קָלַל
to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)
Definition
The Hebrew verb קָלַל (qâlal) fundamentally means 'to be light' or 'to make light,' with a wide range of literal and figurative applications. In its literal sense, it describes physical lightness, swiftness, or smallness, as seen when Noah's dove could not find a resting place because the waters were 'light' (i.e., abated) on the earth (Genesis 8:8, 11). Figuratively, it often means to treat as insignificant, to despise, or to curse. This is powerfully illustrated in the covenant promise where God declares He will 'curse' (qâlal) those who curse Abram (Genesis 12:3). The word thus spans from describing a physical state to expressing a serious social or spiritual judgment.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used 79 times across the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, legal, and prophetic texts. Its usage patterns show two primary contexts. First, it describes physical lightness or easing of a burden, as in Exodus 18:22 where Moses' workload is 'made light.' Second, and more prominently, it denotes treating someone or something with contempt, often translated as 'curse' or 'despise.' This is central in legal prohibitions like 'Whoever curses (qâlal) his father or his mother shall be put to death' (Exodus 21:17) and in relational conflicts, such as when Sarai was 'made light of' in Hagar's eyes (Genesis 16:4-5).
Etymology
קָלַל is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to lightness, both in weight and in value. Cognates in other Semitic languages support this sense of being slight, swift, or trifling. The development from the concrete idea of physical lightness to the abstract concepts of treating as insignificant or cursing is a natural semantic shift, where something 'light' is considered of little worth or gravity.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is intimately connected to the concepts of blessing and cursing within God's covenant relationship with His people. The divine pronouncement in Genesis 12:3 establishes a fundamental spiritual principle where God actively opposes those who show contempt for His chosen. Understanding qâlal as 'to make light of' or 'treat as insignificant' deepens our reading of passages about cursing, revealing it as a serious devaluation of a person's God-given worth or position, especially within the family (Exodus 21:17) and the covenant community.
In ancient Israelite culture, words held immense power. To 'make light of' or 'curse' (qâlal) a parent or a leader was not merely an insult but a direct assault on the social and divine order, hence the severe penalty in Exodus 21:17. Cursing was seen as enacting a real, detrimental force, not just expressing anger. This contrasts with a modern tendency to view cursing as merely offensive speech, underestimating its perceived power to affect reality in the ancient worldview.
אָרַר (ʾārar, H779) — A more formal term for a solemn, prophetic curse, often pronounced by God. קָלַל can imply a more general attitude of contempt. בָּזָה (bāzâ, H959) — To despise or hold in contempt, focusing on the internal attitude of scorn, whereas קָלַל can include the active expression of that contempt through cursing.
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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