### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gulgôleth**, represented by `{{H1538}}`, primarily means a **skull**. It appears **12 times** across **12 unique verses**. Stemming from a root meaning "to be round," its application extends from the literal bone to a method of counting people by head, often translated as "poll" or "every man."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1538}}` is frequently used in administrative and census contexts. It is a key term for enumeration, as when the LORD commands a count of the children of Israel "every male{H2145} by their polls{H1538}" [[Numbers 1:2]]. This method of counting "by their polls" is applied to military-age men [[Numbers 1:20]], to the Levites for their service [[1 Chronicles 23:24]], and for establishing pedigrees [[Numbers 1:18]]. It is also used to specify a required contribution per person, such as the "bekah{H1235} for every man{H1538}" for the sanctuary [[Exodus 38:26]] or when gathering "an omer{H6016} for every man{H1538}" [[Exodus 16:16]]. The word's literal meaning is seen in accounts of physical remains, such as the "skull{H1538}" of Abimelech being broken [[Judges 9:53]] or when only the "skull{H1538}" of Jezebel was found for burial [[2 Kings 9:35]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the function and context of **gulgôleth**:
* `{{H7218}}` **rôʼsh** (head, chief, sum): While **gulgôleth** refers to the physical skull or an individual count, **rô'sh** often means "head" in the sense of a leader or a "sum" total, as seen in the command to take the "sum{H7218} of all the congregation" [[Numbers 1:2]].
* `{{H6485}}` **pâqad** (to number, count, visit): This verb frequently describes the action for which **gulgôleth** is the unit of measure. For example, the people were "numbered{H6485}" based on their polls [[Numbers 1:22]], and this numbering was a form of visitation or official accounting.
* `{{H2145}}` **zâkâr** (male): The enumerations using **gulgôleth** often specify "every male{H2145} by their polls" [[Numbers 1:2]], highlighting its role in counting specific demographics like warriors or heads of households.
* `{{H4557}}` **mis·pâr** (number): This word for "number" is a direct counterpart to the counting by **gulgôleth**. The process involved counting by "polls{H1538}" to arrive at a total "number{H4557} of their names" [[Numbers 1:2]].
### Theological Significance
The word `{{H1538}}` carries significant conceptual weight, illustrating key theological principles.
* **Individual Value and Redemption:** By counting each person "by their poll" for a census or a sanctuary offering [[Exodus 38:26]], the term underscores that every individual has value and is accounted for before God. The redemption payment of "five{H2568} shekels{H8255} apiece by the poll{H1538}" reinforces this idea of personal worth and ransom [[Numbers 3:47]].
* **Divine Order and Provision:** The use of **gulgôleth** in organizing Israel for war [[Numbers 1:20]] and for the service of the LORD's house [[1 Chronicles 23:24]] demonstrates God's emphasis on order within His people. It is also tied to His provision, as He commanded the gathering of manna "an omer{H6016} for every man{H1538}" [[Exodus 16:16]].
* **Mortality and Judgment:** In its literal sense, the word serves as a stark reminder of human frailty and divine judgment. The "skull{H1538}" is what remains after a violent death, as with Abimelech [[Judges 9:53]] and Jezebel [[2 Kings 9:35]]. Saul's head being fastened in the temple of Dagon [[1 Chronicles 10:10]] represents ultimate defeat and desecration.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1538}}` **gulgôleth** functions with a powerful duality. It is both a practical term for enumeration, signifying each person counted in a census, and a visceral term for a physical skull, representing mortality. This range highlights a core biblical theme: every individual is accounted for by God, whether for service, redemption, or judgment. From a census establishing the armies of Israel to the grim remains of a defeated enemy, **gulgôleth** serves as a potent word for the head, both as a marker of a living person and a symbol of their ultimate fate.
TRV