קָלַל (qa.lal)
qa.lal
to lighten
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 69 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qalal carries a core meaning of being "light," but this lightness operates in two distinct directions. Literally, it describes physical swiftness or weightlessness, such as when waters recede from the earth in Genesis 8:11 or when chariots move with great speed in Habakkuk 1:8. Figuratively, however, "light" implies something of little value or importance, leading to meanings like being trifling, despised, or treated with contempt.
This semantic shift explains why qalal is the standard word for cursing in the Old Testament. To curse someone was to treat them as insignificant, stripping them of honor and status. This connection appears clearly in Leviticus 19:14, where the text forbids cursing the deaf, linking verbal abuse with a failure to respect human dignity. The act of cursing is thus an attempt to make another person "light" or weightless in social standing.
Translators often render qalal as "curse," "despise," or "swear lightly," depending on the context. In Genesis 12:3, God promises to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him, using this root to denote severe divine judgment against disrespect. The word reminds readers that in biblical thought, speech has weight; to speak lightly of another is to diminish their worth before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qalal reveals a profound truth about how we value people. At its core, it means to make something light or weightless. When used toward others, this lightness becomes contempt. To curse or despise someone is to strip them of their dignity, treating them as if they have no substance or worth before God.
This word reminds us that speech carries immense weight. In Leviticus 19:14, the command not to curse the deaf links verbal abuse directly to a failure to respect human dignity. When we speak lightly of others, we diminish their value in the eyes of the Creator who made them.
Yet there is hope. God’s promise in Genesis 12:3 shows that He honors those who honor His people. We are invited to treat every person with the weight and respect they deserve, reflecting God’s own view of human worth rather than our own fleeting judgments.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 69 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lighten6×
- and/ he cursed4×
- you curse2×
- to/ curse2×
- they have been swift2×
- it is trifling2×
- he will curse2×
- a trifling [thing]2×
- ¿/ were they abated1×
- ¿/ was it trifling1×
- ¿/ trifling1×
- you will curse1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קַ֭לּוּ2×
- נְקַלָּ֔ה2×
- לְ/הָקֵ֖ל2×
- וַ/יְקַלֵּ֔ל2×
- הָקֵל֩2×
- הָקֵל֙2×
- הָקֵ֣ל2×
- הַֽ/מְקַלֵּ֗ל2×
- תְּקֻלַּ֣ל1×
- תְּקַלֵּ֖ל1×
- תְּקַלֵּ֔ל1×
- תְקַלֵּ֣ל1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 19:14
“‘You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.
This verse connects cursing with mistreating the vulnerable, showing that qalal implies a failure to respect human dignity.
-
Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
God uses this word to promise judgment against those who treat Abraham with contempt, highlighting the seriousness of disrespecting His chosen ones.
-
II Samuel 16:7
Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow!
Shimei’s curse against David demonstrates how qalal is used to strip a leader of honor and status through verbal attack.
-
Exodus 21:17
“Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
The penalty for cursing parents underscores the severe weight God places on familial respect, as qalal here means treating them as insignificant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does qalal mean in the Bible?
How is qalal different from other words for cursing?
Where does this word appear in Scripture?
Every Occurrence (69 verses across 19 books)
Genesis 6 verses
He himself sent out a dove to see if the waters were abated from the surface of the ground,
Genesis 8:11The dove came back to him at evening and, behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the…
Genesis 8:21Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. Yahweh said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake…
Genesis 12:3I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will…
Genesis 16:4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Genesis 16:5Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had…