What does גָּזַל (gāzal) mean in the Bible?
גָּזַל (gāzal): Violent seizure of what belongs to another; ranges from physical stripping to metaphorical deprivation through coercive force.
Hebrew · H1497
גָּזַל
To pluck off ; specifically to flay , strip or rob
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גָּזַלH1497
Pronunciationgāzal
What does גָּזַל (gāzal) mean in the Bible?
גָּזַל (gāzal): Violent seizure of what belongs to another; ranges from physical stripping to metaphorical deprivation through coercive force.
Full entry for גָּזַל (H1497) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1497?
The BSB source-word alignment has 30 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (2), snatched (2), the victim of robbery (2), [that are] stolen (1), and committed robbery (1).
Where does גָּזַל (gāzal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 21:25. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (5), Job (4), Proverbs (3), Deuteronomy (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It. . .2×Leviticus 6:4, Ezekiel 18:12
snatched2×2 Samuel 23:21, 1 Chronicles 11:23
the victim of robbery2×Jeremiah 21:12, Jeremiah 22:3
[that are] stolen1×Malachi 1:13
and committed robbery1×Ezekiel 22:29
and plundered1×Deuteronomy 28:29
and seize them1×Micah 2:2
and they robbed1×Judges 9:25
and withhold1×Isaiah 10:2
by force1×Genesis 31:31
commit1×Ezekiel 18:7
consume1×Job 24:19
from the robber1×Psalms 35:10
had seized1×Genesis 21:25
he has seized1×Job 20:19
He who robs1×Proverbs 28:24
is snatched1×Job 24:9
or commit1×Ezekiel 18:16
rob1×Proverbs 22:22
rob him1×Leviticus 19:13
robbed1×Ezekiel 18:18
steal1×Psalms 69:4
stolen1×Job 24:2
they are deprived1×Proverbs 4:16
they caught1×Judges 21:23
will be taken away1×Deuteronomy 28:31
You tear1×Micah 3:2
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 21:25גָּזְל֖וּtohad seizedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralGenesis 31:31תִּגְזֹ֥לtoby forceVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularLeviticus 6:4גָּזָ֗לto. . .Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 19:13תִגְזֹ֑לtorob himVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:29וְגָז֛וּלtoand plunderedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:31גָּז֣וּלtowill be taken awayVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularJudges 9:25וַיִּגְזְל֗וּtoand they robbedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralJudges 21:23גָּזָ֑לוּtothey caughtVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2 Samuel 23:21וַיִּגְזֹ֤לtosnatchedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Chronicles 11:23וַיִּגְזֹ֤לtosnatchedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 21:25
Aligned rows30
Books represented14
Genesis2Leviticus2Deuteronomy2Judges22 Samuel11 Chronicles1Job4Psalms2Proverbs3Isaiah1Jeremiah2Ezekiel5Micah2Malachi1
Source forms
גָז֖וּל2xḡā·zūlJeremiah 21:12, Jeremiah 22:3
וַיִּגְזֹ֤ל2xway·yiḡ·zōl2 Samuel 23:21, 1 Chronicles 11:23
גּוֹזֵ֤ל׀1xgō·w·zêlProverbs 28:24
גָּז֣וּל1xgā·zūlDeuteronomy 28:31
גָּז֗וּל1xgā·zūlMalachi 1:13
גָזָ֑ל1xḡā·zālEzekiel 18:16
גָּ֝זַ֗ל1xgā·zalJob 20:19
גָּזַל֙1xgā·zalEzekiel 18:18
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular5xLeviticus 6:4, Job 20:19, Ezekiel 18:12, Ezekiel 18:16
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular4xDeuteronomy 28:31, Jeremiah 21:12, Jeremiah 22:3, Malachi 1:13
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular3xGenesis 31:31, Leviticus 19:13, Proverbs 22:22
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural3xGenesis 21:25, Judges 21:23, Job 24:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xEzekiel 22:29, Micah 2:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Samuel 23:21, 1 Chronicles 11:23
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xJob 24:9, Job 24:19
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular1xProverbs 4:16
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Violent seizure of what belongs to another; ranges from physical stripping to metaphorical deprivation through coercive force.
Strong'sH1497
Lexical occurrences30 versesWord forms1 form21 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkLeviticus 19:13-14Source Gloss
to pluck off ; specifically to flay , strip or rob
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Violent seizure of what belongs to another; ranges from physical stripping to metaphorical deprivation through coercive force.
to pluck off; specifically to flay, strip or rob BDB: tear away Usage: catch, consume, exercise (robbery), pluck (off), rob, spoil, take away (by force, violence), tear.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms21
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense21×
PerfectEzek 18:12 · Ezek 18:16 · Ezek 18:18 · Job 20:19 · Lev 5:23 · Gen 21:25 · Job 24:2 · Judg 21:23 · Ps 69:59×
ImperfectGen 31:31 · Lev 19:13 · Job 24:9 · Job 24:19 · Ezek 18:75×
Participle passiveDeut 28:31 · Jer 21:12 · Jer 22:3 · Mal 1:134×
Participle activeMic 3:2 · Prov 28:242×
JussiveProv 22:221×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Unlawful taking of wages or property from another person
Violent seizure of possessions from the poor and vulnerable
Theft or stripping of property, especially familial betrayal
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 30 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
גָּזַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.