Gamli'el is the Biblical Hebrew form of Gamaliel, a theophoric name composed of two Hebrew elements: gamal meaning "to reward" and ʾel meaning "God", thus interpreted as "my reward is God." The name appears in the Old Testament as that of a son of Pedahzur, a leader of the Tribe of Manasseh during the wilderness wanderings, as recorded in Numbers 1:10. The better-known Greek form, Gamaliel (Γαμαλιήλ, Gamaliēl), is prominent in the New Testament as a respected first-century Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, mentioned in Acts 5:34 and as the teacher of the Apostle Paul in Acts 22:3.The name Gamli'el reflects the common Hebrew naming practice of incorporating a divine element to express gratitude or trust in God's provision. The vocalization 'Gamli'el' (with the vowel 'i' following the 'l' sound) aligns with the Masoretic Hebrew pointing, while the Greek transliteration imposes a different vowel pattern. The root shares affinities with other names like ʾEliʿezer ("God is help") and Netanʾel ("God gave"), paralleling the reward theme.Notable BearersThe son of Pedahzur, listed as a tribal chief in Numbers.Gamaliel the Elder, a Sanhedrin leader and teacher of Paul, celebrated in Jewish tradition as the head of a leading Pharisee school. His leadership after the destruction of the Temple is noted in rabbinical sources.Cultural and Religious SignificanceWithin Christian tradition, Gamaliel is venerated as a saint, commemorated on August 3 in the Eastern Orthodox Church. His caution to think twice about persecuting the apostles (Acts 5:39) is regarded as a model of sage advice. In Judaism, his association with the Pauline epistles highlights inter-testamental development. The name's meaning also resonates with the concept of divine reward prominent in wisdom literature.While the Biblical Hebrew form Gamli'el was less commonly used than the Greek Gamaliel in Christian contexts, it remains the original pronunciation morphology. The name influenced later Rabbinic sages such as Gamliel of Yavneh and continues in modern usage as gendered name across cultures.