Bible Word Study
קֶשֶׁב
qesheb · a hearkening
קֶשֶׁב
a hearkening
Definition
The Hebrew noun קֶשֶׁב (qesheb) refers to the act of attentive listening or hearkening, often implying focused, expectant attention. It describes a state of alertness where one is poised to hear and respond, as seen when the prophets of Baal waited in vain for an answer from their god (1 Kings 18:29). In 2 Kings 4:31, it conveys the idea of 'heed' or 'regard' in the context of a servant's unsuccessful attempt to gain Elisha's attention. The word can also denote a watchful, vigilant posture, as in Isaiah 21:7, where a lookout is intently listening for news from the battlefield.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only three times in the Old Testament, each in a narrative context involving prophetic activity or divine communication. It is used to depict intense, expectant waiting for a response—whether from a deity (1 Kings 18:29), a prophet (2 Kings 4:31), or in a military watch (Isaiah 21:7). All instances emphasize a focused auditory attention, often in moments of crisis or anticipation.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb קָשַׁב (qāshav, H7181), meaning 'to hear, listen, pay attention.' The noun form קֶשֶׁב specifically denotes the abstract concept or state of attentive hearing. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Aramaic, carry similar meanings of listening or obeying, highlighting its core idea of focused auditory perception.
Semantic Range
קֶשֶׁב underscores the biblical theme of attentive response to God. It contrasts mere hearing with intentional, expectant listening—a posture required in prayer (as in 1 Kings 18:29) and prophecy. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting that biblical 'hearing' often involves a readiness to obey or act, reflecting the covenantal relationship where God speaks and His people are called to listen diligently. In ancient Israelite culture, attentive listening was vital in contexts like prophecy, prayer, and warfare, where auditory signals (e.g., a divine voice, a prophet's instruction, or battlefield news) demanded immediate response. The word's usage reflects a society where oral communication was primary, and 'hearkening' implied not just passive hearing but an engaged, anticipatory stance—different from modern, often distracted, listening. שְׁמִיעָה (shemi'ah, H4926) — general act of hearing; אֹזֶן (ozen, H241) — physical ear or capacity to hear; תְּשׁוּעָה (teshu'ah, H8668) — deliverance (contextually linked to hearing cries for help)
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]