H1576 H1576
Recompense or retribution for deeds done; also a benefit or kindness received from God.
This noun from the root gamal (to deal, to ripen) captures the full circle of action and consequence. In most occurrences it denotes retribution—'the recompense of his hands shall be rendered to him' (Isa 3:11)—and the Psalmist calls on God to 'render to the proud their recompense' (Ps 94:2). Obadiah 15 warns Edom that its dealings will return on its own head. Yet Psalm 103:2 transforms the word entirely: 'forget not all his benefits,' where gemul becomes God's gracious kindness. Spanish distinguishes these beautifully—'retribución' for judgment, 'beneficios' for grace.
1. recompense, retribution — Requital, recompense, or retribution for deeds—typically carrying a negative connotation of just punishment returning upon the doer. Judges 9:16 asks whether Abimelech was treated 'according to the dealing of his hands,' and Psalm 137:8 pronounces Babylon blessed who repays her what she dealt. Joel 4:4 and Isaiah 59:18 use it for God's retributive justice. Hindi 'badla' (revenge/recompense) and Spanish 'retribución' underscore the tit-for-tat quality. Lamentations 3:64 and Jeremiah 51:6 invoke it as divine payback. 17×
amh["ብድልህ"]·AR["-جزاؤك","جَزَاءً","جَزَاءَ","جَزَاءَهُمْ","جَزَاءُ","عِقَابًا","كَـ-جَزَاء","مُكافَأَتَكُمْ","مُكَافَأَتِكِ","هَلْ-المُكافَأَةَ","وَ-جَزاءُ","وَ-جَزاءُهُ"]·ben["অনুযায়ী-প্রতিদান","এবং-তার-প্রতিদান","এবং-প্রতিদান","তাদের-প্রতিফল","তোমাদের-প্রতিদান","তোমার-প্রতিফল","প্রতিদান","প্রতিফল","প্রতিফলের-তোমার"]·ces["tvá-odplata"]·dan["din-gengældelse"]·DE["Vergeltung","[גמול]","[גמלכם]","[הגמול]","[וגמול]","[וגמלו]","dein-recompense","deine-Tat","gemaess-zu-dealing-von","ihr-recompense","recompense"]·ell["ανταπόδοσή-σου"]·EN["according-to-dealing-of","and-his-deed","and-the-work-of","recompense","their-recompense","what-his-hands-have-done","with-the-recompense","your-recompense"]·FR["[הגמול]","et-son-וגמלו-lui","et-וגמול","rétribution","selon-à-dealing-de","ta-rétribution","votre-rétribution"]·guj["તારું-કર્મ"]·hat["zak-ou"]·hau["ayyukanka"]·heb["גמוּלכם","גמול","גמול-ם","גמולך","ה-גמוּל","ו-גמול","ו-גמולו","כ-גמול"]·HI["और-प्रतिफल","और-बदले-उसके","क्या-बदला","तेरा-बदला","तेरे-व्यवहार","बदला","बदला-उनका","बदला-तुम्हारा","बदलेके-अनुसार"]·hun["cselekedeted"]·ID["Pembalasan","balasan","balasanmu","dan-balasan","dan-balasannya","ganjaran","pembalasan","pembalasan-kalian","pembalasanmu","sesuai-dengan-perbuatan"]·IT["e-e-il-work-di","e-e-suo-deed-suo","la-tua-ricompensa","la-vostra-retribuzione","retribuzione","secondo-dealing-di"]·jav["Gusti-Allah","ganjaran","lan-ganjaran-saking","lan-piwalesipun","miturut-piwales","pituwas","piwales","piwales-panjenengan","piwales-panjenengan-sedaya","piwalesipun"]·JA["あなたの報い-が"]·KO["같이-보답","그리고-보상-이","그리고-보상을-그-의","너-의-보응-을","너희의-보복-을","네-보복이","보답이","보복을","보복하느냐","보상-을","보상이","보응-을","보응을"]·mar["प्रतिफळ-तुझे"]·mya["သင်၏-စားပွဲခြင်း"]·nld["uw-vergelding"]·nor["gjerningen-din"]·pnb["بدلا-تیرا"]·pol["odpłata-twoja"]·PT["a-retribução","a-retribuíção","conforme-obra-de","e-retribuição-de","e-sua-recompensa","pago","recompensa","recompensa-de","retribuição","retribução-vossa","retribuíração-de","retribuíção","sua-recompensa","tua-retribuição"]·ron["răsplata-ta"]·RU["воздаяние","воздаяние-","воздаяние-ваше","воздаяние-их","воздаяние-ли","воздаяние-твоё","и-воздаяние","и-воздаяние-его","по-делам"]·ES["conforme-a-recompensa-de","recompensa","recompensa-de","retribución","retribución-de-vosotros","su-pago","tu-recompensa","y-recompensa-de","y-su-recompensa","¿Retribución"]·SW["Je-malipo","kulingana-na-stahili-ya","malipo","malipo-ya","malipo-yako","malipo-yao","malipo-yenu","na-malipo-ya","na-malipo-yake"]·swe["din-gärning"]·tam["உன்-செயல்"]·tel["నీ-ప్రతిఫలము"]·tgl["gantimpala-mo"]·TH["การตอบแทน-ของเจ้า"]·TR["hak-ettiğini","hakkına-göre","karsiligi","karsilik","karşılık","karşılıklarını","karşılığı","karşılığını","karşılığınızı","odulu","ve-karşılığı","ve-karşılığını","yaptığın","ödeşme-mi"]·ukr["відплата-твоя"]·urd["اور-بدلہ","اور-بدلہ-اُس-کا","اُن-کا-بدلہ","بدلہ","تمہارا-بدلہ","تیرا-بدلہ","جزا","مطابق-بدلے-کے","کیا-بدلہ"]·VI["việc-làm-của-ngươi"]·yor["ìgbẹ̀san-rẹ"]·yue["你-嘅報應"]·ZH["你报应"]
Judg 9:16, Ps 28:4, Ps 94:2, Ps 137:8, Prov 12:14, Prov 19:17, Isa 3:11, Isa 35:4, Isa 59:18, Isa 59:18, Isa 66:6, Jer 51:6 (+5 more)
▼ 1 more sense below
Senses
2. benefit, kindness — A benefit, kindness, or gracious dealing—the positive side of God's dealings with his people. Psalm 103:2 stands as the key passage: 'Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (gemulaiv).' Spanish 'beneficios' and Hindi 'upkaar' (favor, kindness) clearly mark the shift from retribution to grace. In 2 Chronicles 32:25, Hezekiah failed to respond 'according to the benefit' done to him, showing that even this positive sense carries an expectation of fitting response. 2×
AR["إحساناتِهِ","كَمُكَافَأَةٍ"]·ben["তাঁর-উপকারগুলি","প্রতিদান-অনুসারে"]·DE["[כגמל]","sein-benefits"]·EN["according-to-benefit","his-benefits"]·FR["[כגמל]","rétribution"]·heb["גמוליו","כ-גמל"]·HI["उपकार-के-अनुसार","उसके-उपकार"]·ID["kebaikan-Nya","seperti-kebaikan"]·IT["[כגמל]","retribuzione"]·jav["kasaenannipun","miturut-ganjaran"]·KO["같이-보답","그-의-은혜-들-을"]·PT["Seus-benefícios","conforme-o-benefício"]·RU["-благодеяний-Его","по-воздаянию"]·ES["como-recompensa","sus-beneficios"]·SW["kigmul","yeye"]·TR["iyiliklerini","iyiliğe-göre"]·urd["احسان-کے-مطابق","اس-کے-احسانوں-کو"]
Related Senses
H4941 1. justice, righteousness (134×)H4941 2. judgment, judicial decision (119×)H4941 3. ordinances, statutes (plural) (110×)H8199 1. to judge, adjudicate (98×)G2919 1. judge, pass judgment (76×)H8199 2. judge (person, office-holder) (61×)G2920 1. judgment / condemnation (48×)H7378 1. Qal: quarrel, contend, strive (42×)H4941 4. prescribed ordinance, regulation (34×)G1832 1. it is lawful, it is permitted (32×)G2917 1. judgment, condemnation (27×)G2919 2. be judged, stand trial (27×)H5360 1. vengeance, retribution (27×)H7378 2. Qal: plead, defend, litigate (22×)G2723 1. accuse, bring charges against (20×)G2923 1. judge (one who judges/decides) (19×)G2632 1. condemn, pass judgment against (18×)H1777 1. judge, adjudicate (18×)H5359 1. vengeance, retribution (17×)H7561 1. condemn, declare guilty (Hifil) (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† גְּמוּל n.m. dealing, recompence, benefit—ג׳ ψ 94:2 + 11 times; sf. גְּמֻלְךָ Ob 15, etc.; pl. sf. גְּמוּלָיו ψ 103:2;— 1. גְּמוּל יָדַיִם dealing of the hands Ju 9:16 Pr 12:14 (יָשׁוּב לְ) Is 3:11 (יֵעָשֶׂה לְ). 2. dealing, hence (from context) equivalent of dealing, recompence: c. suff. Ob 15 גמלך ישׁוב בראשׁך, Jo 4:4, 7 (הֵשִׁיב), so with הֵשִׁיב לְ ψ 28:4; שִׁלֵּם לְ 137:8 Pr 19:17;…