קֶלֶס

a laughing-stock

Definition

The Hebrew noun קֶלֶס (qeleç) refers to an object of mockery, scorn, or derision. It describes a person or a people who have become a laughing-stock, a byword for contempt among others. In its biblical usage, it specifically denotes the shame and humiliation experienced by God's people when they are defeated and scorned by their enemies, as seen in Psalm 44:13 and Psalm 79:4. In Jeremiah 20:8, the prophet uses the term to express his personal anguish at becoming an object of derision because of his prophetic message.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in poetic and prophetic contexts of lament. It appears three times: twice in communal laments in the Psalms (Psalm 44:13, 79:4) and once in the personal lament of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:8). In the Psalms, it describes the national humiliation of Israel, who feel they have become a 'byword' or 'laughing-stock' among the nations due to military defeat. Jeremiah uses it to convey his personal suffering and isolation, as his prophecies of doom make him a target of mockery from his own people.

Etymology

The noun קֶלֶס (qeleç) is derived from the root verb קָלַס (qālas, H7046), which means 'to scoff' or 'to mock.' This root conveys the act of uttering scornful speech. The noun form, therefore, represents the state or result of that action—the one who is mocked. It is part of a semantic field related to shame, reproach, and contempt in biblical Hebrew.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it captures the profound experience of shame and alienation, both corporately and individually, within the covenant relationship. It highlights the tension between God's promises to His people and their experienced reality of defeat and scorn. Understanding this term enriches the reading of laments in the Bible, showing that the biblical authors honestly expressed feelings of being God-forsaken and mocked by the world, which ultimately points to a cry for God's vindication and the restoration of His honor (Psalm 79:9-10).

In the ancient Near Eastern context, public shame and mockery were powerful social forces. Military defeat was not just a political loss but was seen as a divine judgment, making the defeated people an object of scorn, questioning the power of their god. To be a 'qeleç' was to suffer a profound loss of honor and social standing. This cultural weight intensifies the pleas in the Psalms for God to act to restore His own reputation and the honor of His people.

חֶרְפָּה (ḥerpâ, H2781) — a more general term for 'reproach' or 'disgrace,' often used in parallel with qeleç (Psalm 44:13). לַעַג (laʿag, H3933) — 'mocking' or 'derision,' focusing more on the scornful speech or action itself rather than the state of the one mocked. בּוּז (bûz, H937) — 'contempt,' emphasizing the attitude of despising or holding as worthless.

Word Details

Scripture References