גִּלְגָּל

Deuteronomy 11:30 הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל <the> Gilgal

Are not these mountains across the Jordan, west of the road toward the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah opposite Gilgal near the Oak of Moreh?

Joshua 4:19 בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל at <the> Gilgal

On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.

Joshua 4:20 בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃ at <the> Gilgal

And there at Gilgal Joshua set up the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan.

Here: 'At the Gilgal.' The article shows that a Hebrew speaker heard a common noun, probably 'the circle' (of stones), and not only a place name. It was Israel's first camp west of the Jordan, 'on the eastern border of Jericho' (4:19).

Joshua 5:9 גִּלְגָּ֔ל Gilgal

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.

Here: The place name, which sounds like gallôtî, "I rolled". Hebrew hearers would hear "Rolling" in it. The name itself most likely meant "circle (of stones)" (compare the twelve stones set up there, 4:20), so the verse plays on its sound rather than giving a dictionary origin.

Joshua 5:10 בַּגִּלְגָּ֑ל at <the> Gilgal

On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover.

Joshua 9:6 הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל <the> Gilgal

They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”

Joshua 10:6 הַגִּלְגָּ֣לָה <the> Gilgal towards

Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come quickly and save us! Help us, because all the kings of the Amorites from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

Here: “To Gilgal”: the ending -ah means “toward.” Gilgal lay in the Jordan valley near Jericho, far below the hill country, which is why Joshua must “come up.”

Joshua 10:7 הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל <the> Gilgal

So Joshua and his whole army, including all the mighty men of valor, came from Gilgal.

Here: Israel's base camp near Jericho, where they set up the twelve memorial stones (4:19–20) and renewed circumcision and Passover (ch. 5). The Hebrew has the article, "the Gilgal", which hints that the word still felt like a description, something like "the stone circle".

Joshua 10:9 הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃ <the> Gilgal

After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise.

Here: 'The Gilgal,' with 'the' because the name is really a description, probably 'the circle (of stones).' It was Israel's base camp near Jericho, where they first camped after crossing the Jordan (4:19–20; 5:9–10).

Joshua 10:15 הַגִּלְגָּֽלָה׃ <the> Gilgal towards

Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

Joshua 10:43 הַגִּלְגָּֽלָה׃ פ <the> Gilgal towards

Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

Here: The name carries the article ('the Gilgal'), which suggests it was once a common noun, probably 'the circle (of stones).' The ending -ah means 'toward,' so the word is literally 'Gilgal-ward.' It names the camp from verse 7, and that is where the episode began.

Joshua 12:23 לְגִלְגָּ֖ל of Gilgal

the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;

Joshua 14:6 בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל at <the> Gilgal

Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.

Here: Literally “at the Gilgal”, the base camp near Jericho where Israel first camped in the land (4:19–20) and set up the circle of twelve stones. The land is being handed out from the place where Israel's entry was first commemorated.

Joshua 15:7 הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל <the> Gilgal

Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning north to Gilgal, which faces the Ascent of Adummim south of the ravine. It continued along the waters of En-shemesh and came out at En-rogel.

Judges 2:1 הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל <the> Gilgal

Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I had promised to your fathers, and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you,

Here: Has the article: 'the Gilgal', probably 'the stone circle'. This was Israel's first camp in the land, where the twelve stones were set up, the men were circumcised and Passover was kept (Josh 4–5). The envoy comes from the place where the conquest started.

Judges 3:19 הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל <the> Gilgal

But upon reaching the idols near Gilgal, he himself turned back and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” “Silence,” said the king, and all his attendants left him.

1 Samuel 7:16 וְהַגִּלְגָּ֖ל and <the> Gilgal

Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.

1 Samuel 10:8 הַגִּלְגָּל֒ <the> Gilgal

And you shall go before me to Gilgal, and surely I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you are to do.”

Here: 'The Gilgal,' with the article, probably meaning 'the circle (of stones).' This was Israel's first camp in the land (Joshua 4–5) and a stop on Samuel's yearly circuit as judge (1 Sam 7:16).

1 Samuel 11:14 הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל <the> Gilgal

Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.”

1 Samuel 11:15 הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל <the> Gilgal, in <the> Gilgal

So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.

1 Samuel 13:4 הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃ <the> Gilgal

And all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked an outpost of the Philistines, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

1 Samuel 13:7 בַגִּלְגָּ֔ל [was] at <the> Gilgal

Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, remained at Gilgal, and all his troops were quaking in fear.

1 Samuel 13:8 הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל <the> Gilgal

And Saul waited seven days for the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the troops began to desert Saul.

1 Samuel 13:12 הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל <the> Gilgal

I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will descend upon me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”

Here: Literally "the Gilgal," "the circle" (probably of stones). This was the old holy site near Jericho where Israel first camped in the land and where Saul's kingship had just been renewed (11:14–15). It was the place Samuel had told him to wait (10:8).

1 Samuel 13:15 הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל <the> Gilgal

Then Samuel set out from Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin. And Saul numbered the troops who were with him, about six hundred men.

1 Samuel 15:12 הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃ <the> Gilgal

Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal.”

1 Samuel 15:21 בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃ in <the> Gilgal

The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

1 Samuel 15:33 בַּגִּלְגָּֽל׃ ס in <the> Gilgal

But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

Here: The old sanctuary near the Jordan where Israel first camped in the land and where Saul was confirmed as king (11:14–15). The place where Saul's kingship was confirmed is now the place where his disobedience is put right.

2 Samuel 19:15 הַגִּלְגָּ֗לָה <the> Gilgal towards

So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan.

2 Samuel 19:40 הַגִּלְגָּ֔לָה <the> Gilgal towards

Then the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king.

2 Kings 2:1 הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃ <the> Gilgal

Shortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal,

Here: Literally 'the Gilgal'. The article reflects the name's origin as a common noun, probably 'the circle (of stones)'. Gilgal is where Israel first camped after crossing the Jordan under Joshua (Joshua 4–5). Scholars debate whether this is that site near Jericho or another Gilgal in the hill country.

2 Kings 4:38 הַגִּלְגָּ֙לָה֙ <the> Gilgal towards

When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets.”

Here: 'The Gilgal', with an ending that marks direction ('to Gilgal'). The name probably means 'circle (of stones)'. Here it is a town where a prophetic community lived.

Hosea 4:15 הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל <the> Gilgal

Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel, may Judah avoid such guilt! Do not journey to Gilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear on oath, ‘As surely as the LORD lives!’

Here: Written with the article, 'the Gilgal', literally 'the circle (of stones)'. This was the ancient sanctuary near Jericho, linked to Israel's entry into the land and to Saul's kingship, and in Hosea's day a center of corrupt worship (Hos 9:15; 12:11).

Hosea 9:15 בַּגִּלְגָּל֙ [is] in <the> Gilgal

All their evil appears at Gilgal, for there I hated them. I will drive them from My house for the wickedness of their deeds. I will no longer love them; all their leaders are rebellious.

Here: 'In the Gilgal'. The name carries the article because it means 'the circle (of stones)'. It was Israel's first camp in the land, a well-known shrine, and the place where Saul was made king. Their whole guilt is pinned to this one place.

Hosea 12:11 בַּגִּלְגָּ֖ל in <the> Gilgal

Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

Here: 'In the Gilgal'. The name keeps its article, a reminder that it means 'the stone circle'. It was an old shrine west of the Jordan where Israel first camped in the land (Josh 4:19–20). Hosea says 'all their evil is in Gilgal' (9:15).

Amos 4:4 הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל <the> Gilgal

“Go to Bethel and transgress; rebel even more at Gilgal! Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days.

Here: "(To) Gilgal." The name carries the article (literally "the stone circle"). As with Bethel, no preposition is written; "come" carries over from the first line. Gilgal was the ancient sanctuary of Israel's entry into the land.

Amos 5:5 וְהַגִּלְגָּל֙ הַגִּלְגָּל֙ and <the> Gilgal, <the> Gilgal

Do not seek Bethel or go to Gilgal; do not journey to Beersheba, for Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will come to nothing.

Here: Gilgal takes the article, 'the Gilgal', probably because the name means 'the circle (of stones)'. It was the site where Israel first camped after crossing the Jordan into the land (Joshua 4–5).

Micah 6:5 הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל <the> Gilgal

My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”

Here: Israel's first camp inside the land after crossing the Jordan on dry ground (Joshua 4:19–24). Memorial stones, circumcision and the first Passover in Canaan happened there (Joshua 5).