קָלָה
to toast, i.e. scorch partially or slowly
Definition
The Hebrew verb קָלָה (qâlâh) primarily means 'to roast' or 'to parch' grain, describing a process of applying dry heat to food. In its four biblical occurrences, it consistently refers to the preparation of grain, not meat. In Leviticus 2:14, it describes roasting 'ears of grain' (אָבִיב) for a grain offering. In Joshua 5:11, it refers to eating 'parched grain' (קָלִי) from the new land. The verb can also be used metaphorically, as in Psalm 38:7, where the psalmist feels 'scorched' or 'parched' by his wounds, and in Jeremiah 29:22, where a curse involves men being 'roasted' in fire as a divine judgment.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used in four distinct contexts across the Old Testament. It appears in ritual law (Leviticus 2:14), historical narrative (Joshua 5:11), poetic lament (Psalm 38:7), and prophetic judgment (Jeremiah 29:22). In Leviticus and Joshua, the usage is literal and positive, describing a standard method of preparing grain for eating or offering. In Psalm 38:7 and Jeremiah 29:22, the usage is metaphorical and negative, conveying intense suffering or judgment through the imagery of being scorched or roasted.
Etymology
קָלָה is a primitive root. It is closely related to, and likely identical with, the root קָלָה (H7034), which means 'to be lightly esteemed' or 'to be trifling,' possibly through a shared idea of shrinkage or diminishment by heat. The core concept involves the application of dry heat, leading to a change in state—making grain edible or inflicting suffering.
Semantic Range
This word connects the physical act of food preparation to spiritual concepts of provision, suffering, and judgment. In Leviticus, the roasted grain offering signifies dedication and thanksgiving to God. In Joshua, the parched grain marks God's provision in the Promised Land. The metaphorical uses in Psalm 38 and Jeremiah 29 deepen our understanding of divine discipline and the severe consequences of sin, portraying suffering as a consuming, drying heat. Understanding this range enriches reading by linking everyday sustenance to profound spiritual realities.
Roasting or parching grain was a common, simple method of food preparation in the ancient Near East, often done in a pan or on an open fire. It required no milling or elaborate processing, making it a quick way to consume newly harvested grain, as seen when the Israelites ate the produce of Canaan (Joshua 5:11). The metaphorical extension of this everyday cooking term to describe physical and judicial suffering would have been a powerful and relatable image for the original audience.
צָלָה (tsâlâh, H6740) — to roast, typically used for roasting meat or Passover lamb, not grain. בָּשַׁל (bâshal, H1310) — to boil or cook, a more general term for cooking in liquid. אָפָה (ʼâphâh, H644) — to bake, usually in an oven.
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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