כָּשַׁל (ka.shal)
ka.shal
to stumble
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 48 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb kashal describes a physical loss of balance, specifically the act of stumbling or tottering due to weakness in the legs and ankles. It captures the moment when stability fails, causing a person to stagger or fall. This image is central to its usage in Scripture, where it appears frequently in prophetic books like Jeremiah and Isaiah to depict nations or individuals losing their footing under pressure.
Unlike synonyms that describe general shaking or trembling of the whole body, kashal focuses on the collapse of structural support. The sources note a distinct range of meaning: while the Qal form describes the act of stumbling itself, the Hiphil causative form shifts the focus to one who causes others to fall or become weak. This dual usage allows the word to describe both personal vulnerability and the destructive impact of external forces.
Translators often render kashal as "stumble," "fall," or "be feeble" depending on the context. In Proverbs 4:12, it illustrates how wisdom prevents a person from tripping, while in Jeremiah 6:21, it describes the shock that causes people to stumble before the word of God. The term carries theological weight by linking physical weakness with spiritual or national instability, showing how easily confidence can collapse when strength is absent.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kashal paints a vivid picture of physical instability, describing the moment when legs give way and balance is lost. In Scripture, this image moves beyond simple tripping to represent a deeper collapse of strength or confidence. It reminds us that human resilience has limits, and there are seasons when our own footing feels uncertain.
Yet this vulnerability often serves as a doorway to divine support. When we recognize our own weakness, we become open to the help that God provides. The Psalms and Prophets frequently contrast human frailty with God’s steadfastness, showing that stability comes not from our own power but from His presence. Even when we feel like we are falling, we are held.
This word invites us to look for wisdom that steadies our steps, as seen in Proverbs 4:12. It encourages a posture of humility, acknowledging that while we may stumble, we do not walk alone. The promise is that those who trust in the Lord will find their strength renewed when their own runs out.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 48 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will stumble10×
- and/ they will stumble6×
- they stumbled3×
- and/ he will stumble3×
- they have staggered2×
- it has stumbled2×
- you will stumble1×
- you have caused to stumble1×
- we have stumbled1×
- they stumble1×
- they bring injury1×
- the/ [one who] stumbles1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ4×
- יִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ\׃2×
- וְ/כָשַׁ֤ל2×
- תִכָּשֵֽׁל\׃1×
- מֻכְשָׁלִים֙1×
- לְ/הַכְשִׁיל֖/וֹ1×
- כּוֹשֵׁל֙1×
- כּוֹשֵֽׁל\׃1×
- כּוֹשֵׁ֔ל1×
- כּוֹשֵׁ֑ל1×
- כֹּשְׁל֖וֹת1×
- כָּשָֽׁלוּ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 4:12
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
This verse highlights wisdom as a protective force that prevents stumbling, linking moral guidance with physical stability.
-
Isaiah 35:3
Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm.
Here the word describes feeble knees, emphasizing the need for external strength to support those who are weak.
-
Psalms 27:2
When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
The psalmist contrasts his own potential vulnerability with the failure of his attackers, showing God’s protection in conflict.
-
Isaiah 8:15
Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured.”
This prophetic warning uses stumbling to depict the severe consequences of rejecting God’s message.