English · KJV
H1536

גִּלְגָּל

gilgâl /ghil-gawl'/ Ask about this word
Roota variation of גַּלְגַּל
Meaning(a wheel; by analogy, a whirlwind; also dust (as whirled))
KJV usagewheel.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gilgâl — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word gilgâl, represented by H1536, means wheel. It appears just 1 time across 1 unique verse in the Bible. The definition also suggests related concepts of a whirlwind or whirled dust, stemming from the idea of a revolving object.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its sole biblical appearance, H1536 is used in an agricultural metaphor. The verse describes the process of preparing bread corn, noting that a farmer does not endlessly break it with the wheel of his cart Isaiah 28:28. This context places the word firmly in the realm of everyday tools and processes, illustrating a specific part of a larger mechanism used for threshing grain.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context of H1536:

  • H1854 dâqaq: This verb means to crush or bruise. In the same verse where H1536 appears, it describes how bread corn is bruised Isaiah 28:28. This word is also used for the pulverizing of mountains Isaiah 41:15 and the stamping of idols into dust 2 Chronicles 34:4.
  • H5699 ʻăgâlâh: Meaning a cart or wagon, this is the vehicle to which the wheel H1536 belongs. Its uses range from the agricultural cart in Isaiah 28:28 to the wagons Joseph provided for his family Genesis 45:21 and the chariots of war burned by God Psalms 46:9.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1536 is tied to its metaphorical use in its single appearance.

  • Instrument of a Measured Process: The wheel is not an agent of random destruction but a tool in a deliberate process. The verse highlights that the farmer does not thresh the grain endlessly, suggesting purpose and restraint Isaiah 28:28.
  • Symbol of Appropriate Action: As part of a cart, the wheel illustrates how a force is applied for a specific, constructive purpose—to prepare bread corn. It is not used to obliterate the grain entirely.
  • Refining, Not Ruining: The imagery points to a process that is carefully managed to achieve a desired outcome. The action of the wheel is part of preparing something valuable, not just crushing it without reason.

Summary

In summary, H1536 provides a specific and tangible image of a wheel. Though appearing only once, its context within the metaphor of threshing grain in Isaiah 28:28 gives it significance. It moves beyond a simple mechanical part to symbolize a measured, purposeful process, illustrating how divine action can be applied with wisdom and restraint to achieve a desired end.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • גִּלְגַּל

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1854 דָּקַק a primitive root (compare הָדַךְlemma הָדךְ missing vowel, corrected to הָדַךְ); to crush (or intransitively) crumble; b H5699 עֲגָלָה from the same as עָגֹל; something revolving, i.e. a wheeled vehicle; cart, chariot, wagon

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Isaiah — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.