Lexical Summary
gadal: To grow, become great, magnify, promote
Original Word:גָּדַל
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:gadal
Pronunciation:gah-DAHL
Phonetic Spelling:(gaw-dal')
KJV: advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come toestate, + things), grow(up),increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower
NASB:grew, magnified, great, magnify, great things, grown, become arrogant
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to twist
2. to be large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
3. (causatively) to make large (in various senses)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, become, do, give,
A primitive root; properly, to twist (comparegdil), i.e. To be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride) -- advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to...estate, + things), grow(up),increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower.
see HEBREWgdil
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto grow up, become great
NASB Translationadvanced (1), arrogantly (1), became great (1), became greater (2), became rich (1), became tall (1), became...wealthy (1), become arrogant (4), become great (1), become rich (1), become so great (1), bigger (1), boast* (1), bring (1), brought (1), educated (1), enlarged (1), exalt (2), exalted (4), great (10), great things (5), great things he has done (1), greater (4), grew (15), grew...great (1), grow (2), grow long (1), grown (5), grown-up (1), grows (1), highly valued (2), increase (1), lifted (1), magnificent (1), magnified (15), magnify (9), make his greater (1), make the great (2), make your great (1), make great (1), makes it grow (1), more (1), promoted (1), reared (3), rearing (1), spoken* (1), vaunt (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
115 (Aramaic (Ithpe`el),
twist, twine, Arabic
twist a cord, make firm, strong, become strong, so Late Hebrew) —
Perfect etc.Genesis 38:14 14t.; suffixJob 31:18;Imperfect etc.Psalm 35:27 34t.; —
grow up,
Genesis 21:8,20;Genesis 25:27;Genesis 38:11,14;Exodus 2:10,11 (JE)Judges 11:2;Judges 13:24;Ruth 1:12;1 Samuel 2:21;1 Samuel 3:19;1 Kings 12:8,10 ( = 2 Chronicles 10:8,10)2 Kings 4:18;he grew up to me as to a fatherJob 31:18;
2 Samuel 12:3.
become great,
Genesis 26:13 (twice in verse);Genesis 41:40 (JE)Jeremiah 5:27;
. ,prized by1 Samuel 26:24 (twice in verse);
Job 2:13, mourningZechariah 12:11, punishmentLamentations 4:6, trespassEzekiel 9:6;
Genesis 19:13 (J);
Ecclesiastes 2:9;1 Kings 10:23 ( = 2 Chronicles 9:22)Daniel 8:9,10 (under figure of horn), chiefGenesis 24:35;Genesis 48:19 (J), MessiahMicah 5:3, JerusalemEzekiel 16:7;
2 Samuel 7:22;Psalm 104:1, his worksPsalm 92:6, his powerNumbers 14:17 (J).
to be magnified,
Zechariah 12:7;
Psalm 35:27;Psalm 40:17;Psalm 70:5;Malachi 1:5, his name2 Samuel 7:26 ( =1 Chronicles 17:24).
PerfectJoshua 4:14;Esther 3:1;Isaiah 49:21;Isaiah 51:18, etc.;ImperfectIsaiah 44:14 8t.;ImperativePsalm 34:4;InfinitiveNumbers 6:5 3t.;Participle2 Kings 10:6 (Songs 5:15 Hi Bö De); —
cause to grow, e.g. hairNumbers 6:5 (P), plantsJonah 4:10;Isaiah 44:14;Ezekiel 31:4;Songs 5:13;bring up children2 Kings 10:6;Isaiah 1:2;Isaiah 23:4;Isaiah 49:21;Isaiah 51:18;Daniel 1:5;Hosea 9:12.
make great, powerfulGenesis 12:2 (J)Joshua 3:7;Joshua 4:14 (D)1 Kings 1:37,47;1 Chronicles 29:12,25; 2Chronicles 1:1;Esther 3:1;Esther 5:11;Esther 10:2.
magnify,
Job 7:17;
Psalm 34:4;Psalm 69:31.
Participle pluralbrought upPsalm 144:12.
PerfectPsalm 41:10 +, etc.;ImperfectIsaiah 42:21;Daniel 8:25, etc.;Infinitive1 Chronicles 22:8;Amos 8:5;ParticiplePsalm 18:51 ( = in ""2 Samuel 22:51); pluralPsalm 35:26; —
make great, e.g. shekelAmos 8:5, pile for fireEzekiel 24:9, joyIsaiah 9:2, counselIsaiah 28:29, wisdomEcclesiastes 1:16, worksEcclesiastes 2:4, house of Yahweh1 Chronicles 22:5; the heelPsalm 41:10 eitherlifted high (Ges), or (compare De Now)gave me insidiously a great fall; compare Obadiah 12 i.e. utter proud words (see Hiph`il)
magnify, salvationPsalm 18:51, so ""2 Samuel 22:51 (Kt ; > Qr ), mercyGenesis 19:19 (J), teachingIsaiah 42:21, the word of YahwehPsalm 138:2.
do great things ,
, of GodPsalm 126:2;Psalm 126:3;Joel 2:21, also pregnant without Infinitive1 Samuel 12:24.
, of 'the northern one'Joel 2:20, also pregnant without InfinitiveLamentations 1:9;Zephaniah 2:8,10;Daniel 8:4,8,11,25; with , of enemiesPsalm 35:26;Psalm 38:17;Psalm 55:13;Job 19:5;Jeremiah 48:26,42;Ezekiel 35:13 of speaking .
also, with Infinitive implied, wept greatly1 Samuel 20:41.
PerfectEzekiel 38:23I will magnify myself, shew myself great and powerful (of God);Imperfect , with in a bad sense,magnify oneself againstIsaiah 10:15;Daniel 11:36;Daniel 11:37.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe root גָּדַל (gadal) threads through the Old Testament as a vibrant verb of enlargement—physical, social, and spiritual. It portrays growing children, swelling nations, promoted leaders, boasting rebels, and, pre-eminently, the incomparable greatness of the LORD who both bestows and embodies true greatness.
Physical growth and maturation
•Genesis 21:8, 21:20; 26:13; 38:11;Exodus 2:10–11;1 Samuel 2:21;1 Kings 11:23.
Gadal is the ordinary verb for children “growing up.” In the patriarchal narratives it charts the maturation of Isaac, Ishmael, and Moses; Hannah’s Samuel “grew before the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:21). The same term measures incremental prosperity—“The man became rich and continued to prosper until he became very wealthy” (Genesis 26:13).
Numerical enlargement of people and nations
•Genesis 24:35; 48:19;Deuteronomy 26:5;Psalm 105:24;Isaiah 9:3.
Yahweh multiplies both Israel and individuals. Jacob recounts how the LORD made him “into a nation, great, mighty, and numerous” (Deuteronomy 26:5).Psalm 105:24 celebrates the same: “He made His people very fruitful and stronger than their foes.” The word marks covenant faithfulness in fulfilling the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2).
Divine promotion of leaders
•1 Samuel 12:6;2 Samuel 7:9;1 Chronicles 29:25;2 Chronicles 1:1;Esther 3:1;Daniel 1:19–20.
Gadal records God’s sovereign advance of servants into positions of influence. David reflects, “For the sake of Your people You have made a name for Yourself and performed great and awesome wonders” (2 Samuel 7:23). Solomon’s ascension climaxes with the note, “The LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great” (2 Chronicles 1:1).
Human ambition and pride
•Jeremiah 45:5;Obadiah 1:12;Habakkuk 2:5;Psalm 55:12.
The root also exposes self-exaltation. Baruch is warned, “Are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them” (Jeremiah 45:5). Edom “rejoiced over the day of his brother” and “made your mouth great against me” (Obadiah 1:12). Thus gadal may describe both healthy growth and carnal aggrandizement.
The call to magnify the LORD
•Psalm 34:3; 35:27; 40:16; 69:30; 70:4; 104:1.
The Psalms convert gadal into an imperative of worship: “Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3). Thanksgiving is itself a way of enlarging God’s reputation among the peoples (Psalm 69:30). The verb invites every generation to expand their view of God’s glory.
Divine self-magnification in judgment and salvation
•Exodus 9:17;Numbers 14:17;Ezekiel 38:23;Joel 2:20–21;Zephaniah 2:8–10.
When Pharaoh “still exalts himself” (Exodus 9:17), the LORD answers with plagues that showcase His supremacy. Conversely, Joel proclaims to a repentant land, “Do not be afraid, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD has done great things” (Joel 2:21). The prophetic hope culminates in Ezekiel: “I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations” (Ezekiel 38:23).
Messianic foregleams
•Isaiah 9:6–7;Micah 5:4;Zechariah 12:7.
The promised King’s reign is characterized by ever-increasing greatness. “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7). Micah foresees the Shepherd-Ruler who “will be great to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4), aligning ultimate gadal with the Messiah’s universal dominion.
New Testament echoes
The Septuagint frequently renders gadal with μεγαλύνω, carried into the New Testament. Mary exults, “My soul magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46), picking up the Old Testament cadence. Paul prays that “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20). The trajectory of gadal thus bridges the covenants.
Ministry implications
1. Growth is God-given; seek humility, not self-inflation (Jeremiah 45:5;1 Peter 5:6).
2. Worship involves verbal and practical magnification of God’s name (Psalm 34:3;Romans 15:6).
3. Spiritual leaders are raised up by divine appointment; trust God’s timing for advancement (1 Samuel 12:6;1 Corinthians 3:6).
4. The church’s mission is to extend the greatness of Christ “to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4;Matthew 28:18-20).
Summary
Gadal spans the humble sprouting of a child to the vast expansion of a kingdom; it traces the peril of human pride and the privilege of exalting the LORD. Ultimately, every accent of greatness finds its fulfillment in the Messiah whose reign forever enlarges the praise of God.
Forms and Transliterations
אֶגְדַּ֥ל אַגְדִּ֥יל אגדיל אגדל גְּדֵלַ֣נִי גִּדְּל֔וּהוּ גִּדְּל֖וֹ גִּדְּל֤וֹ גִּדֵּֽלָה׃ גִּדַּ֣לְתִּי גִּדַּ֤ל גִּדַּל֩ גִדֵּ֔ל גִדַּ֛לְתִּי גִדַּלְתּ֑וֹ גַּדְּל֣וּ גַּדֵּ֥ל גַּדֶּלְךָ֔ גָּדְל֖וּ גָּדְל֣וּ גָּדְלָ֧ה גָּדַ֖לְתָּ גָּדַ֣לְתָּ גָֽדְלָ֤ה גָדְלָ֖ה גָדַ֖ל גָדַ֣ל גָדַ֥ל גדל גדלה גדלה׃ גדלו גדלוהו גדלך גדלני גדלת גדלתו גדלתי הִגְדִּ֑יל הִגְדִּ֖יל הִגְדִּ֖ל הִגְדִּ֣יל הִגְדִּ֥יל הִגְדִּֽיל׃ הִגְדִּֽילוּ׃ הִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי הִגְדַּ֣לְתָּ הִגְדַּ֤לְתִּי הִגְדַּ֥לְתָּ הַֽמַּגְדִּילִ֥ים הגדיל הגדיל׃ הגדילו׃ הגדל הגדלת הגדלתי המגדילים וְגָדֵ֔ל וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי וְהִגְדִּֽיל׃ וְהִתְגַּדִּלְתִּי֙ וְיִגְדַּ֨ל וְיִתְגַּדֵּל֙ וִֽיגַדֵּ֥ל וִֽיגַדֵּל֙ וַֽיְגַדְּלֵ֖הוּ וַֽיִּגְדְּלוּ֙ וַֽתִּגְדְּלִ֔י וַאֲגַדְּלֶ֥נּוּ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה וַיְגַדֵּ֨ל וַיִּגְדְּל֨וּ וַיִּגְדַּ֖ל וַיִּגְדַּ֛ל וַיִּגְדַּ֣ל וַיִּגְדַּ֤ל וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל וַיִּגְדַּל֙ וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל וַיִגְדַּ֣ל וַיַּגְדִּ֔לוּ וַיַּגְדִּ֖ילוּ וַתִּגְדַּ֖ל וַתִּגְדַּ֥ל וַתִּגְדַּל־ וַתַּגְדִּ֤ילוּ וַתַּגְדֵּ֣ל וּֽלְגַדְּלָ֖ם וּלְהַגְדִּ֣יל ואגדלה ואגדלנו וגדל וגדלתי והגדיל׃ והתגדלתי ויגדילו ויגדל ויגדלהו ויגדלו ויתגדל ולגדלם ולהגדיל ותגדילו ותגדל ותגדל־ ותגדלי יְגַדְּלוּ֙ יְגַדֵּֽל׃ יִגְדַּ֖ל יִגְדַּ֣ל יִגְדַּ֤ל יִגְדַּל֙ יִגְדַּל־ יִגְדָּ֑ל יִגְדָּ֔לוּ יִתְגַּדֵּ֤ל יִתְגַּדָּֽל׃ יַגְדִּ֔יל יַגְדִּ֥יל יגדיל יגדל יגדל־ יגדל׃ יגדלו יתגדל יתגדל׃ לְגַדֵּ֥ל לְהַגְדִּ֨יל ׀ לגדל להגדיל מְגַדְּלִ֥ים מְגֻדָּלִ֪ים מִגְדֹּ֖ול מגדול מגדלים תְגַדְּלֶ֑נּוּ תִּגְדַּ֤ל תִגְדַּ֜ל תַּגְדִּ֑ילוּ תַּגְדֵּ֥ל תגדילו תגדל תגדלנו ’aḡ·dîl ’aḡdîl ’eḡ·dal ’eḡdal agDil egDal ḡā·ḏal gā·ḏal·tā gā·ḏə·lāh ḡā·ḏə·lāh gā·ḏə·lū gad·də·lū gad·dêl gad·del·ḵā gaDal ḡāḏal gaDalta gāḏaltā gadDel gaddêl gaddelCha gaddelḵā gaddeLu gaddəlū gadeLah gāḏəlāh ḡāḏəlāh gadeLu gāḏəlū gə·ḏê·la·nî gedeLani gəḏêlanî gid·dal gid·dal·tî ḡid·dal·tî ḡid·dal·tōw gid·dê·lāh gid·də·lōw gid·də·lū·hū ḡid·dêl giddal gidDalti giddaltî ḡiddaltî giddalTo ḡiddaltōw gidDel ḡiddêl gidDelah giddêlāh giddeLo giddəlōw giddeLuhu giddəlūhū ham·maḡ·dî·lîm hammagdiLim hammaḡdîlîm hiḡ·dal·tā hiḡ·dal·tî hiḡ·dî·lū hiḡ·dil hiḡ·dîl higDalta hiḡdaltā higDalti hiḡdaltî higDil hiḡdil hiḡdîl higDilu hiḡdîlū lə·ḡad·dêl lə·haḡ·dîl legadDel ləḡaddêl lehagDil ləhaḡdîl mə·ḡad·də·lîm mə·ḡud·dā·lîm megaddeLim məḡaddəlîm meguddaLim məḡuddālîm miḡ·dō·wl migDol miḡdōwl taḡ·dêl taḡ·dî·lū tagDel taḡdêl tagDilu taḡdîlū ṯə·ḡad·də·len·nū tegaddeLennu ṯəḡaddəlennū tiḡ·dal ṯiḡ·dal tigDal tiḡdal ṯiḡdal ū·lə·ḡad·də·lām ū·lə·haḡ·dîl ulegaddeLam ūləḡaddəlām ulehagDil ūləhaḡdîl vaagaddeLah vaagaddeLennu vaiyagDilu vaiyigDal vaiyigdeLu vattagDel vattagDilu vattigDal vattigdeLi vaygadDel vaygaddeLehu vayigDal vegaDalti vegaDel vehigDil vehitgaddilTi veyigDal veyitgadDel vigadDel wa’ăḡaddəlāh wa’ăḡaddəlennū wa·’ă·ḡad·də·lāh wa·’ă·ḡad·də·len·nū wa·yiḡ·dal wat·taḡ·dêl wat·taḡ·dî·lū wat·tiḡ·dal wat·tiḡ·dal- wat·tiḡ·də·lî wattaḡdêl wattaḡdîlū wattiḡdal wattiḡdal- wattiḡdəlî way·ḡad·də·lê·hū way·ḡad·dêl way·yaḡ·di·lū way·yaḡ·dî·lū way·yiḡ·dal way·yiḡ·dāl way·yiḡ·də·lū wayḡaddêl wayḡaddəlêhū wayiḡdal wayyaḡdilū wayyaḡdîlū wayyiḡdal wayyiḡdāl wayyiḡdəlū wə·ḡā·ḏal·tî wə·ḡā·ḏêl wə·hiḡ·dîl wə·hiṯ·gad·dil·tî wə·yiḡ·dal wə·yiṯ·gad·dêl wəḡāḏaltî wəḡāḏêl wəhiḡdîl wəhiṯgaddiltî wəyiḡdal wəyiṯgaddêl wî·ḡad·dêl wîḡaddêl yaḡ·dîl yagDil yaḡdîl yə·ḡad·də·lū yə·ḡad·dêl yegadDel yəḡaddêl yegaddeLu yəḡaddəlū yiḡ·dā·lū yiḡ·dal yiḡ·dāl yiḡ·dal- yigDal yiḡdal yiḡdāl yiḡdal- yigDalu yiḡdālū yiṯ·gad·dāl yiṯ·gad·dêl yitgadDal yiṯgaddāl yitgadDel yiṯgaddêl
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