"The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord"
Isaiah 60:6
Let's Take a Ride On A Gamal ...
The Hebrew letter Gimel (ג) is the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is derived from the word "gamal," meaning "camel." The letter's design resembles a man in motion.
The Gimel is said to illustrate a rich man running to help a poor man, the next letter (Dalet). Thus Gimel reflects the idea of generosity and support. Therefore, the Gimel symbolizes a benefactor, representing the act of giving, particularly in charity.
The Hebrew Root of the Word "gamal" (גמל)
The letter gimel and the word gamal meaning "camel" are derived from a three letter root ג-מ-ל which encompasses meanings such as to invest, to wean, to ripen, or to treat someone well or ill. The verb gamal is used to describe the completion of a growth period or transition, often involving an infusion of something beneficial or transformative.
Judaism's Mystical Insights into Gimel
Gimel's mystical significance links the concepts of nourishment and weaning, as camels can sustain themselves on long journeys.
In gematria, gimel represents the number three. It is written like a Vav with a Yud as a "foot." Again an image of a man in motion. The Vav, which is the 6th letter in the Hebrew aleph-beyt is pictured as a nail and representing a person who stands upright.
Gimel as Three
Gimel (ג) is the third letter of the alphabet and it's numeric value is 3. Three represents the Torah, which was given to the Jewish people in the third month of the year (Sivan), to our teacher Moses (the third of three children), on the third day of separation between husband and wife (the prohibition of marital relations, as instructed by G‑d). The Torah was issued to a people of three groups: the Kohens, Levites, and Israelites. Finally, the Tanakh itself is divided into three segments: the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets and the Scriptures.
Meaning of Gimel Through Three Ancient Stories
Gimel has several meanings. The following three stories illustrate three meanings of gimel:
1. Nourish Until Ripe -- After Korah rebelled against Moses and Aaron, G‑d told Moses, “Take a staff from Aaron and from all the other tribes of Israel. Then place the staves in the Holy of Holies [and see which one sprouts fruit].” The next morning, Moses brought out the staves from the Holy of Holies, and all of Israel saw that the staff of Aaron produced (vayigmal) completely ripened almonds. Thus the word vayigmal—ויגמל—is made up of the same letters as גימל—gimel.
2. To Be Weaned -- “The child [Isaac] grew and was weaned (vayigamal).” At first glance, the concepts of being weaned and nourished until ripe seem contradictory. When you’re nourishing, you are giving. When you’re weaning, you are ceasing to give. In essence, however, they are consistent, because if you nourish until ripe, you no longer have to give.
3. Camel -- Gimel is also called gamal, or camel. The camel itself embodies the process of weaning and nourishing, as it is able to sustain itself on journeys of vast distances after being sufficiently hydrated. We also note that gimel is similar to the word gomel, which means to be kind or benevolent. The camel is able to help the sojourner survive the harsh desert sun by carrying him to his destination. The word gimel in Aramaic is gamla, or bridge. One can say that the bridge is the hump of the camel itself, which provides the means and structure to bring people where they need to go.
A Christian Dimension - the Holy Spirit
Gimel (3) also symbolizes the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son. The progression from Aleph to Bet to Gimel can be seen as a journey from the divine source (Aleph), through the creation and establishment of the world with a house (bet) for Adam, to the active engagement in acts of kindness and spiritual growth (Gimel).
Camel Talk
Here are three notable New Testament verses that each feature a camel. Perhaps they can be appreciated in someway in light of a better understanding of the letter Gimel.
Matthew 3:4 -- "Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey."
Matthew 19:24 -- "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God"
Matthew 23:24 -- "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!"
Did You Know?
Here is an interesting fact about the Israelites journey in desert during the Exodus. The Israelites did not travel with camels during the Exodus. While camels are mentioned in the Bible in connection with the patriarchs like Abraham and Jacob, they are not mentioned as part of the Israelite possessions during the Exodus from Egypt. The biblical narrative does not include camels among the livestock or means of transport used by the Israelites during their journey out of Egypt.
Significant Hebrew Words Beginning with Gimel:
Gamal (גמל): Meaning "camel," this word is directly associated with the letter Gimel, which is thought to resemble a camel in shape.
Gomel (גומל): This word means "benefactor" or someone who gives to others, reflecting the concept of generosity and kindness.
Gmul (גמול): This word can mean both "compensation" and "nourishment," illustrating the dual nature of giving and receiving.
Gan (גן): Meaning "garden," often used in the context of the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden).
Geulah (גאולה): Meaning "redemption," a central concept in Jewish theology referring to the ultimate redemption and liberation of the Jewish people.
Gadol (גדול): Meaning "great" or "large," often used to describe greatness or importance.
Gilgul (גלגול): Meaning "cycle" or "reincarnation," a concept in Jewish mysticism referring to the transmigration of souls.
Gevurah (גבורה): Meaning "strength" or "might," one of the ten sefirot in Kabbalistic teachings, representing discipline and judgment.
Goral (גורל): Meaning "lot" or "fate," often used in the context of casting lots or determining destiny.
In closing, the rabbis say "gimel signifies the connection between the poor and the wealthy person, so does it represent the merger, the bridge, between the material world and the reality of G‑d."
