What does the word “Gazelem” mean?

Question

Dear Gramps,

What does the word “Gazelem” mean?

Richard

Answer

Dear Richard,

The word “Gazelem” is a Nephite word, first appearing in the Book of Alma in the Book of Mormon. Daniel H. Ludlow reports the following on the meaning of the word—

“Two interesting words that appear for the first time in the book of Alma are Gazelem (Alma 37:23) and Liahona (Alma 37:38). Possible meanings of these two words are given by Reynolds and Sjodahl as follows:

“Gazelem is a name given to a servant of God. The word appears to have its roots in Gaz-a stone, and Aleim, a name of God as a revelator, or the interposer in the affairs of men. If this suggestion is correct, its roots admirably agree with its apparent meaning-a seer” (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p.218).

Gramps