Lexical Summary
galuth: exiles, exile, population
Original Word:גָּלוּת
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:galuwth
Pronunciation:gah-LOOTH
Phonetic Spelling:(gaw-looth')
KJV: (they that are carried away) captives(-ity)
NASB:exiles, exile, population, captives
Word Origin:[feminine fromH1540 (גָּלָה - uncover)]
1. captivity
2. (collectively,concretely) exiles
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
they that are carried away captives
Feminine fromgalah; captivity; concretely, exiles (collectively) -- (they that are carried away) captives(-ity).
see HEBREWgalah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
galahDefinitionan exile
NASB Translationcaptives (1), exile (5), exiles (8), population (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
—
Isaiah 20:4 9t.; Obadiah 20 (twice in verse); suffix
Isaiah 45:13,
Ezekiel 33:21;
Ezekiel 40:1 (Qames unchangeable); —
absoluteexile,2 Kings 25:27;Jeremiah 52:31;Ezekiel 1:2;Ezekiel 33:21;Ezekiel 40:1;Amos 1:6,9; Obadiah 20 (twice in verse).
collectiveexiles,Isaiah 20:4,Jeremiah 24:5;Jeremiah 28:4;Jeremiah 29:22;Jeremiah 40:1,he shall let my exiles (Yahweh's) go freeIsaiah 45:13; see LagArm. Stud. § 445. Amos 1:6; 1:9 compare Obad 20 (twice in verse) andJeremiah 13:19 ( Du Co and others).
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scopeגָּלוּת designates the state of being carried away from the covenant land under foreign domination. While the English word “exile” may evoke only geographical displacement, Scripture presents גלות as an act of divine judgment designed to purge sin and preserve a remnant. It gathers ideas of banishment, captivity, dispersion and, ultimately, hopeful return.
Historical Background
From the deportations of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria (circa 732–722 B.C.) to the Babylonian exile beginning in 605 B.C., Israel’s history is punctuated by periods of גלות. These removals fulfilled covenant warnings (Leviticus 26;Deuteronomy 28) and established the backdrop for post-exilic restoration, the ministry of Jesus Christ, and the global dispersion in Acts.
Distribution of Occurrences
The term appears fifteen times, clustered chiefly in narratives of Kings and Chronicles and in the prophets ministering before, during, and after Babylon’s rise. Each reference either records an event of deportation or uses exile metaphorically to underscore divine sovereignty.
•2 Kings 25:27 introduces the Babylonian “exile of Jehoiachin” and signals the first thaw of mercy when Evil-merodach releases the Judean king.
•Isaiah 20:4 warns Egypt and Cush that they too will experience “captivity and exile,” showing that judgment is impartial.
•Isaiah 45:13 prophesies Cyrus as God’s shepherd who will end the exile without price, prefiguring gracious redemption.
• Jeremiah contains seven occurrences (24:5; 28:4; 29:22; 40:1; 52:31), reflecting the prophet’s dual role: announcing judgment and promising future hope.
• Ezekiel (1:2; 33:21; 40:1) dates his visions “in the thirtieth year… among the exiles,” embedding his prophetic authority in the communal suffering of Judah.
• Amos and Obadiah use the word to expose the nations’ cruelty toward Judah’s refugees and to promise ultimate restoration (Amos 1:6, 9;Obadiah 1:20).
Usage in the Prophets
1. As a chronological marker:
Ezekiel 1:2 – “On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—”. The prophet’s vision is anchored in Israel’s humiliation, underscoring that revelation comes even in judgment.
2. As an instrument of discipline with restorative intent:
Jeremiah 24:5 – “Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans.” The LORD claims authorship of the scattering, yet calls the exiles “good,” highlighting purification rather than annihilation.
3. As a backdrop for messianic hope:
Isaiah 45:13 – “I will raise up Cyrus in My righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free for no price or reward,” declares the LORD of Hosts. The release anticipates Christ’s ransom “without silver or gold” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Redemptive Themes
• Covenant Faithfulness: Exile proves the trustworthiness of God’s warnings and promises alike.
• Sovereign Discipline: Foreign powers function as “rods” in God’s hand; their overthrow (Isaiah 14;Jeremiah 50–51) confirms that He alone rules history.
• Remnant Preservation: Even in dispersion, genealogies (Ezra 2;Nehemiah 7) and prophetic vision (Ezekiel 37) protect messianic lineage.
• Foreshadowing of Spiritual Exile and Return: The New Testament applies Old Testament exile language to humanity’s separation from God (Ephesians 2:12-13) and to the church’s pilgrim identity (1 Peter 1:1).
• Eschatological In-Gathering:Obadiah 1:20 anticipates final restoration when “the captives of Jerusalem… will possess the cities of the Negev,” converging withRevelation 21’s promise of a renewed dwelling place of God with man.
Practical and Ministry Applications
1. Pastoral Care: Like Judah, believers enduring discipline may find comfort in God’s presence “among the exiles.”
2. Missions: The scattering of Israel previewed the Great Commission; God sends His people among the nations that the nations might know Him.
3. Prayer and Repentance:Daniel 9 models intercession birthed out of exile awareness, guiding corporate confession today.
4. Hope for the Displaced: Modern refugees and persecuted believers share spiritual kinship with biblical exiles; the promise of divine oversight remains.
5. Ethical Warning: Nations judged for abusing exiles (Amos 1;Obadiah 1) instruct societies on treating foreigners with justice.
Related Terms and Themes
• שֶׁבִי (captivity), גּוֹלָה (exiles), דּוּחָה (banishment)
• Themes of wilderness wandering, sojourning, and pilgrimage
• Typological parallels: Egypt (Genesis 15;Exodus 1-12); the church awaiting the heavenly city (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Concluding Reflection
While גָּלוּת bears the pain of judgment, Scripture threads it with covenant mercy. The God who sends His people away is the same God who brings them home—ultimately through the greater Cyrus, Jesus Christ, who proclaims liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.
Forms and Transliterations
גָּל֣וּת גָּל֤וּת גָּל֥וּת גָּל֨וּת גלות וְגָלֻ֣ת וְגָלֻ֥ת וְגָלוּתִ֣י וגלותי וגלת לְ֠גָלוּתֵנוּ לְגָל֖וּת לְגָלוּת֙ לְגָלוּתֵ֑נוּ לגלות לגלותנו gā·lūṯ gaLut gālūṯ lə·ḡā·lū·ṯê·nū lə·ḡā·lūṯ legaLut ləḡālūṯ legaluTenu ləḡālūṯênū vegaLut vegaluTi wə·ḡā·lū·ṯî wə·ḡā·luṯ wəḡāluṯ wəḡālūṯî
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