Lexical Summary
gillul: Idol, Detestable Thing
Original Word:גִּלּוּל
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:gilluwl
Pronunciation:ghil-LOOL
Phonetic Spelling:(ghil-lool')
KJV: idol
NASB:idols
Word Origin:[fromH1556 (גָּלַל - roll)]
1. (properly) a log (as round)
2. (by implication) an idol
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
idol
Or (shortened) gillul {ghil-lool'}; fromgalal; properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol -- idol.
see HEBREWgalal
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
galalDefinitionan idol
NASB Translationidols (48).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[]
Jeremiah 50:27 only plural (=
logs, blocks, shapeless things Ges Baud
Rel i. 95; Ew
doll-images > dungy things Sm
Ezekiel 6:4 SS after Rabb) See Baud
ZMG, 1904, 395 ff. (compares Biblical Aramaic (), Palmyrene
Tariff i. 9 = ; and concludes that it was originally a designation of the primitive stone menhir or ). —
Ezekiel 22:8 3t. +
Ezekiel 30:13 (strike out B Co);
1 Kings 15:12 2t.; construct
Ezekiel 8:10 6t.;
Ezekiel 22:4;
2 Kings 21:11 4t.;
Jeremiah 50:2;
Leviticus 26:30 7t.;
Ezekiel 23:49;
Ezekiel 6:9 14t. +
Ezekiel 6:5 (del BA al Co);
Ezekiel 23:37; —
idols (39 t. Ezekiel); —
1 Kings 15:12;
2 Kings 17:12;
2 Kings 21:21;
Ezekiel 6:5 (del Co)
Ezekiel 6:9;
Ezekiel 6:13 (twice in verse);
Ezekiel 14:4,5;
Ezekiel 18:6,15;
Ezekiel 20:16,24,39;
Ezekiel 23:37,39,49;
Ezekiel 33:25;
Ezekiel 44:10,12; ""
Deuteronomy 29:16;
2 Kings 23:24 ("" also ),
Ezekiel 20:7,18 (both with verb )
Ezekiel 20:8;
Ezekiel 37:23, compare also
Ezekiel 8:10 (, but apparently & so Co); ""
Ezekiel 14:6;
2 Kings 21:11, compare
Ezekiel 18:12;
Ezekiel 16:36 ( ), &
1 Kings 21:26 (where verb ); ""
Ezekiel 36:25; ""
Ezekiel 14:3,4,7; ""
Jeremiah 50:2; ""
Ezekiel 30:13 (Co ; compare also above); ""
Ezekiel 6:4,6;
Leviticus 26:30 (compare below); ""
2 Kings 23:24 (above); in phrase etc.
Ezekiel 20:7,18,31;
Ezekiel 22:3,4;
Ezekiel 23:7,30;
Ezekiel 36:18 (del Co);
Ezekiel 20:39; — note especially the expression
Leviticus 26:30and I will lay your carcases upon the carcases of your idols.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and imageryThe noun גִּלּוּל (gillul) is the principal Old-Testament term of contempt for the manufactured gods of the surrounding nations and the apostate worship of Israel and Judah. It evokes both worthlessness and repugnance, drawing on imagery of shapeless logs, rolling debris, or even refuse. By using this word, Scripture derides idolatry as spiritually empty and morally filthy, exposing every “god” other than the LORD as a lifeless counterfeit.
Occurrences and distribution
The word appears about forty-eight times. Almost forty of these are in Ezekiel, where gillul is a keynote in the prophet’s indictment of Judah’s sins and in his vision of future cleansing. The remainder are concentrated in the Torah’s covenant warnings (Leviticus 26;Deuteronomy 29), the Deuteronomistic history (Kings), and one occurrence in 2 Chronicles. Its heavy use in exile-period material underscores that idolatry was the decisive cause of national judgment.
Historical context
1. Patriarchal to conquest era – Egypt and Canaan teemed with tangible representations of fertility, war, and the afterlife. Israel was warned from the outset not to emulate them (Exodus 20:3-5).
2. Monarchy – Syncretism intensified under kings such as Jeroboam, Ahab, and Manasseh, who installed Baal, Asherah, and astral cults (1 Kings 21:26;2 Kings 21:11).
3. Exile – The Babylonian captivity exposed the powerlessness of idols (Isaiah 46) and prepared the people for Ezekiel’s uncompromising message.
4. Post-exile – Though carved images largely disappear from Jewish life after the return, the prophets’ exposure of idolatry opened the way for addressing its more subtle, inward forms.
Prophetic denunciations
Ezekiel piles phrase upon phrase—“detestable idols,” “abominations,” “defilement”—to show that gillulim provoke divine jealousy and wrath.
•Ezekiel 6:4-6 announces, “Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars smashed; and I will cast down your slain before your idols”.
•Ezekiel 14:3-5 exposes heart-idols: even without wood or stone, rebellion resides within.
•Ezekiel 36:18 portrays idolatry as spiritual bloodshed, contaminating the land itself.
Legal and cultic response
The covenant demanded active removal: “Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones” (Exodus 34:13). The same impulse animates reforms under Asa (1 Kings 15:12), Hezekiah, and Josiah (2 Kings 23:24).Leviticus 26:30 warns that if Israel will not remove the gillulim, God will: “I will heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless bodies of your idols”. The law therefore links idolatry to national curse—famine, sword, and exile.
Theological themes
1. Exclusivity of Yahweh – Gillul undermines the first commandment; no rival can stand beside the Creator.
2. Impurity – Idols are contagion, defiling worshippers and land (Ezekiel 37:23).
3. Futility – They cannot speak, see, or save (Isaiah 44:9-20); those who trust them become like them—spiritually senseless (Psalm 115:8).
4. Judgment and mercy – Condemnation of idols is matched by promises of cleansing.Ezekiel 36:25 ties removal of idols to the gift of a new heart and Spirit, anticipating the new covenant.
Christological perspective
The Messiah confronts idolatry both externally and internally. His atoning work fulfills the promise, “I will save them from all their apostasies” (Ezekiel 37:23), liberating believers from bondage to false gods. The New Testament echoes the same polemic: Paul calls covetousness idolatry (Colossians 3:5), and John urges, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21), expanding gillul’s lesson to every epoch.
Implications for ministry today
• Preaching: Hold forth the LORD’s uniqueness; idols remain seductive, whether statues, ideologies, or consumerism.
• Discipleship: Help believers identify heart-idols revealed by desires, fears, and loyalties.
• Mission: Evangelize cultures still dominated by physical idols, proclaiming the living God who “does not dwell in temples built by human hands” (Acts 17:24).
• Holiness: Teach that cleansing from idols accompanies regeneration. Spiritual growth involves continual “casting away” (Ezekiel 20:7) of anything that rivals Christ.
Key references
Leviticus 26:30;Deuteronomy 29:17;1 Kings 15:12;1 Kings 21:26;2 Kings 17:12;2 Kings 21:11;2 Kings 23:24;Ezekiel 6:4-6, 6:9, 14:3-6, 20:7-9, 22:3-4, 36:18-25, 37:23, 44:10-12.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּגִלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֖ם בְּגִלּֽוּלֵיהֶם֙ בְּגִלּוּלֵיהֶֽם׃ בְּגִלּוּלָֽיו׃ בגלוליהם בגלוליהם׃ בגלוליו׃ גִּלֻּלֵיהֶ֑ם גִּלּ֣וּלֵיהֶ֔ם גִּלּ֣וּלֵיכֶ֔ם גִּלּ֥וּלֵיכֶ֖ם גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֑ם גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֖ן גִּלּֽוּלֵיכֶ֑ם גִּלּֽוּלֵיכֶם֙ גִּלּוּלֵ֖י גִּלּוּלֵ֣י גִּלּוּלֵ֥י גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם גִּלּוּלֵיהֶֽם׃ גִּלּוּלֵיכֶ֑ם גִּלּוּלֵיכֶ֖ם גִּלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃ גִּלּוּלֶֽיהָ׃ גִּלּוּלָ֜יו גִּלּוּלָֽיו׃ גִּלּוּלָיו֙ גִלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֔ם גִלּֽוּלֵיהֶם֙ גִלּוּלִ֛ים גִלּוּלִ֜ים גִלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם גִלּוּלֵיכֶ֖ן גלולי גלוליה׃ גלוליהם גלוליהם׃ גלוליהן גלוליו גלוליו׃ גלוליכם גלוליכם׃ גלוליכן גלולים גלליהם הַגִּלֻּלִ֑ים הַגִּלֻּלִ֔ים הַגִּלֻּלִ֜ים הַגִּלֻּלִים֙ הַגִּלּוּלִים֙ הגלולים הגללים וּבְגִלּוּלֵ֥י וּבְגִלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְגִלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃ וּבְגִלּוּלַ֤יִךְ ובגלולי ובגלוליהם ובגלוליך ובגלוליכם׃ לְגִלּ֣וּלֵיהֶ֔ם לגלוליהם bə·ḡil·lū·lāw bə·ḡil·lū·lê·hem begilluLav bəḡillūlāw bəḡillūlêhem begilluleiHem gil·lū·lāw gil·lū·lê gil·lū·le·hā gil·lu·lê·hem gil·lū·lê·hem ḡil·lū·lê·hem gil·lū·lê·hen gil·lū·lê·ḵem ḡil·lū·lê·ḵen ḡil·lū·lîm gilluLav gillūlāw gillūlê gillūlehā gillulêhem gillūlêhem ḡillūlêhem gillūlêhen gilluLei gilluleiChem gilluleiChen gilluLeiha gilluleiHem gilluleiHen gillūlêḵem ḡillūlêḵen gilluLim ḡillūlîm hag·gil·lu·lîm hag·gil·lū·lîm haggilluLim haggillulîm haggillūlîm lə·ḡil·lū·lê·hem ləḡillūlêhem legilLuleiHem ū·ḇə·ḡil·lū·la·yiḵ ū·ḇə·ḡil·lū·lê ū·ḇə·ḡil·lū·lê·hem ū·ḇə·ḡil·lū·lê·ḵem ūḇəḡillūlayiḵ ūḇəḡillūlê ūḇəḡillūlêhem ūḇəḡillūlêḵem uvegilluLayich uvegilluLei uvegilluleiChem uvegilluleiHem
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