קַל (qal)
qal
swift
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective qal primarily describes something that moves with speed or lightness. In its most common usage, it characterizes a person or object as swift, fleet, or quick to act. This sense of rapid movement appears in contexts where immediate action is required or highlighted, such as when messengers are described as running quickly to deliver news.
While the core meaning relates to physical speed, the word can also imply a lack of weight or heaviness, suggesting agility rather than burden. In prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah, it often underscores the urgency of divine messages or the suddenness of coming events. The term helps convey a sense of immediacy, showing how quickly God’s words or judgments can be carried out or received.
Translators typically render qal as "swift" or "quick," capturing its dynamic nature. Its occurrence in just twelve verses allows each instance to carry significant weight, emphasizing specific moments of haste or readiness within the biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qal describes a quality of speed, lightness, or quickness. It appears in Scripture to highlight moments where haste is essential, whether for delivering urgent news or responding to divine direction. This concept reminds us that readiness often matters as much as strength. In our daily lives, we may find ourselves needing to act quickly with wisdom and grace.
While physical speed has its place, the Bible also shows that timing and chance play significant roles in outcomes. Ecclesiastes notes that the race is not always to the swift, inviting us to trust God’s sovereignty over our efforts. This perspective encourages patience alongside diligence, helping us balance urgency with faith.
Ultimately, qal points to a deeper reality: God uses both speed and stillness to accomplish His purposes. Whether we are called to move swiftly or wait patiently, we can rely on His guidance. This word invites reflection on how we respond to the moments that require immediate action in our own journeys.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- swift5×
- the/ swift [one]1×
- swift [horse][s]1×
- from/ a swift [person]1×
- and/ a [person] swift1×
- [was] swift1×
- [is] swift1×
- [belongs] to the/ swift1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קַ֣ל2×
- קַלָּ֖ה1×
- קַלִּ֤ים1×
- קַלִּ֗ים1×
- קַל֙1×
- קַֽל\־1×
- קַ֥ל1×
- מִ/קָּ֔ל1×
- לַ/קַּלִּ֨ים1×
- וְ/קַ֥ל1×
- הַ/קַּ֔ל1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 2:18
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.
Asahel’s swiftness is compared to a wild gazelle, highlighting his physical agility and the danger it posed in battle.
-
Ecclesiastes 9:11
I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
This verse uses the concept of swiftness to illustrate that human effort alone does not guarantee success, emphasizing reliance on God’s timing.
-
Isaiah 18:2
that sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus on the waters, saying, “Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide!”
The swift messengers are sent across waters, showing how speed was crucial for diplomatic communication in ancient times.
-
Jeremiah 2:23
“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,
Israel is likened to a swift dromadary, using the image of rapid movement to describe her restless pursuit of false gods.