Word Study for H1550 (גָּלִיל)

gâlîyl /gaw-leel'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga valve of a folding door (as turning); also a ring (as round)

KJV usagefolding, ring.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gâlîyl — 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 gâlîyl, represented by H1550, is defined as a valve of a folding door, as it turns, or a ring, due to its roundness. It is a specific term, appearing 4 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning shifts between a "ring" and the "folding" action of a door, based on the context.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical applications, H1550 describes both ornamentation and architecture. In Song of Solomon, it is used metaphorically to describe a lover's hands as "gold rings" Song of Solomon 5:14, emphasizing beauty and value. In the book of Esther, it describes functional "silver rings" that, with cords, fastened decorative hangings to marble pillars in the royal court Esther 1:6. A different application is found in 1 Kings, where it describes the construction of Solomon's temple, specifying that the leaves of the two doors were folding 1 Kings 6:34.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the contexts in which H1550 is used:

H1817 deleth (door): This word, meaning "something swinging, i.e. the valve of a door," is directly connected to H1550 in its sense of folding doors in the temple construction 1 Kings 6:34.
H2091 zâhâb (gold): This term for a precious metal is used to describe the rings in the praise of a loved one Song of Solomon 5:14, linking H1550 to concepts of beauty and great value.
H5982 ʻammûwd (pillar): Meaning a "column" or "stand," this word appears alongside H1550 in Esther 1:6, where silver rings are fastened to marble pillars, highlighting an architectural and structural context.

Theological Significance

Though a concrete term, H1550 carries conceptual weight in its applications.

Value and Beauty: When used as rings, the word is associated with precious materials like "gold" Song of Solomon 5:14 and "silver" Esther 1:6, signifying wealth, royalty, and aesthetic beauty.
Architectural Sophistication: Its use in describing folding doors in the temple 1 Kings 6:34 and as rings on "pillars" in a palace Esther 1:6 points to advanced craftsmanship and intentional design in significant structures.
Functionality: Whether as an ornamental ring or a door mechanism, H1550 denotes an object with a specific, useful purpose, from securing hangings to enabling passage.

Summary

In summary, H1550 gâlîyl is a precise term derived from the idea of roundness or turning. It functions in scripture as both a "ring" used for decoration and fastening, and as the "folding" quality of a door. Though rare, its occurrences in contexts of love, royalty, and temple construction show how a simple word for an object can illustrate broader themes of value, beauty, and intelligent design.

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 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — 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.

גְּלִילִים
גְּלִילֵי

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

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Kings, Esther, and Song of Solomon (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1 Kings

Esther

Song of Solomon

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.