קָהָה
to be dull
Definition
The Hebrew verb קָהָה (qâhâh) primarily means 'to be dull' or 'blunt,' describing a loss of sharpness or effectiveness. In a literal sense, it refers to a tool, like an axe head, becoming dull and inefficient (Ecclesiastes 10:10). Figuratively, it describes a proverbial saying that has lost its impact or become trite through overuse, as seen in the context of the proverb about sour grapes in Jeremiah 31:29-30 and Ezekiel 18:2. This dual usage connects physical ineffectiveness with the dulling of a meaningful saying.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only four times in the Old Testament. Its literal usage appears in Ecclesiastes 10:10, which warns that a dull axe requires more strength. Its figurative usage dominates, appearing in Jeremiah 31:29-30 and Ezekiel 18:2, where it critiques the popular, fatalistic proverb 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' The prophet Jeremiah uses it to announce that this saying will no longer be applicable under the new covenant of individual responsibility.
Etymology
As a primitive root, קָהָה (qâhâh) is not demonstrably derived from another Hebrew word. Its core meaning relates to being blunt, dull, or weakened. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian, support the sense of becoming blunt or weak. The development from a physical description (a dull blade) to a metaphorical one (a dulled proverb) is a natural semantic extension.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is central to a major prophetic correction about moral responsibility. In Jeremiah 31:29-30 and Ezekiel 18:2, the verb critiques a communal proverb that blamed current suffering solely on ancestral sin, thus dulling personal accountability. By declaring this proverb 'dull' or obsolete, the prophets emphasize God's new covenant principle of individual responsibility (Jeremiah 31:31-34) and justice, where each person is accountable for their own actions before God.
In ancient Israelite culture, sharp tools were vital for survival and work; a dull tool meant wasted effort and inefficiency. The proverb about sour grapes reflected a common, fatalistic worldview where children were thought to bear the unavoidable consequences of their parents' sins. The prophets' declaration that this saying had become 'dull' directly challenged this deeply ingrained cultural assumption, calling for a shift toward personal piety and responsibility.
כָּהָה (kāhâh, H3543) — to grow dim, faint; often used for eyesight or lights, focusing on fading rather than blunting. פָּגַם (pāḡam, H6293) — to impair, damage; implies a marring or injuring that reduces effectiveness.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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