feminine from גָּלַל; a fountain, bowl or globe (all as round); bowl, pommel, spring.
Transliteration:gullâh
Pronunciation:gool-law'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun gullâh (`{{H1543}}`) is a feminine form derived from the verb gālal (`{{H1556}}`), which means "to roll," "to roll away," or "to be round." This etymological root strongly informs the primary semantic core of gullâh, indicating something that is round, spherical, or globular in shape. Its semantic range encompasses three main categories:
1. **A natural source of water:** Translated as "fountain" or "spring," referring to a bubbling or flowing source of water. The roundness might allude to the wellspring's opening or the rolling motion of the water itself.
2. **A man-made vessel:** Translated as "bowl" or "globe," denoting a rounded container or an object with a spherical form.
3. **An architectural element:** Specifically, the "pommel" or rounded top of a pillar or column, often serving as a decorative or structural component.
The unifying concept across these meanings is the inherent roundness or globular nature of the object or phenomenon described.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word gullâh (`{{H1543}}`) appears in several significant biblical contexts, each illustrating a facet of its meaning:
* **Architectural Context (Bowl/Pommel):** In the descriptions of Solomon's Temple, gullâh refers to the rounded "bowls" or "pommels" that formed the capitals of the two great pillars, Jachin and Boaz.
* [[1 Kings 7:41]]: "the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars"
* [[1 Kings 7:42]]: "four hundred pomegranates for the two nets, two rows of pomegranates for each net, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars."
* [[2 Chronicles 4:12-13]]: These passages provide a parallel account, reinforcing the understanding of gullâh as a significant, rounded architectural feature contributing to the grandeur and design of the Temple. These elements were not merely functional but also highly decorative, reflecting the glory intended for God's dwelling.
* **Hydrological Context (Spring/Fountain):** Gullâh is used to describe natural sources of water, often in the context of vital provision.
* [[Joshua 15:19]]: Caleb's daughter, Achsah, requests "gulloth mayim" (springs of water) from her father, specifically "the upper springs and the lower springs."
* [[Judges 1:15]]: This passage is a parallel account to Joshua 15:19, reiterating the importance of these water sources for sustenance and livelihood in the land. Here, gullâh emphasizes the physical source of water, vital for agricultural and personal needs in an arid region.
* **Symbolic Context (Bowl/Reservoir):** One of the most theologically rich uses of gullâh is found in Zechariah's vision.
* [[Zechariah 4:2]]: The prophet sees "a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it." This "bowl" (`{{H1543}}`) serves as the central reservoir from which oil flows to feed the seven lamps of the lampstand.
* [[Zechariah 4:3]]: "and two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." The olive trees are depicted as continuously supplying oil to the bowl, which in turn supplies the lamps. This imagery is central to the vision of divine empowerment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of gullâh is enriched by examining its relationship to other Hebrew words and concepts:
* **Root Verb:** gālal (`{{H1556}}`), "to roll," "to roll away." This root underpins the concept of roundness and sometimes movement.
* **Related Nouns from the Same Root:**
* galgal (`{{H1536}}`): "wheel," "whirlwind," further emphasizing circularity and motion.
* gilgal (`{{H1537}}`): A place name, often associated with a circle of stones or something rolled.
* **Water Sources:** ma'yan (`{{H4599}}`, "spring"), 'ayin (`{{H5869}}`, "eye," also commonly "spring" or "fountain"). While gullâh can refer to a spring, these words are more general terms for water sources. gullâh specifically highlights the *shape* or *opening* of the spring.
* **Temple Architecture:** koteret (`{{H3807}}`, "capital" of a pillar), 'ammud (`{{H5982}}`, "pillar"). These terms provide the broader context for the architectural use of gullâh.
* **Light and Oil:** menorah (`{{H4501}}`, "lampstand"), shemen (`{{H8081}}`, "oil"). These concepts are intrinsically linked to the symbolic use of gullâh in Zechariah 4.
### Theological Significance
The word gullâh (`{{H1543}}`), though simple in its core meaning of "roundness," carries profound theological significance in its various biblical applications:
* **Divine Provision and Sustenance:** The "springs of water" in Joshua and Judges underscore God's faithful provision of essential resources for His people in the Promised Land. Water, a life-giving element, frequently symbolizes God's blessing, refreshment, and the means by which He sustains life. The request for both "upper" and "lower" springs highlights a desire for abundant and continuous provision, acknowledging divine sovereignty over the very sources of life.
* **The Holy Spirit and Divine Empowerment:** The most significant theological insight comes from Zechariah 4. The gullâh as the central reservoir of the golden lampstand, continuously fed by the olive trees, powerfully symbolizes the unending supply of divine anointing and power. This is widely interpreted as representing the Holy Spirit, who empowers God's chosen instruments (the "two anointed ones" or leaders) and, through them, provides light and spiritual vitality to the community. The continuous flow signifies that God's empowering presence is not intermittent but ceaseless, enabling His people to accomplish His work not by might or power, but by His Spirit.
* **Order, Beauty, and Worship:** In its architectural use within the Temple, gullâh points to the meticulous care, beauty, and order dedicated to God's dwelling place. The rounded "bowls" on the capitals contribute to the overall aesthetic and structural integrity of the sanctuary, reflecting the perfection and majesty of the God who is worshipped there. Even the decorative elements of sacred space bear witness to divine glory and the reverence due to the Creator.
### Summary
The Hebrew word gullâh (`{{H1543}}`), derived from the root gālal (`{{H1556}}`) meaning "to roll," fundamentally describes something *round* or *globular*. Its usage in the Old Testament spans three primary contexts: as architectural "bowls" or "pommels" in the Temple, signifying beauty and divine order ([[1 Kings 7:41]], [[2 Chronicles 4:12]]); as natural "springs" or "fountains," emphasizing God's vital provision of sustenance ([[Joshua 15:19]], [[Judges 1:15]]); and most profoundly, as a symbolic "bowl" or reservoir for the lampstand in Zechariah's vision, representing the continuous, divine supply of oil, often understood as the Holy Spirit's empowering presence ([[Zechariah 4:2]]). Across these varied applications, gullâh consistently points to a source or container that, through its roundness, embodies aspects of God's abundant, unending provision and the anointing necessary for His purposes to be fulfilled.
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