Original Word: גָּאַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ga'al
Pronunciation: gah-ahl
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-al')
KJV: defile, pollute, stain
NASB: defiled, defile, unclean, stained
Word Origin: [a primitive root, (rather identified with H1350 (גָּאַל - redeemed), through the idea of freeing, i.e. repudiating)]
1. to soil
2. (figuratively) desecrate
A primitive root, (rather identified with ga'al, through the idea of freeing, i.e. Repudiating); to soil or (figuratively) desecrate -- defile, pollute, stain.
see HEBREW ga'al
Niph`al Perfect3masculine plural נְגֹאֲלוּ Isaiah 59:3; Lamentations 4:14, on form see Ges§ 51, 2, Köi. 265; Participle נִגְאָלָה Zephaniah 3:1; — be defiled, hands with blood בַּדָּם, Isaiah 59:3 compare Lamentations 4:14; participle as substantive defiled, polluted one Zephaniah 3:1 of Jerusalem ("" מֹרְאָה; appositive הָעִיר הַיּוֺנָה).
Pi`el Perfect1plural suffix גֵּאַלְנוּךָ Malachi 1:7 pollute, desecrate, object ׳י (desecrated in his altar).
Pu`al Imperfect וַיְגֹאֲלוּ מִןהַֿכְּהֻנָּה Ezra 2:62 = Nehemiah 7:64 construct pregnant and they were desecrated out of the priesthood, i.e. deposed, as desecrated one; Participle מְגֹאָל of bread laid on Yahweh's altar Malachi 1:7; of Yahweh's altar (table, שֻׁלְחָן) Malachi 1:12.
Hiph`il Perfect1singular אֶגְאָ֑לְתִּי Isaiah 63:3 (on Aramaic form see Köi. 27 Ges§ 53 R. 6 but) read perhaps גֵּאָ֑לְתִּי Pi`el, see GFMThLZ 1887, 292 compare also Gesl.c. N. Ol§ 255 b Sta§ 159 b, 3; — I have polluted, i.e. stained all my raiment.
Hithpa`el Imperfect יִתְגָּאַל Daniel 1:8; יִתְגָּאָ֑ל Daniel 1:8; — defile himself.
[フレーム]
גָּאַל depicts an act of rendering something unfit for sacred or communal use—by moral stain, ritual impurity, or public disgrace. Though the contexts vary, the unifying idea is loss of holiness and consequent exclusion from God-ordained purpose. The verb is always active: a person, object, city, or altar is "defiled," "polluted," or "stained," never merely unfortunate but culpably corrupted.
Old Testament Distribution
1. Priesthood lineage: Ezra 2:62; Nehemiah 7:64
2. Prophetic indictments of national guilt: Isaiah 59:3; Zephaniah 3:1
3. Messianic judgment imagery: Isaiah 63:3
4. Exilic lament: Lamentations 4:14
5. Personal piety in exile: Daniel 1:8 (twice)
6. Post-exilic priestly failures: Malachi 1:7 (twice), 1:12
The occurrences cluster around periods of transition—return from exile, prophetic warning, and covenant renewal—underscoring the tension between God’s holiness and Israel’s waywardness.
Ritual Cleanness and Worship
Malachi 1 exposes how defilement corrupts worship at its source: "You are presenting defiled food on My altar" (Malachi 1:7). Sacrificial tables symbolize communion with God; polluted offerings sever that fellowship. Ezra 2:62 and Nehemiah 7:64 show the same principle administratively: genealogies lacking verifiable purity barred claimants from the priesthood, protecting the sanctuary from contamination.
Moral and Social Corruption
Isaiah 59:3 links defilement to violence and deceit: "Your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity". The pollution is ethical before it is ceremonial. Zephaniah 3:1 expands the charge to civic structures: Jerusalem becomes "rebellious and defiled," illustrating how systemic injustice renders an entire city unclean.
Messianic and Eschatological Overtones
Isaiah 63:3 portrays the righteous Avenger whose garments are "stained" in the winepress of judgment. The verb ironically shifts: the Holy One’s clothing bears the stain of executed wrath, yet He remains personally undefiled. The image anticipates Revelation 19:13, where the conquering Christ wears a robe dipped in blood—judgment that cleanses creation by removing wickedness.
Personal Piety and Conscience
Daniel 1:8 highlights individual responsibility: "Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine." Separation from idolatrous culture safeguards covenant fidelity. Daniel’s quiet protest models inner holiness that prepares servants for public usefulness (Daniel 2–6).
Consequences of Defilement
• Loss of priestly privilege (Ezra 2:62)
• Eclipse of civic blessing (Zephaniah 3:1–7)
• National exile and lament (Lamentations 4:14)
• Eventual eschatological wrath (Isaiah 63:3)
God’s response is consistent: exposure, exclusion, and ultimately purification—either by repentance or by judgment.
Christological Fulfillment
In the incarnation the Holy One enters a polluted world without contracting its stain (Hebrews 4:15). His atoning death provides the definitive cleansing anticipated in Old Testament sacrifices (Hebrews 9:13–14). Believers are now exhorted to "keep oneself unstained by the world" (James 1:27), mirroring Daniel’s resolve and anticipating the pure worship pictured in Revelation 21:27.
Implications for Ministry Today
1. Guard the integrity of worship: careless practice profanes the Lord’s table.
2. Uphold ethical purity alongside ritual form; injustice defiles as surely as idolatry.
3. Encourage personal holiness that resists cultural compromise.
4. Proclaim Christ as both Judge who eradicates defilement and Savior who cleanses sinners.
Nehemiah 7:64
HEB: וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָ֑א וַיְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ מִן־ הַכְּהֻנָּֽה׃
NAS: but it could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean [and excluded] from the priesthood.
KJV: but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
INT: could not be located unclean from the priesthood
Isaiah 59:3
HEB: כִּ֤י כַפֵּיכֶם֙ נְגֹאֲל֣וּ בַדָּ֔ם וְאֶצְבְּעוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם
NAS: For your hands are defiled with blood
KJV: For your hands are defiled with blood,
INT: For your hands are defiled blood and your fingers
Isaiah 63:3
HEB: וְכָל־ מַלְבּוּשַׁ֖י אֶגְאָֽלְתִּי׃
NAS: on My garments, And I stained all
KJV: upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
INT: all my raiment stained
Lamentations 4:14
HEB: עִוְרִים֙ בַּֽחוּצ֔וֹת נְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ בַּדָּ֑ם בְּלֹ֣א
NAS: in the streets; They were defiled with blood
KJV: [men] in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood,
INT: blind the streets were defiled blood no
Daniel 1:8
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־ יִתְגָּאַ֛ל בְּפַתְבַּ֥ג הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ
NAS: up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's
KJV: in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion
INT: after not defile choice the king's
Daniel 1:8
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֥א יִתְגָּאָֽל׃
NAS: of the officials that he might not defile himself.
KJV: of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
INT: after not defile
Zephaniah 3:1
HEB: ה֥וֹי מֹרְאָ֖ה וְנִגְאָלָ֑ה הָעִ֖יר הַיּוֹנָֽה׃
NAS: to her who is rebellious and defiled, The tyrannical
KJV: to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing
INT: Woe is filthy and defiled city the tyrannical
Malachi 1:7
HEB: מִזְבְּחִי֙ לֶ֣חֶם מְגֹאָ֔ל וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם בַּמֶּ֣ה
NAS: [You] are presenting defiled food
KJV: Ye offer polluted bread
INT: my altar food defiled say How
Malachi 1:7
HEB: וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם בַּמֶּ֣ה גֵֽאַלְנ֑וּךָ בֶּאֱמָרְכֶ֕ם שֻׁלְחַ֥ן
NAS: How have we defiled You?' In that you say,
KJV: and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say,
INT: say How defiled you say the table
Malachi 1:12
HEB: שֻׁלְחַ֤ן אֲדֹנָי֙ מְגֹאָ֣ל ה֔וּא וְנִיב֖וֹ
NAS: of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit,
KJV: of the LORD [is] polluted; and the fruit
INT: the table of the Lord is defiled he and the fruit
11 Occurrences
Strong's Hebrew 1351
11 Occurrences
’eḡ·’ā·lə·tî — 1 Occ.
ḡê·’al·nū·ḵā — 1 Occ.
mə·ḡō·’āl — 2 Occ.
nə·ḡō·’ă·lū — 2 Occ.
way·ḡō·’ă·lū — 2 Occ.
wə·niḡ·’ā·lāh — 1 Occ.
yiṯ·gā·’al — 2 Occ.