קַלַּ֫חַת (qal.la.chat)
qal.la.chat
caldron
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qalcha refers to a large cooking vessel, specifically a cauldron or deep pot used for boiling food. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both instances found in the book of 1 Samuel. In these passages, the word describes the heavy iron pots used by soldiers to prepare meals, highlighting its role as essential kitchen equipment rather than a ceremonial object.
Its limited usage suggests it was a common, practical item in ancient Israelite households and military camps. The sources identify it simply as a pot or kettle, distinguishing it from more ornate vessels. By focusing on its function as a cooking container, the text grounds these narratives in the daily realities of life, showing how ordinary objects like cauldrons supported the physical needs of people in biblical times.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qalcha describes a heavy iron pot used for boiling food in ancient Israel. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in practical settings rather than ceremonial ones. In 1 Samuel, soldiers use it to prepare meals during campaigns, showing how ordinary tools supported daily life. This humble object reminds us that God cares about our physical needs as well as our spiritual journey.
When we read about such everyday items, we see a God who meets us in the mundane. The cauldron was not ornate or special; it was simply necessary for survival. Similarly, our daily routines and struggles are seen by Him. He does not ignore the small things that keep us going. Instead, He uses them to sustain us through difficult seasons.
Reflecting on this word can bring comfort. It shows that faith is lived out in real life, with real pots and pans. We do not need grand gestures to be close to God. Our ordinary moments are sacred because He is present there. May you find peace in knowing that your daily efforts are seen and valued by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in the/ caldron1×
- a caldron1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קַלָּֽחַת\׃1×
- בַ/קַּלַּ֙חַת֙1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 2:14
and he stabbed it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot. The priest took all that the fork brought up for himself. They did this to all the Israelites who came there to Shiloh.
This verse shows the cauldron as a practical tool for soldiers, highlighting its role in sustaining life during military campaigns rather than in religious rituals.
-
Micah 3:3
who also eat the flesh of my people, and peel their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as meat within the cauldron.
Here the cauldron is used metaphorically to describe the brutal treatment of people, emphasizing how ordinary objects can illustrate deep injustice and cruelty.