קָלַל
qâlal · H7043 · Hebrew · 82 occurrences
Meanings
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light, fast, swift, restless
State in which animals and objects have the ability to move or act with speed due to lack of weight, agility, strength, training, or energy
Examples2 Samuel 1:23 “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, And in their deaths they were not separated; They were swifter than eagles, They were mightier than lions.
Isaiah 30:16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses!” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses!” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.
Jeremiah 4:13 “Behold, he goes up like clouds, And his chariots like the whirlwind; His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!”
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to be worthless, to be insignificant, to be of no account
State in which humans have a reduced value or reduced importance, mostly in the eyes of someone else
ExamplesGenesis 16:4 Then he had relations with Hagar, and she conceived; and when Hagar became aware that she had conceived, her mistress was insignificant in her sight.
Genesis 16:5 So Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I put my slave woman into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was insignificant in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.”
1 Samuel 2:30 “Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father was to walk before Me forever’; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant.
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to be a trivial matter, to be of no consequence, to come easy
State in which an event is regarded as relatively unimportant, not requiring much effort or thought
Examples1 Samuel 18:23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am only a poor man and insignificant?”
1 Kings 16:31 And as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
2 Kings 3:18 ‘And this is an insignificant thing in the sight of the LORD; He will also give the Moabites into your hand.
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Causative action by which humans reduce the intensity of a situation (to lighten, to reduce (one's load))
ExamplesExodus 18:22 “Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that they will bring to you every major matter, but they will judge every minor matter themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will carry the burden with you.
1 Samuel 6:5 “So you shall make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice that are ruining the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, your gods, and your land.
1 Kings 12:4 “Your father made our yoke hard; but now, lighten the hard labor imposed by your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”
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to abate, to subside
Process by which waters become less in quantity or volume in a certain location
ExamplesGenesis 8:8 Then he sent out a dove, to see if the water was low on the surface of the land;
Genesis 8:11 And the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, in its beak was a fresh olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was low on the earth.
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to curse, blaspheme, revile
Actions by which humans or deities consign others or objects to death, damage, or destruction, usually by invoking a deity if human, as punishment or out of contempt, fear, anger, or hostility, or because one was paid; its effectiveness partly depends on the pronouncer's authority
ExamplesGenesis 8:21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma, and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.
Genesis 12:3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
Exodus 21:17 “And one who curses his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.
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to shake, to tremble, to shudder
Process by which objects in nature move back, forth, and sideways
ExamplesJeremiah 4:24 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, And all the hills jolted back and forth.
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to shake
Causative action by which human shakes objects inside a container
ExamplesEzekiel 21:21 “For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver.
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to sharpen
An action by which someone causes an object to have a thin cutting edge with the help of an iron implement, in order to make it useful and effective as a tool
ExamplesEcclesiastes 10:10 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success.
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to despise or treat with contempt
An action by which humans and deities express contempt for someone, intending to provoke public shame in that person
Examples2 Samuel 19:43 But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten parts in the king, therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.
Isaiah 9:1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
Isaiah 23:9 The LORD of armies has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty, To despise all the honored of the earth.
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to be quickly, to be swift
Process by which an event takes place quickly and without delay
How it’s used In 9 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
75 occurrences in 28 groups
- Not stated: he, she or it 18
- Not stated: you (one person) 11
- Not stated (infinitive) 6
- אַתָּהyou 4
- Not stated: I 4
- Not stated: they 4
- Other words · 21 groups that occur once or twice (25) 25
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
32 occurrences in 23 groups
- אָבfather 6
- אֵםmother 5
- Other words · 21 groups that occur once or twice (27) 27
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
27 occurrences in 23 groups
- בin/on/with+ עַיִןeye, sight 4
- Other words · 22 groups that occur once or twice (24) 24
With adverbsAdverbs
10 occurrences in 6 groups
- לֹאnot 3
- אַלnot, do not 2
- עוֹדstill, again, yet 2
- כֹּהthus, so 1
- מַדּוּעַwhy? 1
- עַתָּהnow 1
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
3 occurrences in 2 groups
- ךָּyou 2
- הוּhis 1
Named alongside itApposition
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- עֶבֶדservant, slave 1
What it doesIt is the subject
2 occurrences in 2 groups
- כָּרַתto cut off, to make (a covenant) 1
- מוּתto die 1
What is done to itIt is the object
11 occurrences in 5 groups
- אָמַרto say 5
- יָדַעto know 2
- יָצָאto go out 2
- רָאָהto see 1
- אָרַרto curse 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
8 occurrences in 3 groups
- לto/for 5
- עַלon, upon, over, against 4
- בin/on/with 1
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Near synonyms 10 words
- חָרַף châraph · H2778 · to reproach, to taunt, to insult
- חָרַף covers reproach, defiance, or blasphemy, while the target lexeme includes cursing, despising, or bringing into contempt. The two express overlapping senses of verbal shaming or dishonoring, functioning as near-synonyms.
- בּוּז bûwz · H936 · to despise, to scorn
- The target lexeme (among its broad range of senses) includes contempt or despising, while בּוּז is focused specifically on contempt or despising. The two overlap as near-synonyms in this sense.
- שָׁפֵל shâphêl · H8213 · to become low, to be low
- Both words share a range of meaning around diminishment or reduction. קָלַל (qâlal, H7043) has a broad range including "make light" (of weight or significance), "ease," and "despise" or "curse," while שָׁפֵל (shâphêl, H8213) is narrower: "abase, bring down, humble, make low." They overlap in making something less significant or less weighty, though קָלַל (qâlal, H7043)'s range is considerably broader.
- אָלָה ʼâlâh · H422 · to utter a curse, to bind with a curse, to cause someone to bind himself with a curse
- Both words share a sense of "curse" and can function as near-synonyms in cursing contexts. קָלַל (qâlal, H7043) has a much broader range (lightness, treating as trivial, and others), but its curse sense overlaps with אָלָה (ʼâlâh, H422).
- בָּזָה bâzâh · H959 · to despise, to disdain, to scorn
- The target lexeme has a much broader semantic range (including lightness, ease, cursing, among others), while בָּזָה is more specialized in contempt or disdain. Both verbs can express contempt or scorn toward something, functioning as near-synonyms in that shared sense.
- קָטֹן qâṭôn · H6994 · to make small, to reduce, to be unworthy of
- The target lexeme centers on lightness, ease, or insignificance (among its many other senses), while קָטָן centers on smallness or unworthiness. Something can be described as either ‘light, insignificant’ or ‘small, trivial’ with overlapping sense, making the two near-synonyms.
- רָפָה râphâh · H7503 · to grow weak, to be discouraged
- Both words cover the sense of weakening, slackening and diminishing. קָלַל (qâlal, H7043) קָלַל centers on lightness (to make light, ease, abate), while רָפָה (râphâh, H7503) רָפָה centers on weakness and slackness (to be feeble, slack, abate); they overlap where intensity diminishes or strictness relaxes.
- קָבַב qâbab · H6895 · to curse
- קָבַב is more specialized, focused on cursing, while the target lexeme has the broader range ‘lightness, contempt, ease, curse, despise.’ In the sense of cursing, the two overlap as near-synonyms.
- לוּץ lûwts · H3887 · insolent person, to behave arrogantly
- לִיץ centers on mocking or scorning, while the target lexeme includes despising or contempt among its many senses (it is otherwise broadly polysemous, covering lightness, cursing, and more). The two overlap as near-synonyms in the sense of contempt or scorn.
- אָרַר ʼârar · H779 · to curse, to place a curse, to bring on a curse
- Both are genuine cursing verbs with overlapping sense (both can express malediction/curse). This is true near-synonymy within the cursing semantic space.
In the other Testament 1 word
- κακολογέω kakologéō · G2551 · to revile, to denounce
- Greek κακολογέω specifically denotes verbal reviling or speaking evil, capturing the 'curse/bring into contempt' semantic range of Hebrew קָלַל but not its broader 'make light/ease' or brightness-related senses.
Semantic domains 11 entries
- Agile002001001002
- This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations out of this word's 82 occurrences, which show only its abating, cursing, and insignificance senses.
- Insignificant002001002015
- The word can mean to be of little esteem, directly illustrated by Hagar's mistress becoming "insignificant in her sight" once Hagar conceived (Genesis 16:4).
- Trivial002001003016
- This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
- Lax002001003012
- The word can mean to abate or lessen, illustrated by the floodwaters being "low" on the earth as they receded (Genesis 8:8, 11).
- Quantity002001001046
- This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
- Curse002003002008
- The word most commonly means to curse, directly illustrated by God resolving never again to curse the ground (Genesis 8:21) and the promise "the one who curses you I will curse" (Genesis 12:3).
- Unsteady002001001067
- This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
- Shape002001001052
- This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
- Despise002001002005
- This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations, though it is closely related to the Insignificant sense illustrated by Genesis 16:4.
- Shame002001002025
- This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
- Urge002003003023
- This domain is not independently illustrated by the sampled citations.
Word family 5 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H7043. qalal [קָלַל]82 verb be slight, swift, trifling (probably originally be light;…
[קָלַל]82 verb be slight, swift, trifling (probably originally be light; Late Hebrew [קָלַל], קִלֵּל קַל,=Biblical Hebrew; Assyrian ‡alâlu II. depise, dishonour; so Tel Amarna (apparently Canaanism); Arabic be small, scanty; Sabean קללם scanty Hal 143.8f. (compare FellZMG liv (1900), 246); Ethiopic be light, Small, easy; II. despise; Targum קְלַל, Syriac = Biblical Hebrew; also (see
Pilpel, etc.) Arabic shake, : vibrate, whirl (of sword), : see be shaken; — SchwZAW xi (1891), 170 ff. thinks shake original, see מַקֵּל); —
Qal Perfect2masculine singular קַלּוֺתָ Nah 1:14; Nah 1:1singular קַלֹּתי Job 40:4; Job 40:3plural קַלּוּ Gen 8:11 +; Imperfect. 3 feminine singular וַתֵּקַל Gen 16:4; Gen 16:1singular וָאֵקַל Gen 16:5; Gen 16:3masculine plural יֵָ֑קלּוּ 1Sa 2:30; —
1 be slight, of water, be abated, fr off (מֵעַל) earth Gen 8:8, Gen 8:11(J).
2 be swift, with מִן compare, of warriors 2Sa 1:23, horses Jer 4:13; Hab 1:8; one's days Job 7:6; Job 9:25.
3 trifling, i.e. of little account., of person, Gen 16:4-5, (J; both with בְּעֵינֶיהָ; 1Sa 2:30 (opposed to אֲכַבֵּד).
Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נָקֵל (Ges §67 t.) 2 Kings 20:30 +, וְנָקַל consecutive 2Ki 3:18; נָקָ֑ל Pro 14:6; Pro 14:1singular consecutive וּנְקַלֹּתִי 2Sa 6:22; Imperfect3masculine plural יִקַּ֫לּוּ Isa 30:16; Participle feminine נְקַלָּה (עַלֿ) Jer 6:14: + 2t ; —
1 shew oneself swift Isa 30:16 (|| נִרְכָּ֑ב עַלקַֿל).
2 appear trifling, 1Sa 18:23 (בְּעֵינֵיכֶם; Infinitive subject, compare Dr), with מִן compare be too trifling Isa 49:6, especially of sin 1Ki 16:31 (Infinitive subject), and (with מִן compare) Eze 8:17; easy 2Ki 3:18 (בְּעֵנַי), 2Ki 20:10 (c. Infinitive), Pro 14:6; Participle (as substantive) with עַל in adverb phraseעַלנְֿקַלָּה lightly i.e. superficially, Jer 6:14; Jer 8:11.
3 be lightly esteemed 2Sa 6:22 (|| שָׁפָל; opposed to אִכָּכֵ֑דָה).
Pi`el40 Perfect3masculine singular קִלֵּל 2Sa 19:22 +, etc.; Imperfect יְקַלֵּל Lev 20:9 +, etc : Imperative masculine singular קַלֵּל 2Sa 16:10; Infinitive construct קַלֵּל Gen 8:21: Jos 24:9, etc.; Participle מְקַלֵּל Exo 21:17 +; suffixמקללוני כֻלֹּה Jer 15:10, read מְקַלְלַוְנִי! (Baer); error for קִלְלוּנִי כֻּלְּהֶם JDMich Gf Gie Du and others, etc.; — curse (properly make contemptible):
1 with accusative of person homin. Exo 21:27 (E), Gen 12:3 (J), Lev 19:14 (H), Jdg 9:27; 2Sa 16:9 2Sa 16:16t.; קְלָלָה קִלְלַנִי 1Ki 2:8; object omitted 2Sa 16:5, 2Sa 16:7, 2Sa 16:10, 2Sa 16:11, 2Sa 16:13; Psa 62:5; Psa 109:28 (opposed to בֵּרַךְ); acc person + ב of oath 1Sa 17:43; 2Ki 2:24; with כ of oath alone Isa 8:21.
2 with accusative dei Exo 22:27 (E), Lev 24:15 (H), 1Sa 3:13 (reading אֱלֹהִים for ᵐ5 להֶם Comm.), + (object omitted) Lev 24:11, Lev 24:14, Lev 24:23
3 with accusative of thing Gen 8:21(׳י subject), Job 3:1.
Pu`al Imperfect) 3 masculine singular יְקֻלָּ֑ל Isa 65:20 be cursed by death; 3 feminine singular תְּקֻלַּל Job 24:18 their portion is cursed; Participle plural suffix מְקֻלָּלָיו Psa 37:22= those cursed by him (opposed to מְברָכָיו).
Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular הֵקַל Isaiah 8:23; Isa 8:2masculine singular suffix הֱקִלֹּחַנִי 2 Samuel 19:44 (van d. H. -הֲ); 3 plural הֵקַלּוּ Eze 22:7; Imperfect3masculine singular יָקֵל 1Sa 6:5; Imperative masculine singular; הָקֵל Exo 18:22+; Infinitive construct id., Isa 23:9; Jon 1:5; —
1 make light, lighten, מֵעֲלֵיכֶם אֶתיָֿדוֺ יָקֵל 1Sa 6:5; he will lighten his hand from upon you; c,. מֵעַל person alone, make light from upon one, lighten one's burden Exo 18:22 (E), Jon 1:5; 1Ki 12:10 2Ch 10:10; + מִן partitive 1Ki 12:4, 1Ki 12:9 2Ch 10:4, 2Ch 10:9.
2 treat with contempt, accusative of person 2 Samuel 19:44; Isa 23:9; Eze 22:7; direct causative bring contempt, dishonour Isaiah 8:23 (opposed to הִכְבִּיד).
Pilpel Perfect3masculine singular
1 shake בַּחצִּים קִלְקַל Eze 21:26 (in divination).
2 (peculiarly) whet Ecc 10:10 (properly move quickly to and fro).
Hithpalpel reflexive of
1 : Perfect3plural הִחְקַלְקָ֑לוּ Jer 4:24 hills shook themselves, shook.
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 10 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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