Hebrew word · H1383

גַּבְלֻת

gavlut

twists

A very rare word: 'twisting' or 'twisted work'. It occurs only in Exodus 28:22 and 39:15; the closely related migbalot appears in 28:14. Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) connect it with a root g-b-l meaning 'twist' or 'braid', distinct from the common gevul, 'border, boundary'.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

a twisting

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Exodus 39:15

Range of meaning

A very rare word: 'twisting' or 'twisted work'. It occurs only in Exodus 28:22 and 39:15; the closely related migbalot appears in 28:14. Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) connect it with a root g-b-l meaning 'twist' or 'braid', distinct from the common gevul, 'border, boundary'.

Against the English

KJV renders it 'at the ends' (here and in 28:22), apparently deriving it from gevul, 'border'. Modern versions all read some form of 'twisted', 'braided' or 'wreathed'. YLT 'wreathed' and BSB/NIV 'braided' fit the lexicons.

How it drifted

Not a drift in meaning. It is a difference in which root the translators chose. The KJV's choice reflects older Jewish and Renaissance discussion before comparative Semitic study settled on 'twist'.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint rendering in its parallel (LXX Exod 36) speaks of interwoven or braided work (built on the idea of plaiting) rather than 'ends'. The Vulgate likewise has chains joined or linked together. Both support 'twisted' over 'at the ends'.

Where it appears

Exodus · 2

  1. Exodus 28:22 גַּבְלֻ֖ת twisting

    For the breastpiece, make braided chains like cords of pure gold.

  2. Exodus 39:15 גַּבְלֻ֖ת twisting

    For the breastpiece they made braided chains like cords of pure gold.

    Here: Describes how the chains were made: twisted or braided. A rare word, found only here and in the parallel instruction (28:22); the related migbalot appears in 28:14. KJV took it as 'at the ends' (from gevul, 'border'), but modern lexicons read 'twisted'.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.