What does גָּמַל (gāmal) mean in the Bible?
גָּמַל (gāmal): To complete or bring to full maturity; reciprocal dealing that yields appropriate consequences or rewards.
Hebrew · H1580
גָּמַל
To treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite ; by implication (of toil), to ripen , i.e. (specifically) to wean
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גָּמַלH1580
Pronunciationgāmal
What does גָּמַל (gāmal) mean in the Bible?
גָּמַל (gāmal): To complete or bring to full maturity; reciprocal dealing that yields appropriate consequences or rewards.
Full entry for גָּמַל (H1580) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1580?
The BSB source-word alignment has 37 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include has rewarded me (2), like a weaned child (2), - (1), a ripening (1), After she had weaned (1).
Where does גָּמַל (gāmal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 21:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (10), 1 Samuel (6), Isaiah (6), Genesis (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithas rewarded me2×2 Samuel 22:21, Psalms 18:20
like a weaned child2×Psalms 131:2
-1×Isaiah 63:7
a ripening1×Isaiah 18:5
After she had weaned1×Hosea 1:8
and produced1×Numbers 17:8
and the toddler1×Isaiah 11:8
and was weaned1×Genesis 21:8
are repaying1×2 Chronicles 20:11
benefits1×Proverbs 11:17
Deal bountifully1×Psalms 119:17
has been good1×Psalms 116:7
has done for us1×Isaiah 63:7
have rewarded me1×1 Samuel 24:17
have rewarded you1×1 Samuel 24:17
He has been good1×Psalms 13:6
he has done1×Proverbs 3:30
how you repay1×Deuteronomy 32:6
I have rewarded1×Psalms 7:4
is weaned1×1 Samuel 1:22
of Your goodness1×Psalms 142:7
or repaid us1×Psalms 103:10
repay me1×2 Samuel 19:36
retaliate1×Joel 3:4
She brings him1×Proverbs 31:12
she had weaned1×1 Samuel 1:23
she had weaned him1×1 Samuel 1:24
they did1×Genesis 50:17
they have brought1×Isaiah 3:9
To infants just weaned1×Isaiah 28:9
was weaned1×Genesis 21:8
we did1×Genesis 50:15
weaned him1×1 Kings 11:20
you have done1×Psalms 137:8
you have weaned him1×1 Samuel 1:23
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 21:8וַיִּגָּמַ֑לtoand was weanedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 21:8הִגָּמֵ֥לtowas weanedVerb - Nifal - Infinitive constructGenesis 50:15גָּמַ֖לְנוּtowe didVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralGenesis 50:17גְמָל֔וּךָtothey didVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | second person masculine singularNumbers 17:8וַיִּגְמֹ֖לtoand producedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 32:6תִּגְמְלוּ־tohow you repayVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural1 Samuel 1:22יִגָּמֵ֤לtois weanedVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 1:23גָּמְלֵ֣ךְtoyou have weaned himVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person feminine singular1 Samuel 1:23גָּמְלָ֖הּtoshe had weanedVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular1 Samuel 1:24גְּמָלַ֗תּוּtoshe had weaned himVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 21:8
Aligned rows37
Books represented12
Genesis4Numbers1Deuteronomy11 Samuel62 Samuel21 Kings12 Chronicles1Psalms10Proverbs3Isaiah6Hosea1Joel1
Source forms
גָּמַ֥ל2xgā·malPsalms 103:10, Psalms 116:7
יִגְמְלֵ֣נִי2xyiḡ·mə·lê·nî2 Samuel 19:36, Psalms 18:20
גָּמ֖וּל1xgā·mūlIsaiah 11:8
גְּמוּלֵי֙1xgə·mū·lêIsaiah 28:9
גְּמֹ֖ל1xgə·mōlPsalms 119:17
גָמַ֣ל1xḡā·malPsalms 13:6
גֹּמֵ֣ל1xgō·mêlProverbs 11:17
גֹּמֵ֖ל1xgō·mêlIsaiah 18:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular3x2 Samuel 19:36, 2 Samuel 22:21, Psalms 18:20
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular3xPsalms 13:6, Psalms 103:10, Psalms 116:7
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural2x2 Chronicles 20:11, Joel 3:4
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2xProverbs 11:17, Isaiah 18:5
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular2x1 Samuel 1:24, Proverbs 31:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xGenesis 21:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular1xHosea 1:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular1x1 Kings 11:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To complete or bring to full maturity; reciprocal dealing that yields appropriate consequences or rewards.
Strong'sH1580
Lexical occurrences37 versesWord forms2 forms17 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 11:17Source Gloss
to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite ; by implication (of toil), to ripen , i.e. (specifically) to wean
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To complete or bring to full maturity; reciprocal dealing that yields appropriate consequences or rewards.
to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to ripen, i.e. (specifically) to wean BDB: deal fully Usage: bestow on, deal bountifully, do (good), recompense, requite, reward, ripen, serve, mean, yield.
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 groups2Aligned forms17
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense15×
PerfectPs 13:6 · Ps 103:10 · Ps 116:7 · Gen 50:15 · Isa 3:9 · Ps 7:56×
Participle active2Chr 20:11 · Isa 18:5 · Joel 4:4 · Prov 11:174×
Participle passiveIsa 11:8 · Isa 28:92×
ImperfectDeut 32:6 · Ps 142:82×
Sequential imperfectPs 119:171×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
Imperfect1Sam 1:221×
Infinitive constructGen 21:81×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to deal bountifully or bring benefit
To deal bountifully; to reward; to ripen; to treat with kindness
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 37 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
גָּמַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Kindness produces positive outcomes in life and relationships.Proverbs 11:17
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.