קִיא (qo)
qo
to vomit
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qo describes the physical act of vomiting or spewing something out. In its basic sense, it refers to the body’s involuntary rejection of harmful substances. This raw, visceral imagery appears in books like Job and Proverbs, where it underscores the unpleasantness of what is being expelled.
A more striking usage occurs in Leviticus, where the land itself is described as vomiting out its inhabitants. Here, the word carries heavy theological weight, portraying sin as a contaminant that forces the earth to reject those living on it. This metaphorical use transforms a biological function into a powerful image of divine judgment and moral purity.
Translators typically render qo simply as "vomit" or "spew," preserving the starkness of the original text. The word leaves no room for ambiguity; it signifies total expulsion and rejection, marking a clear boundary between what is clean and what must be cast away.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qo describes the body’s involuntary rejection of harmful substances. In Scripture, this visceral imagery highlights how sin contaminates what is meant to be pure. When the land itself is said to vomit out its inhabitants, it signals that moral corruption has reached a point of no return. This is not merely physical disgust but a profound spiritual reality: holiness requires separation from what destroys life.
For your daily walk, this word serves as a sobering reminder. It invites you to examine what you allow into your heart and mind. Just as the body rejects poison, God calls His people to reject what defiles their relationship with Him. This is not about perfection but about a posture of repentance and desire for purity.
Even in moments of failure, this imagery points to God’s justice and mercy. He does not ignore sin, yet He provides a way back through humility. May you find comfort in knowing that God values your sincere pursuit of holiness over flawless performance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it will vomit up2×
- you will vomit up/ it1×
- it vomited up1×
- and/ you will vomit up/ it1×
- and/ it vomited up1×
- and/ he has vomited up/ it1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תָקִ֤יא2×
- תְקִיאֶ֑/נָּה1×
- קָאָ֛ה1×
- וַ/תָּקִ֥א1×
- וַ/יְקִאֶ֑/נּוּ1×
- וַ/הֲקֵֽאתֽ/וֹ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 18:25
The land was defiled. Therefore I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out her inhabitants.
This verse establishes the theological weight of the word by showing how sin causes the land itself to reject its inhabitants, illustrating divine judgment on moral defilement.
-
Job 20:15
He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
Here the word describes the futility of ill-gotten gain, as the wicked person is forced to spit out what they tried to swallow, showing that sin ultimately brings loss rather than satisfaction.
-
Proverbs 23:8
You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
This occurrence uses the word metaphorically to warn against superficial hospitality, where the host’s pleasant words are wasted because the guest’s greed leads to disgust and rejection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word qo mean?
Why does the Bible use such graphic language?
How is qo different from other words for sin?
Every Occurrence (6 verses across 3 books)
Leviticus 3 verses
The land was defiled. Therefore I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out her inhabitants.
Leviticus 18:28that the land not vomit you out also, when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.
Leviticus 20:22“‘You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to…