קוֹא

קוֹא

to vomit

Definition

The Hebrew verb קוֹא (qôwʼ) means 'to vomit' or 'to spew out.' In its literal sense, it describes the physical act of vomiting, as when a person vomits up food they have eaten (Proverbs 23:8, 25:16). Theologically, it is used metaphorically to describe the land itself rejecting or expelling its inhabitants due to their moral defilement and violation of God's covenant laws, as seen in the Holiness Code (Leviticus 18:25, 28; 20:22). This dual usage—both physical and metaphorical—highlights a powerful image of forceful expulsion.

Biblical Usage

This verb appears seven times in the Old Testament. Its usage is split between literal descriptions of vomiting (Proverbs 23:8, 25:16; Job 20:15; Jonah 2:10) and powerful metaphorical applications where the Promised Land 'vomits out' the Canaanites and threatens to do the same to Israel if they follow the same abominable practices (Leviticus 18:25, 28; 20:22). It is concentrated in Leviticus (in legal contexts) and Wisdom literature (in proverbial instruction).

Etymology

It is a primitive root. A variant form, קָיָה (qāyâ), appears in Jeremiah 25:27. The root conveys the core idea of forceful expulsion or ejection.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it vividly illustrates the concept of covenant consequences. The metaphor of the land vomiting out its inhabitants (Leviticus 18:25, 28) teaches that sin has a polluting effect on creation itself and that holiness is required to maintain residence in God's holy land. It underscores that God's judgment is not arbitrary but is a natural consequence of defilement, enriching our understanding of the land's role in the covenant and the seriousness of ethical and ritual purity. In the ancient Near East, land was often viewed as connected to the deity who owned it. The concept of a land 'vomiting' out its people due to their sins would have been a powerful and visceral image of divine displeasure and the breaking of sacred order, reinforcing the idea that morality had tangible, environmental consequences. קִיא (qîʼ, H6892) — The noun form meaning 'vomit' itself.

Word Details