כִּשָּׁלוֹן (kish.sha.lon)
kish.sha.lon
stumbling
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun kishshalon describes a physical stumble or fall, but in Scripture it carries a heavier weight as a metaphor for calamity or disaster. It appears only once in the Old Testament, located in Proverbs 16:18. Here, the word is paired with pride to illustrate how arrogance leads directly to a catastrophic downfall.
While the root verb suggests tripping over an obstacle, the noun form abstracts this into a state of ruin or misfortune. The text uses it to show that haughtiness precedes destruction, turning a simple loss of balance into a total collapse. Translators often render it "disaster" or "destruction" to capture the severity of the consequence implied by the fall.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kishshalon describes more than a simple trip; it signifies a sudden collapse or disaster. In Proverbs 16:18, we see this concept linked directly to pride. The text warns that an arrogant spirit leads inevitably to a fall. This is not just about physical balance but spiritual ruin.
When we let pride take root, we lose our footing in ways that can be devastating. Recognizing this pattern helps us guard our hearts against haughtiness. It invites us to walk with humility, knowing that stability comes from trusting God rather than relying on our own strength. This awareness offers a path toward peace and steady growth.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- stumbling1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
This verse uniquely pairs kishshalon with pride, showing that arrogance causes the catastrophic fall described by the word.