Lexical Summary
galuth or galu: Exile, Captivity
Original Word:גָּלוּת
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:galuwth
Pronunciation:gah-LOOTH or gah-LOO
Phonetic Spelling:(gaw-looth')
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) corresponding toH1546 (גָּלוּת - exiles)]
1. captivity
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
captivity
(Aramaic) corresponding togaluwth -- captivity.
see HEBREWgaluwth
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
galuthDefinitionan exile
NASB Translationexiles* (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[ K
§ 61. 4] ; — emphatic i.e. exiles,
Ezra 6:16;
Daniel 2:25;
Daniel 5:13;
Daniel 6:14 (compare Biblical Hebrew ).
Topical Lexicon
Overviewגָּלוּת (galuth) denotes the state of being carried away from one’s homeland and living under foreign domination. In Scripture it speaks not merely of geographical displacement but of the covenant community’s disrupted relationship with God, together with the hope of restoration.
Occurrences in the Old Testament
Ezra 6:16;Daniel 2:25;Daniel 5:13;Daniel 6:13. In each instance the word refers to Judeans who had been deported by Babylon and were now living under successive empires.
Example: “Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.” (Ezra 6:16)
Historical Background
The Babylonian campaigns against Judah (605–586 BC) culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, initiating the period commonly called the Exile. Deportees were settled throughout the Babylonian empire, where they retained distinct communal structures (Ezekiel 3:15). When Persia conquered Babylon (539 BC), Cyrus permitted a series of returns (Ezra 1:1-4). The word גָּלוּת, occurring in post-exilic literature, therefore functions as a living reminder of both judgment and mercy: judgment in the forced dispersion, mercy in the sovereign orchestration of return and rebuilding.
Theological Significance
1. Divine Discipline: Exile fulfills covenant warnings (Leviticus 26:33;Deuteronomy 28:36). The captivity validates God’s righteousness in judging persistent idolatry.
2. Divine Presence in Dispersion: Daniel’s narrative shows that even in foreign courts “the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17). Exiles discover that no earthly power can thwart God’s purposes.
3. Restoration Hope: Prophetic promises of return (Isaiah 40–55;Jeremiah 29:10-14) anchor the community’s expectation.Ezra 6:16 depicts restored worship, signaling covenant renewal.
Exilic Identity and Spiritual Formation
The dispersion forced a shift from Temple-centric worship to Word-centric practices—public reading of Scripture, prayer facing Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10), and rigorous dietary fidelity (Daniel 1:8). These practices shaped Judaism’s synagogue tradition and forged a resilient faith able to thrive without political sovereignty.
Restoration and Covenant Faithfulness
The post-exilic community viewed itself as “the rest of the exiles” (Ezra 6:16), highlighting solidarity and accountability. The memory of galuth fostered vigilance against idolatry (Nehemiah 13:26-27) and underscored the necessity of covenant obedience to avoid a repeat of exile (Zechariah 7:11-14).
Prophetic and Messianic Trajectory
The experience of captivity enlarges messianic hope: a future Davidic ruler will gather the scattered (Ezekiel 34:23-24). Daniel, identified four times as “one of the exiles from Judah,” receives visions of the everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14), anticipating the Messiah who will liberate not merely from political captivity but from sin.
New Testament Echoes
Although גָּלוּת itself is Hebrew, its reality finds a Greek counterpart in diaspora. Peter addresses believers as “strangers and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11), drawing on the exile motif to frame Christian identity. The church lives as a pilgrim people awaiting full restoration in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-4).
Applications for Ministry Today
• Perseverance under Pressure: Daniel’s steadfastness encourages believers living in secular contexts.
• Hope in Discipline: Seasons of hardship may be divine instruments for purification, pointing to promised restoration.
• Mission in Dispersion: Like the exiles who influenced empires, believers scattered through migration or persecution bear witness to God’s sovereignty.
• Worship without Borders: The shift from a central sanctuary to dispersed gatherings validates house churches and small groups worldwide.
Summary
גָּלוּת encapsulates the painful yet redemptive dynamic of divine judgment, presence, and restoration. The term invites God’s people to acknowledge sin, embrace refining discipline, and cling to the unshakeable promise of return—a pattern ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah who leads captives into true freedom (Ephesians 4:8).
Forms and Transliterations
גָֽלוּתָא֙ גָלוּתָ֗א גָלוּתָ֜א גָלוּתָא֙ גלותא ḡā·lū·ṯā galuTa ḡālūṯā
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