from an unused root meaning to shave; a barber; barber.
Transliteration:gallâb
Pronunciation:gal-lawb'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun גַּלָּב (gallâb, `{{H1532}}`) denotes a "barber." Its etymology traces to an unused root, likely related to the verb גָּלַח (galach, `{{H1548}}`), which means "to shave" or "to cut hair." Thus, the core meaning of gallâb refers to an individual whose profession involves the cutting, trimming, or shaving of hair, particularly the hair of the head and beard. The semantic range is quite narrow, focusing exclusively on this specific occupation and the actions associated with it.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term gallâb (`{{H1532}}`) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, specifically in the book of Ezekiel:
* [[Ezekiel 5:1]]: "And you, son of man, take for yourself a sharp sword; use it as a barber's razor (תַּעַר הַגַּלָּב) and pass it over your head and over your beard. Then take balances for weighing and divide the hair."
In this singular occurrence, gallâb does not refer directly to the person of the barber but rather modifies the noun תַּעַר (ta'ar, `{{H8375}}`), meaning "razor." The phrase תַּעַר הַגַּלָּב is best translated as "a barber's razor" or "a razor of a barber." The context is highly symbolic and prophetic. The prophet Ezekiel is commanded by God to perform a dramatic object lesson for the exiled Israelites. He is to shave his own hair and beard with a barber's razor, then divide the hair into three portions, each representing a different fate for the inhabitants of Jerusalem during the impending siege and destruction. The use of a "barber's razor" emphasizes the thoroughness and precision of the shaving, signifying a complete removal, much like the complete judgment and dispersion awaiting the people.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary conceptual link for gallâb (`{{H1532}}`) is to the act of shaving and hair removal.
* **גָּלַח (galach, `{{H1548}}`)**: This verb, meaning "to shave," is the likely root from which gallâb is derived. It appears in various contexts, including ritual purification ([[Numbers 6:9]], [[Leviticus 14:8-9]]), acts of mourning ([[Job 1:20]], [[Jeremiah 41:5]]), humiliation ([[2 Samuel 10:4]]), and the Nazarite vow ([[Numbers 6:18-19]]).
* **תַּעַר (ta'ar, `{{H8375}}`)**: This noun means "razor" or "knife." As seen in [[Ezekiel 5:1]], it is the instrument used for shaving. It also appears in contexts related to the Nazarite vow ([[Numbers 6:5]]) and general cutting.
* **Hair (שֵׂעָר, se'ar, `{{H8181}}`) and Beard (זָקָן, zaqan, `{{H2206}}`)**: These are the physical components upon which the gallâb operates. Hair and beards held significant cultural and religious meaning in ancient Israel, often associated with honor, status, and vows. Their removal could symbolize disgrace, mourning, or a radical change in status.
### Theological Significance
Despite its singular occurrence, the theological significance of gallâb (`{{H1532}}`) in [[Ezekiel 5:1]] is profound. It serves as an instrument within a divinely orchestrated prophetic drama, transforming a mundane tool into a vehicle for conveying God's severe judgment.
* **Symbol of Divine Judgment and Disgrace**: The act of shaving the head and beard was a deeply humiliating and disgraceful act in ancient Israel, often associated with mourning or captivity. By commanding Ezekiel to use a "barber's razor," God emphasizes the thoroughness and severity of the impending judgment upon Jerusalem. The precise cutting of hair symbolizes the precise and inescapable nature of God's punitive actions.
* **God's Sovereignty in Judgment**: The gallâb becomes an active participant in God's prophetic word. God uses an ordinary, everyday object to illustrate His extraordinary power and control over the destiny of nations and individuals. The razor, wielded by the prophet at God's command, represents the instruments of divine justice – whether famine, sword, or scattering – that would befall Jerusalem.
* **Prophetic Fulfillment**: The meticulous division of Ezekiel's shaved hair, each portion representing a different fate for Jerusalem's inhabitants, highlights the precision of God's prophecy and its inevitable fulfillment. The gallâb is the tool that facilitates this symbolic act, underscoring the detailed nature of God's plan, even in judgment.
### Summary
The Hebrew noun gallâb (גַּלָּב, `{{H1532}}`) signifies a "barber," deriving from a root meaning "to shave." Its sole appearance in the biblical text is in [[Ezekiel 5:1]], where it describes a "barber's razor" (תַּעַר הַגַּלָּב). In this context, the gallâb is not a person but the specific tool used by the prophet Ezekiel in a powerful symbolic act. This act, commanded by God, depicts the comprehensive and severe judgment awaiting Jerusalem, with the razor symbolizing the instruments of divine punishment and the thoroughness of the impending destruction and dispersion. Though a common term for a profession, its singular biblical use elevates gallâb to a significant element in a profound prophetic message, underscoring themes of divine sovereignty, judgment, and the precise fulfillment of God's word. It is conceptually linked to the broader practices of shaving (`{{H1548}}`) and the use of razors (`{{H8375}}`) in both ritual and symbolic contexts within ancient Israel.
TRV