What does « Jāl » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Jāl (جال) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

جال

Jāl

Root: ج - ل

Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Jāl

Jâlût (Goliath): name of a tyrannical king whom David, peace be upon him, struck and killed.

He is mentioned in Allah's words: 'And David killed Goliath (Jâlût)' (Al-Baqara: 251).

Goliath represents brute force defeated by faith and trust in Allah.

Jāl in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 251 Medinan

﴿فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍۢ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ﴾

So they defeated them by permission of Allah, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingship and prophethood and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allah checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of bounty to the worlds.