apparently from גָּמַל (in the sense of labor or burden-bearing); a camel; camel.
Transliteration:gâmâl
Pronunciation:gaw-mawl'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word gâmâl (`{{H1581}}`) refers exclusively to the animal known as a camel. Its base definition connects it to the root gâmal (`{{H1580}}`), which can mean "to deal out fully," "to ripen," "to wean," or, as suggested in the context of gâmâl, "to labor" or "to bear burdens." This etymological link aptly describes the primary utility of the camel in the ancient world: a resilient beast of burden, capable of carrying heavy loads over long distances, particularly in arid environments. While the semantic range of gâmâl itself is narrow (the animal), its cultural and economic significance in the biblical world is extensive, encompassing themes of wealth, trade, and nomadic life.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The camel gâmâl (`{{H1581}}`) appears numerous times throughout the Old Testament, reflecting its integral role in the life and economy of the ancient Near East.
* **Patriarchal Narratives:** Camels are consistently mentioned as a sign of wealth and prosperity bestowed by God. Abraham's riches included camels after his sojourn in Egypt [[Genesis 12:16]], and his servant took ten camels for the journey to find Rebekah [[Genesis 24:10]]. Jacob's departure from Laban's household also involved camels as part of his accumulated wealth [[Genesis 31:17]]. Job's immense prosperity, both before and after his trials, is measured significantly by his thousands of camels [[Job 1:3]], [[Job 42:12]].
* **Trade and Travel:** Camels were indispensable for long-distance trade and travel across deserts. The Ishmaelite traders who bought Joseph were traveling with camels carrying spices and balm [[Genesis 37:25]].
* **Military and Raiding:** Their ability to traverse difficult terrain made them valuable assets in warfare and raiding. The Midianites and Amalekites, adversaries of Israel, are described as possessing countless camels [[Judges 6:5]], [[1 Samuel 30:17]].
* **Prophetic Imagery:** In prophetic literature, camels often symbolize the wealth and tribute brought by foreign nations to Zion. Isaiah envisions the camels of Midian and Ephah bringing gold and frankincense to Jerusalem [[Isaiah 60:6]].
* **Purity Laws:** Under the Mosaic Law, the camel was explicitly classified as an unclean animal, prohibited for consumption by Israelites [[Leviticus 11:4]], [[Deuteronomy 14:7]]. This distinction highlights the unique dietary and ritual codes given to Israel.
* **New Testament (via Greek kamelos):** While gâmâl is a Hebrew word, the concept of the camel carries over into the Greek New Testament. Most notably, Jesus uses the camel in a powerful metaphor regarding the difficulty of a rich person entering the kingdom of God: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" [[Matthew 19:24]], [[Mark 10:25]], [[Luke 18:25]]. Additionally, John the Baptist's attire is described as clothing made of camel's hair [[Matthew 3:4]], [[Mark 1:6]], signifying his ascetic and prophetic lifestyle.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root gâmal (`{{H1580}}`), from which gâmâl (the camel) is believed to derive. This root's connotation of "burden-bearing" or "recompense" subtly informs the understanding of the camel's function. Beyond this linguistic link, gâmâl connects to broader biblical concepts:
* **Wealth and Prosperity:** Camels were a significant indicator of material blessing and economic status in the ancient world.
* **Nomadic Life and Desert Travel:** Essential for the survival and mobility of nomadic tribes and for trade routes across arid regions.
* **Clean and Unclean Animals:** The camel's status as an unclean animal in the Levitical code underscores the specific boundaries and distinctions God established for His people.
* **Symbolism of Difficulty and Humility:** In the New Testament, the camel becomes a powerful symbol of the humanly impossible task of self-salvation, particularly for those burdened by wealth. John the Baptist's camel hair clothing symbolizes humility, asceticism, and detachment from worldly comforts.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of gâmâl (the camel) is multifaceted.
* **Divine Provision and Blessing:** In the Old Testament, the camel represents a tangible sign of God's blessing and provision upon His chosen servants, such as Abraham and Job. Their abundance of camels demonstrated God's favor and the prosperity He bestowed.
* **God's Order in Creation:** The classification of the camel as an unclean animal in the Mosaic Law reflects God's sovereign authority over creation and His establishment of specific laws for His people, distinguishing them from surrounding nations. This distinction reinforced Israel's unique identity and calling.
* **Spiritual Obstacles to the Kingdom:** In the New Testament, the metaphor of the camel passing through the eye of a needle serves as a profound theological statement on the spiritual dangers of material wealth. It is not wealth itself that is condemned, but the attachment to it, which creates an insurmountable barrier to entering God's Kingdom by human effort. This highlights the absolute necessity of divine grace and the transformative power of God for salvation.
* **Prophetic Austerity and Renunciation:** John the Baptist's camel hair clothing symbolically points to a life of humble devotion, detachment from worldly comforts, and a focus on God's call, echoing the prophetic tradition of wilderness living and dependence on divine sustenance.
### Summary
The Hebrew word gâmâl (`{{H1581}}`) denotes the camel, an animal of profound practical and symbolic importance in the biblical narrative. Etymologically linked to concepts of labor and burden, the camel served as an indispensable beast of burden, a measure of wealth, and a vital means of transport for nomadic peoples and traders. Its frequent appearance in the Old Testament underscores its role in divine blessing and the prosperity of patriarchs. Classified as an unclean animal under Mosaic Law, it held a distinct place in Israelite purity regulations. In the New Testament, the camel takes on significant theological weight, most notably in the "eye of a needle" metaphor, illustrating the human impossibility for the rich to enter the Kingdom without divine grace, and in John the Baptist's attire, symbolizing an ascetic, prophetic lifestyle. Thus, gâmâl transcends its literal meaning, embodying themes of wealth, travel, purity, and the spiritual challenges of material attachment within the sacred text.
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