קָמַל
to wither
Definition
The Hebrew verb קָמַל (qâmal) primarily means 'to wither' or 'to dry up,' describing the process of vegetation losing vitality and moisture. In its two biblical occurrences, it vividly portrays the devastating effects of divine judgment on the natural world. In Isaiah 19:6, it describes the Nile's canals and reeds withering as part of God's judgment on Egypt. In Isaiah 33:9, it depicts the land of Lebanon and Sharon withering away, symbolizing widespread desolation.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used exclusively in the book of Isaiah, specifically in prophetic oracles of judgment. In both instances (Isaiah 19:6 and 33:9), it describes the catastrophic withering of lush, fertile regions—the Nile Delta and Lebanon/Sharon—as a direct consequence of God's action. The usage is poetic and metaphorical, using the failure of vital water sources and vegetation to symbolize the collapse of human pride, security, and prosperity under divine wrath.
Etymology
קָמַל is a primitive root in Biblical Hebrew. Its core meaning relates to shriveling, wilting, or drying up. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Arabic, support this sense of becoming dry or withered. The word appears only in its basic verbal form (Qal stem) in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing a completed state of desiccation.
Semantic Range
Though used only twice, קָמַל carries significant theological weight in its context. It is a powerful image of God's sovereign judgment, showing that even the most reliable sources of life and prosperity—like the mighty Nile or the fertile plains of Sharon—are utterly dependent on His sustenance and can be withdrawn. This withering serves as a tangible sign of covenant curses and a call to recognize God's ultimate authority over creation and nations. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Isaiah by highlighting the totality of the desolation God can bring as a response to human arrogance.
In the ancient Near East, reliable water sources and fertile land were the absolute foundations of life, economy, and power. The Nile was the lifeblood of Egypt, and Lebanon/Sharon were renowned for their forests and pastures. For Isaiah's original audience, the image of these specific, famously robust areas 'withering' (qâmal) would have been a shocking and culturally resonant metaphor for a complete and unimaginable reversal of fortune, signaling a fundamental breakdown in the natural order.
נָבֵל (nāḇēl, H5034) — to wither, fade, or fall; often used of flowers fading. יָבֵשׁ (yāḇēsh, H3001) — to dry up, be dry; a more general term for drying applied to objects, land, or plants. עָמַל (ʿāmal, H5999) — to labor or be weary; a homophone with a different root, but sometimes confused due to similar spelling.
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.
Full methodology & sources →