קָלָה (qa.lah)
qa.lah
to dishonor
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qalah means to treat someone or something as insignificant, effectively stripping them of their worth or honor. In its basic sense, it describes a lowering of status, where a person or thing is regarded with contempt rather than respect. This concept appears across the Old Testament, particularly in wisdom literature and prophetic texts, to describe social and spiritual degradation.
The word carries distinct nuances depending on its grammatical form. In the Niphal stem, it describes the passive state of being despised or lightly esteemed, as seen when Proverbs 14:31 notes that oppressing the poor is a reproach to their Maker. Conversely, the Hiphil stem indicates active treatment with contempt, such as in Isaiah 53:3, where the suffering servant is described as one who was despised and rejected by men.
Its root relates to lightness or weightlessness, metaphorically suggesting that to qalah is to make something feel "light" or without substance. This contrasts with terms for heavy honor or glory. The word underscores how human actions can diminish dignity, serving as a stark reminder of the value inherent in every person created by God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qalah describes a painful reduction in worth, where someone is treated as if they have no value or weight. In our daily lives, we often fear being overlooked or dismissed by others. This Hebrew term reminds us that such treatment is not just a social slight but a spiritual injury against the dignity God has placed in every person.
When we see others being degraded, whether through harsh words or unfair judgment, it reflects a failure to honor their Creator. Conversely, when we are the ones feeling 'light' or insignificant, this word offers hope. Your worth is not determined by how others treat you, but by the One who formed you. We are called to protect the dignity of our neighbors and resist the urge to diminish anyone's standing.
Reflecting on this helps us navigate conflicts with grace. Instead of seeking revenge when insulted, we can remember that true honor comes from God alone. This perspective frees us from the need to defend our own status and allows us to extend kindness even to those who do not respect us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ the/ lightly esteemed1×
- and/ lightly esteemed1×
- and/ it will be lightly esteemed1×
- and/ he will be dishonored1×
- a lightly esteemed [person]1×
- [one who] dishonors1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִ֭קְלֶה1×
- מַקְלֶ֥ה1×
- וְ/נִקְלָה֙1×
- וְ/נִקְלָ֥ה1×
- וְ/נִקְלֶֽה\׃1×
- וְ/הַ/נִּקְלֶ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 27:16
‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
This verse establishes dishonoring parents as a fundamental curse, showing that qalah violates the core social structure God intended for family respect.
-
Isaiah 16:14
But now Yahweh has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as a worker bound by contract would count them, the glory of Moab shall be brought into contempt, with all his great multitude; and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”
Here qalah describes the active bringing of Moab's glory into contempt, illustrating how national pride can be stripped away through divine judgment.
-
Deuteronomy 25:3
He may sentence him to no more than forty stripes. He shall not give more, lest if he should give more and beat him more than that many stripes, then your brother will be degraded in your sight.
This passage warns that excessive punishment causes a brother to be degraded in the sight of the community, linking physical discipline with social honor.