xlit gᵉullâh corrected to gᵉʼullâh; feminine passive participle of גָּאַל; redemption (including the right and the object); by implication, relationship; kindred, redeem, redemption, right.
Transliteration:gᵉʼullâh
Pronunciation:gheh-ool-law'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun גְּאֻלָּה (gᵉʼullâh, `{{H1353}}`) is derived from the verbal root גָּאַל (ga'al, `{{H1350}}`), which signifies "to redeem," "to buy back," or "to act as a kinsman-redeemer." As a feminine passive participle, gᵉʼullâh encapsulates the *act* of redemption, the *right* to redeem, or the *object* that is redeemed. Its semantic range is deeply embedded in the ancient Near Eastern legal and social structures, particularly within Israelite society. It denotes the recovery of property or persons through the intervention of a qualified kinsman, emphasizing the restoration to an original state or owner. Beyond mere financial transaction, gᵉʼullâh carries strong connotations of familial duty, social responsibility, and the preservation of lineage and inheritance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The concept of gᵉʼullâh is most prominently featured in the legal codes of the Torah and narratives illustrating these principles.
* **Leviticus 25:** This chapter provides the most comprehensive legal framework for gᵉʼullâh. It outlines the right and obligation to redeem land, houses, and even fellow Israelites who had fallen into servitude due to poverty.
* [[Leviticus 25:24]]: "And in all the land of your possession, you shall grant a redemption (גְּאֻלָּה) for the land." This verse establishes the fundamental right of redemption for alienated land, ensuring that family inheritances were not permanently lost.
* [[Leviticus 25:29]], [[Leviticus 25:31]]: These verses differentiate between the redemption of houses in walled cities (limited time) and those in unwalled villages (treated like open fields, subject to perpetual redemption).
* [[Leviticus 25:48]], [[Leviticus 25:49]], [[Leviticus 25:51]], [[Leviticus 25:52]]: Here, gᵉʼullâh refers to the redemption of an Israelite who has sold himself into servitude to a foreigner. A kinsman (go'el) or the individual himself, if he prospers, has the right to buy back his freedom. This highlights the value of human dignity and the covenantal status of Israelites.
* **Ruth 4:** This narrative beautifully illustrates the practical application of gᵉʼullâh in preserving family lineage and property.
* [[Ruth 4:6]]: The unnamed kinsman declines the right of redemption (גְּאֻלָּה) for Naomi's land and Ruth, fearing it would impair his own inheritance.
* [[Ruth 4:7]]: This verse describes the custom of giving a sandal as a sign of transferring the right of redemption (גְּאֻלָּה). Boaz then steps forward to fulfill this duty.
* **Jeremiah 32:** The prophet Jeremiah's act of purchasing a field during the Babylonian siege serves as a prophetic sign of future redemption.
* [[Jeremiah 32:7]], [[Jeremiah 32:8]]: Jeremiah's cousin Hanamel offers him the right of redemption (גְּאֻלָּה) for his field in Anathoth, as Jeremiah was the nearest kinsman. This act, though seemingly absurd in the face of imminent destruction, symbolizes God's future restoration of Israel to their land.
These contexts consistently underscore gᵉʼullâh as a legal and social mechanism rooted in kinship, designed to protect the vulnerable, preserve family integrity, and uphold the divine order of land ownership and personal freedom.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of gᵉʼullâh is significantly enriched by examining its relationship with other key biblical terms and ideas:
* **גָּאַל (ga'al, `{{H1350}}`)**: The verbal root from which gᵉʼullâh derives. Ga'al refers to the *action* of redeeming and the *person* who redeems (the "go'el" or kinsman-redeemer). The go'el had specific responsibilities, including avenging blood, redeeming property, and raising up a seed for a deceased kinsman. Gᵉʼullâh is the *result* or *right* of the go'el's action.
* **פָּדָה (padah, `{{H6299}}`)**: Another significant Hebrew word for "to redeem" or "to ransom." While both ga'al and padah denote liberation through a price, padah often emphasizes the payment of a ransom to release from bondage (e.g., [[Exodus 13:13]] for the redemption of the firstborn). Gᵉʼullâh, stemming from ga'al, more strongly emphasizes the *kinship responsibility* and the *right* inherent in the relationship, rather than solely a transactional payment.
* **Inheritance (נַחֲלָה, nachalah, `{{H5159}}`)**: The concept of gᵉʼullâh is inextricably linked to the preservation of family inheritance, particularly land, which was seen as a divine gift to the tribes and families of Israel.
* **Covenant (בְּרִית, berit, `{{H1285}}`)**: God's acts of redemption for Israel are often framed within His covenant relationship. His gᵉʼullâh of Israel from Egypt or exile is an expression of His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
### Theological Significance
The human and legal aspects of gᵉʼullâh serve as a profound earthly type for God's ultimate redemptive activity.
* **God as the Ultimate Redeemer (Go'el):** The most significant theological implication of gᵉʼullâh is its application to Yahweh Himself. God is portrayed as the supreme Go'el of Israel, who acts on behalf of His people out of covenant loyalty and familial love.
* He redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt ([[Exodus 6:6]]).
* He promises to redeem them from exile ([[Isaiah 43:1]], [[Isaiah 44:22]], [[Isaiah 48:20]]).
* He is the redeemer of the oppressed and the defender of the vulnerable ([[Psalm 107:2]]).
* God's redemption is not merely an act of power but an expression of His deep, personal commitment to His "kinsmen," Israel.
* **Justice and Restoration:** The laws of gᵉʼullâh underscore God's concern for social justice, ensuring that the poor and disadvantaged had a means of recovery and that the divinely ordained allocation of land was maintained. It reflects a theology of restoration and hope.
* **Foreshadowing of Christ:** The Old Testament concept of the kinsman-redeemer and the right of gᵉʼullâh finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the divine-human Kinsman who, by virtue of His shared humanity, possessed the right and ability to redeem humanity from the bondage of sin and death. His sacrifice on the cross constitutes the ultimate act of redemption (`{{G629}}` apolytrōsis, `{{G3085}}` lytrōsis), paying the price required for our freedom and restoration to God. Just as the go'el redeemed property and persons, Christ redeems His people, restoring them to their true inheritance as children of God.
### Summary
גְּאֻלָּה (gᵉʼullâh, `{{H1353}}`) signifies the act, right, or object of redemption, deeply rooted in the concept of kinship responsibility within ancient Israelite society. It is prominently featured in Levitical law concerning the redemption of land, houses, and enslaved persons, and vividly illustrated in the narrative of Ruth, where Boaz acts as the kinsman-redeemer. Theologically, gᵉʼullâh points to God as the ultimate Redeemer (Go'el) of Israel, demonstrating His covenant faithfulness, justice, and mercy in liberating His people from bondage and restoring them to their rightful inheritance. This rich Old Testament concept provides a profound foundation for understanding the ultimate redemption accomplished through Jesus Christ, our divine Kinsman-Redeemer.
TRV