה גדולים גדולים׃ גדולם גדולת גדולת׃ גדל גדלה גדלה׃ גדלות גדלות׃ גדלי גדליו גדלים גדלים׃ גדלת הַגְּדֹל֖וֹת הַגְּדֹל֣וֹת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים הַגְּדֹלִ֔ים הַגְּדֹלִ֖ים הַגְּדֹלִ֣ים הַגְּדֹלִֽים׃ הַגְּדֹלִים֙ הַגְּדֹלָ֑ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַגְּדֹלָ֗ה הַגְּדֹלָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָֽה׃ הַגְּדֹלָה֙ הַגְּדֹלֹ֔ת הַגְּדֹלֹ֜ת הַגְּדֹלֹ֤ת הַגְּדֹלוֹת֙ הַגְּדוֹלִ֖ים הַגְּדוֹלִֽים׃ הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֔ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֗ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֛ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֣ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָֽה׃ הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ הַגָּ֤דוֹל הַגָּד֑וֹל הַגָּד֔וֹל הַגָּד֖וֹל הַגָּד֗וֹל הַגָּד֛וֹל הַגָּד֜וֹל הַגָּד֡וֹל הַגָּד֣וֹל הַגָּד֤וֹל הַגָּד֨וֹל הַגָּדֹ֑ל הַגָּדֹ֔ל הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַגָּדֹ֗ל הַגָּדֹ֣ל הַגָּדֹ֤ל הַגָּדֹל֙ הַגָּדֽוֹל׃ הַגָּדוֹל֙ הַגָּדוֹל֩ הגדול הגדול׃ הגדולה הגדולה׃ הגדולים הגדולים׃ הגדל הגדלה הגדלה׃ הגדלות הגדלים הגדלים׃ הגדלת וְ֭גָדוֹל וְגָד֑וֹל וְגָד֖וֹל וְגָד֗וֹל וְגָד֥וֹל וְגָדֽוֹל׃ וְגָדוֹל֙ וְהַגְּדוֹלָ֣ה וְהַגָּד֖וֹל וְהַגָּד֗וֹל וּגְדָל־ וּגְדֹלָ֖יו וּגְדוֹלָ֔ה וּגְדוֹלָ֥ה וגדול וגדול׃ וגדולה וגדל־ וגדליו והגדול והגדולה כַּגָּד֔וֹל כַּגָּד֖וֹל כַּגָּד֛וֹל כַּגָּדֹל֙ כֹּ֔חַ כגדול כגדל כח לְמִגָּ֧דוֹל לְמִגָּד֖וֹל למגדול מִגְּדוֹלָ֖ם מִגָּד֣וֹל מגדול מגדולם bag·gā·ḏō·wl baggaDol baggāḏōwl biḡ·ḏō·lō·wṯ biḡ·ḏōl bigDol biḡḏōl bigdoLot biḡḏōlōwṯ gā·ḏō·wl ḡā·ḏō·wl gā·ḏōl ḡā·ḏōl gaDol gāḏōl ḡāḏōl gāḏōwl ḡāḏōwl gə·ḏō·lāh ḡə·ḏō·lāh gə·ḏō·lāw gə·ḏō·lê gə·ḏō·lîm ḡə·ḏō·lîm gə·ḏō·lō·wṯ ḡə·ḏō·lō·wṯ gə·ḏō·lōṯ gə·ḏō·w·lāh ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh- gə·ḏō·w·lām gə·ḏō·w·le·hā gə·ḏō·w·lîm gə·ḏō·w·lōṯ gə·ḏō·wl gə·ḏōl geDol gəḏōl gedoLah gəḏōlāh ḡəḏōlāh gedoLam gedoLav gəḏōlāw gəḏōlê gedoLei gedoLeiha gedoLim gəḏōlîm ḡəḏōlîm gedoLot gəḏōlōṯ gəḏōlōwṯ ḡəḏōlōwṯ gəḏōwl gəḏōwlāh ḡəḏōwlāh ḡəḏōwlāh- gəḏōwlām gəḏōwlehā gəḏōwlîm gəḏōwlōṯ hag·gā·ḏō·wl hag·gā·ḏōl hag·gə·ḏō·lāh hag·gə·ḏō·lîm hag·gə·ḏō·lō·wṯ hag·gə·ḏō·lōṯ hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh hag·gə·ḏō·w·lîm haggaDol haggāḏōl haggāḏōwl haggedoLah haggəḏōlāh haggedoLim haggəḏōlîm haggedoLot haggəḏōlōṯ haggəḏōlōwṯ haggəḏōwlāh haggəḏōwlîm kag·gā·ḏō·wl kag·gā·ḏōl kaggaDol kaggāḏōl kaggāḏōwl kō·aḥ Koach kōaḥ lə·mig·gā·ḏō·wl lemigGadol ləmiggāḏōwl mig·gā·ḏō·wl mig·gə·ḏō·w·lām miggaDol miggāḏōwl miggedoLam miggəḏōwlām ū·ḡə·ḏāl- ū·ḡə·ḏō·lāw ū·ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh ūḡəḏāl- ugedol ugedoLah ugedoLav ūḡəḏōlāw ūḡəḏōwlāh vegaDol vehaggaDol vehaggedoLah wə·ḡā·ḏō·wl wə·hag·gā·ḏō·wl wə·hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh wəḡāḏōwl wəhaggāḏōwl wəhaggəḏōwlāh
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