The Hebrew adjective גדול (gādōl, pronounced gah-DOHL) is used to convey a sense of "greatness." Some famous uses of גדול (gādōl) are Genesis 1:16: "God made the two great (הגדלים) lights—the greater (הגדל) light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night." Jonah 1:17 is another example: "But the LORD provided a large (גדול) fish to swallow up Jonah." The Mediterranean Sea is even referred to as "the Great (גדול) Sea" in Numbers 34:6. There is a related Hebrew verb, גדל (gādal), which means "to grow" or "become great." Genesis 12:2 showcases both the adjectival and verbal use: "I will make of you a great (גדול) nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great (ואגדלה)."
Tuesday, March 1, 2022