### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gôʼel**, represented by `{{H1352}}`, signifies **profanation** or to **defile**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, indicating a very specific and targeted application within the biblical text. The term is derived from a root meaning to profane, highlighting an action that pollutes or corrupts something sacred.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its sole biblical appearance, `{{H1352}}` is used in a prayer by Nehemiah. He asks his God to remember those who have **defiled** the priesthood and its associated covenant [[Nehemiah 13:29]]. This usage places the word in a context of spiritual corruption, specifically targeting the sacred institutions of the priesthood and the covenant established for the Levites.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of defilement in this context is understood through the sacred items being profaned:
* `{{H3550}}` **kᵉhunnâh** (priesthood): This refers to the **priesthood** or **priest's office**. It was established as a perpetual statute [[Exodus 29:9]] and considered the special inheritance of the Levites from the LORD [[Joshua 18:7]].
* `{{H1285}}` **bᵉrîyth** (covenant): This term signifies a **covenant** or compact. God's covenant is a foundational element, defining his relationship with his people and kept faithfully with those who love him [[Deuteronomy 7:9]].
* `{{H3881}}` **Lêvîyîy** (Levite): This refers to a **Levite** or descendant of Levi. The Levites were set apart for sacred duties, such as teaching the people [[Nehemiah 8:9]] and serving in the house of God.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1352}}` is centered on the severe offense of profaning what God has consecrated.
* **Violation of Sacred Office:** The word's use in [[Nehemiah 13:29]] shows that defiling the **priesthood** `{{H3550}}` is a grave sin. It is an attack on a divine institution that God established as an everlasting office [[Exodus 40:15]].
* **Breach of Divine Compact:** To **defile** the **covenant** `{{H1285}}` of the priesthood is to break a sacred agreement with God. The act is a rejection of the terms God himself established for his people [[Exodus 19:5]].
* **A Call for Divine Remembrance:** The prayer asks **God** `{{H430}}` to **remember** `{{H2142}}` this defilement, implying a call for divine justice. This act of profanation is not merely a human failure but an offense against God that warrants his direct attention.
### Summary
In summary, **gôʼel** `{{H1352}}` is not a general term for wrongdoing but a precise word for the profanation of the sacred. Its single, powerful use in scripture underscores the immense gravity of corrupting the divinely appointed offices and covenants that form the foundation of worship and relationship with God. The word illustrates how seriously the Bible treats any act that pollutes what God has set apart as holy.
TRV