The Hebrew verb ga'al means to loathe, abhor, or reject with strong disgust. It appears in contexts of God's reaction to Israel's unfaithfulness and Israel's potential rejection by God. The word carries deep emotional weight — not mere dislike, but active revulsion. God warns that if Israel breaks covenant, the land itself will vomit them out, and God will ga'al them.
Theologically, ga'al underscores the seriousness of covenant violation. God's love is not permissive indifference — He is capable of holy abhorrence toward sin and rebellion. Leviticus 26 uses this term as the ultimate consequence of persistent covenant unfaithfulness. Conversely, God promises He will NOT ultimately abhor His repentant people (Lev 26:44), showing His mercy endures even through judgment.