1548. galach
Strong's Lexicon
galach: To shave, to cut off hair

Original Word: גָּלַח
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: galach
Pronunciation: gah-LAKH
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-lakh')
Definition: To shave, to cut off hair
Meaning: to be bald, to shave, to lay waste

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent for "galach," the concept of shaving or cutting hair can be related to Greek terms like "ξυράω" (xurao), which means to shave.

Usage: The Hebrew verb "galach" primarily means to shave or to cut off hair. It is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, often related to ritual purification, mourning, or the completion of a Nazirite vow. The act of shaving was sometimes symbolic, representing a change in status or a new beginning.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite culture, hair held significant symbolic meaning. For instance, Nazirites, who took a vow of separation to the Lord, would not cut their hair until the vow was completed (Numbers 6:5). Shaving the head could also be a sign of mourning or repentance (Isaiah 15:2, Jeremiah 48:37). The act of shaving was often associated with purification rituals, as seen in the cleansing of lepers (Leviticus 14:8-9).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be bald, shave, shave off
NASB Translation
cut (3), shave (9), shave off (4), shaved (4), shaved off (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[גָּלַח] verb be bald (Arabic );

Pi`el shave, shave off (so Late Hebrew, Aramaic) — Perfect וְגִלַּח consecutive Leviticus 14:8 2t.; suffix וְגִלְּחוֺ consecutive 2 Samuel 14:26; 3feminine singular וְגִלְּחָה consecutive Deuteronomy 21:12; Imperfect יְגַלַּח Leviticus 14:9; Isaiah 7:20, יְגַלֵּחַ֑ Leviticus 13:33 2t., וַיְגַלַּח Genesis 41:14; 2 Samuel 10:4; suffix (3masculine singular) יְגַלְּחֶגּוּ, וַיְגַלְּחֵם1Chronicles 19:4; 3 feminine singular וַתְּנַלַּךְ Judges 16:19; 3masculine plural יְגַלֵּ֑חוּ Leviticus 21:5; Ezekiel 44:20; Infinitive suffix of subject גַּלְּחוֺ 2 Samuel 14:26; —

1 shave, object the head, ראֹשׁ Numbers 6:9 (twice in verse); Numbers 6:18 (P) Deuteronomy 21:12 (hair as containing impurity, compare RSSem i. 407), 2 Samuel 14:26 (twice in verse) compare; 2 Samuel 14:26; Ezekiel 44:20; Leviticus 13:33 (P), object הַנֶתֶק; object persons 1 Chronicles 19:4.

2 shave off, the hair שֵׂעָר Leviticus 14:8,9 (twice in verse) (P) compare Judges 16:19; the beard זָקָן Leviticus 21:5 (H) 2 Samuel 10:4.

3 figurative of devastation by Assyrians Isaiah 7:20 (object הָראֹשׁ, שַׂעַר הָרַגְלָ֑יִם and הַזָּקָן).

4 intransitive he shaved (himself) Genesis 41:14 (E).

Pu`al Perfect גֻּלָּ֑ח Judges 16:22, גֻּלַּחְתִּי Judges 16:17; Participle construct מְגֻלְּחֵי Jeremiah 41:5; — be shaven, subject person (of Samson) Judges 16:17,22; מְגֻלְּחֵי זָקָן Jeremiah 41:5.

Hithpa`el Perfect וְהִתְגַּלָּ֑ח consecutive Leviticus 13:33; Infinitive suffix הִתְגַּלְּחוֺ Numbers 6:19; — shave oneself Leviticus 13:33; with accusative אֶתנִֿזְרוֺ Numbers 6:19 (both P).

I. גלל ( be great in rank or dignity (often of God)).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
poll, shave off

A primitive root; properly, to be bald, i.e. (causatively) to shave; figuratively to lay waste -- poll, shave (off).

Forms and Transliterations
גֻּלַּ֙חְתִּי֙ גֻּלָּֽח׃ גלח׃ גלחתי הִֽתְגַּלְּח֥וֹ התגלחו וְגִלְּח֑וֹ וְגִלְּחָה֙ וְגִלַּ֣ח וְגִלַּ֤ח וְהִ֨תְגַּלָּ֔ח וַֽיְגַלְּחֵ֔ם וַיְגַלַּח֙ וַתְּגַלַּ֕ח וּֽבְגַלְּחוֹ֮ ובגלחו וגלח וגלחה וגלחו והתגלח ויגלח ויגלחם ותגלח יְגַלְּחֶֽנּוּ׃ יְגַלֵּ֑חַ יְגַלֵּ֑חוּ יְגַלֵּ֔חַ יְגַלֵּ֔חוּ יְגַלַּ֣ח יגלח יגלחו יגלחנו׃ מְגֻלְּחֵ֥י מגלחי gul·lāḥ gul·laḥ·tî gulLach gulLachti gullāḥ gullaḥtî hiṯ·gal·lə·ḥōw hitgalleCho hiṯgalləḥōw mə·ḡul·lə·ḥê megulleChei məḡulləḥê ū·ḇə·ḡal·lə·ḥōw ūḇəḡalləḥōw uvegalleCho vattegalLach vaygalLach vaygalleChem vegilLach vegilleChah vegilleCho veHitgalLach wat·tə·ḡal·laḥ wattəḡallaḥ way·ḡal·laḥ way·ḡal·lə·ḥêm wayḡallaḥ wayḡalləḥêm wə·ḡil·laḥ wə·ḡil·lə·ḥāh wə·ḡil·lə·ḥōw wə·hiṯ·gal·lāḥ wəḡillaḥ wəḡilləḥāh wəḡilləḥōw wəhiṯgallāḥ yə·ḡal·laḥ yə·ḡal·lê·aḥ yə·ḡal·lə·ḥen·nū yə·ḡal·lê·ḥū yegalLach yəḡallaḥ yegalLeach yəḡallêaḥ yegalleChennu yegalLechu yəḡalləḥennū yəḡallêḥū
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 41:14
HEB: מִן־ הַבּ֑וֹר וַיְגַלַּח֙ וַיְחַלֵּ֣ף שִׂמְלֹתָ֔יו
NAS: him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed
KJV: out of the dungeon: and he shaved [himself], and changed
INT: out of the dungeon had shaved and changed his clothes

Leviticus 13:33
HEB: וְהִ֨תְגַּלָּ֔ח וְאֶת־ הַנֶּ֖תֶק
NAS: then he shall shave himself, but he shall not shave
KJV: He shall be shaven, but the scall
INT: shall shave the scale shall not

Leviticus 13:33
HEB: הַנֶּ֖תֶק לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֑חַ וְהִסְגִּ֨יר הַכֹּהֵ֧ן
NAS: then he shall shave himself, but he shall not shave the scale;
KJV: but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest
INT: the scale shall not shave shall isolate and the priest

Leviticus 14:8
HEB: אֶת־ בְּגָדָ֜יו וְגִלַּ֣ח אֶת־ כָּל־
NAS: his clothes and shave off all
KJV: his clothes, and shave off all his hair,
INT: to be cleansed his clothes and shave all his hair

Leviticus 14:9
HEB: בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י יְגַלַּ֣ח אֶת־ כָּל־
NAS: day that he shall shave off
KJV: day, that he shall shave all his hair
INT: day the seventh shall shave all his hair

Leviticus 14:9
HEB: כָּל־ שְׂעָר֖וֹ יְגַלֵּ֑חַ וְכִבֶּ֣ס אֶת־
NAS: that he shall shave off all
KJV: even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash
INT: all his hair off shall then wash his clothes

Leviticus 21:5
HEB: זְקָנָ֖ם לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֑חוּ וּבִ֨בְשָׂרָ֔ם לֹ֥א
NAS: nor shave off the edges
KJV: upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner
INT: of their beards nor shave their flesh nor

Numbers 6:9
HEB: רֹ֣אשׁ נִזְר֑וֹ וְגִלַּ֤ח רֹאשׁוֹ֙ בְּי֣וֹם
NAS: head [of hair], then he shall shave his head
KJV: of his consecration; then he shall shave his head
INT: head his dedicated shall shave his head the day

Numbers 6:9
HEB: בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י יְגַלְּחֶֽנּוּ׃
NAS: when he becomes clean; he shall shave it on the seventh
KJV: on the seventh day shall he shave it.
INT: day the seventh shall shave

Numbers 6:18
HEB: וְגִלַּ֣ח הַנָּזִ֗יר פֶּ֛תַח
NAS: The Nazirite shall then shave his dedicated
KJV: And the Nazarite shall shave the head
INT: shave the Nazirite the doorway

Numbers 6:19
HEB: הַנָּזִ֔יר אַחַ֖ר הִֽתְגַּלְּח֥וֹ אֶת־ נִזְרֽוֹ׃
NAS: after he has shaved his dedicated
KJV: [the hair of] his separation is shaven:
INT: of the Nazirite after has shaved his dedicated

Deuteronomy 21:12
HEB: תּ֣וֹךְ בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וְגִלְּחָה֙ אֶת־ רֹאשָׁ֔הּ
NAS: to your house, and she shall shave her head
KJV: to thine house; and she shall shave her head,
INT: her home to your house shall shave her head and trim

Judges 16:17
HEB: אִמִּ֑י אִם־ גֻּלַּ֙חְתִּי֙ וְסָ֣ר מִמֶּ֣נִּי
NAS: If I am shaved, then my strength
KJV: womb: if I be shaven, then my strength
INT: my mother's If I am shaved will go then

Judges 16:19
HEB: וַתִּקְרָ֣א לָאִ֔ישׁ וַתְּגַלַּ֕ח אֶת־ שֶׁ֖בַע
NAS: for a man and had him shave off the seven
KJV: for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven
INT: and called A man shave the seven locks

Judges 16:22
HEB: לְצַמֵּ֖חַ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר גֻּלָּֽח׃ פ
NAS: to grow again after it was shaved off.
KJV: to grow again after he was shaven.
INT: to grow after shaved

2 Samuel 10:4
HEB: עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֗ד וַיְגַלַּח֙ אֶת־ חֲצִ֣י
NAS: servants and shaved off half
KJV: servants, and shaved off the one half
INT: servants David's and shaved half of their beards

2 Samuel 14:26
HEB: וּֽבְגַלְּחוֹ֮ אֶת־ רֹאשׁוֹ֒
NAS: When he cut the hair of his head
KJV: And when he polled his head,
INT: polled his head become

2 Samuel 14:26
HEB: לַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְגַלֵּ֔חַ כִּֽי־ כָבֵ֥ד
NAS: of every year that he cut [it], for it was heavy
KJV: end that he polled [it]: because [the hair] was heavy
INT: age he polled for was heavy

2 Samuel 14:26
HEB: כָבֵ֥ד עָלָ֖יו וְגִלְּח֑וֹ וְשָׁקַל֙ אֶת־
NAS: [it], for it was heavy on him so he cut it), he weighed
KJV: [it]: because [the hair] was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed
INT: was heavy on polled weighed the hair

1 Chronicles 19:4
HEB: עַבְדֵ֤י דָוִיד֙ וַֽיְגַלְּחֵ֔ם וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת אֶת־
NAS: servants and shaved them and cut off
KJV: servants, and shaved them, and cut off
INT: servants David's and shaved and cut their garments

Isaiah 7:20
HEB: בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֡וּא יְגַלַּ֣ח אֲדֹנָי֩ בְּתַ֨עַר
NAS: the Lord will shave with a razor,
KJV: shall the Lord shave with a razor
INT: day he will shave the Lord A razor

Jeremiah 41:5
HEB: שְׁמֹנִ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ מְגֻלְּחֵ֥י זָקָ֛ן וּקְרֻעֵ֥י
NAS: with their beards shaved off and their clothes
KJV: having their beards shaven, and their clothes
INT: eighty men shaved their beards torn

Ezekiel 44:20
HEB: וְרֹאשָׁם֙ לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֔חוּ וּפֶ֖רַע לֹ֣א
NAS: Also they shall not shave their heads,
KJV: Neither shall they shave their heads,
INT: their heads shall not shave their locks not

23 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1548
23 Occurrences


gul·lāḥ — 1 Occ.
gul·laḥ·tî — 1 Occ.
hiṯ·gal·lə·ḥōw — 1 Occ.
mə·ḡul·lə·ḥê — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ḡal·lə·ḥōw — 1 Occ.
wat·tə·ḡal·laḥ — 1 Occ.
way·ḡal·laḥ — 2 Occ.
way·ḡal·lə·ḥêm — 1 Occ.
wə·ḡil·laḥ — 3 Occ.
wə·ḡil·lə·ḥāh — 1 Occ.
wə·ḡil·lə·ḥōw — 1 Occ.
wə·hiṯ·gal·lāḥ — 1 Occ.
yə·ḡal·laḥ — 2 Occ.
yə·ḡal·lê·aḥ — 3 Occ.
yə·ḡal·lə·ḥen·nū — 1 Occ.
yə·ḡal·lê·ḥū — 2 Occ.















1547
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