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GAMALIEL

(Heb. gamlîʾēl; Gk. Gamaliḗl)

1. The son of Pedahur; chief of the tribe of Manasseh during the wilderness period (Num. 1:10; 2:20; 7:54, 59; 10:23).

2. Gamaliel I, a well-respected and lenient Pharisee, a leader in the Sanhedrin, and master teacher of the Law who was responsible for most of Paul’s rabbinic education (Acts 5:34-39; 22:3).

Josephus describes the family of Gamaliel as “very illustrious” (Vita 190-91; cf. Acts 5:34). Rabbinic literature pictures Gamaliel as the grandson of the great Hillel and the nāsîʾ (pharisaic leader) of the Sanhedrin (Šabb. 15a). The honorific title “the Elder” was bestowed upon him (Soṭa 9:15), as it was upon his father and grandfather. He was the first of only seven in all of rabbinic history, however, to be distinguished Rabban (“our teacher/master”). He may thus be understood as the greatest living authority and most revered figure in all of Judaism ca. a.d. 20-50. Gamaliel was even consulted by royalty concerning matters of Jewish law (Pesaḥ. 88b). Though some dispute his status, he clearly possessed significant authority (Acts 5:34), enough to persuade the Sanhedrin to spare the apostles (v. 40).

Gamaliel was the head of the school of Hillel, the most lenient and therefore most popular form of Judaism. He consistently ruled on matters of Jewish law in ways that translated his moderate pragmatism into day-to-day life. He was especially concerned to ease the burden on women and the poor. His rulings were commonly based on the guiding principles of “promotion of the common good” and “promoting the ways of peace” (Git. 4:2-3; Roš Haš. 2:5; Yebam. 16:7; ʿOr. 2:12; Nid. 9:17; Ketub. 10b, 28b).

Gamaliel focused on the importance of study and the teacher-student relationship (ʾAbot R. Nat. A.40; ʾAbot 1:16; Peʾa 2:6; ʿOr. 2:12; Yebam. 16:7). He reached out to Jews living in the Diaspora (y. Maʿas. 5:4 [56c]; Sanh. 11b), and was quite tolerant of Gentiles, as were his pupils and descendants after him (t. B. Qam. 9:30; y. ʿAbod. Zar. 1:9; Sifre to Deut. 38; <; Ber. 27a). Like Hillel before him (Sop. 16:9), Gamaliel stood almost alone in his love for the Greek language. It was studied in his “school” and he even declared it the only language into which the Torah could be perfectly translated (Soṭa 49b; cf. Gen. Rab. 36:8; Deut. Rab. 1:1; Meg. 1:8).

W. E. Nunnally

3. Gamaliel II, grandson of Gamaliel I and successor to Johanan ben Zakkai as head of the rabbinic academy at Jabneh (Jamnia) ca. a.d. 80-120. Gamaliel strengthened Judaism in the post-temple period by reuniting the schools of Hillel and Shammai and by regulating prayer.

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

GAMALIEL

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)