קָמֵל (qa.mal)
qa.mal
to decay
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qāmēl describes a process of decay or withering, capturing the physical reality of something that has lost its vitality and is turning to dust. In the quiet, sparse landscape of the Old Testament, it appears only twice, both within the book of Isaiah. This rarity gives the word a specific, focused weight, pointing not to violent destruction but to the slow, inevitable fading of life.
Its primary sense is that of being withered or moldering away, often used to describe dry vegetation or fragile human strength under pressure. When Isaiah employs this term, he is highlighting the transient nature of earthly power and beauty against the backdrop of divine permanence. The image is one of natural decline, where moisture leaves and structure collapses into nothingness.
Translators typically render qāmēl as "withered" or "decayed," choices that preserve the tangible, sensory quality of the original text. Unlike words for sudden ruin, this verb suggests a gradual loss of strength, reminding readers that what is fragile will eventually return to the earth unless sustained by something greater.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qāmēl paints a quiet picture of things losing their vitality. It describes the slow fading of life, like reeds drying up in the sun or grass turning brown when rain fails to come. This is not sudden destruction, but a gentle, inevitable return to dust. In Isaiah, this image reminds us that earthly beauty and strength are temporary.
For your faith, this offers a comforting perspective. When you feel worn out or see the world around you changing, remember that human effort alone cannot sustain life forever. The withering of nature points to our need for something greater than ourselves. It invites us to look beyond temporary circumstances to the enduring care of God.
This word encourages humility. We are not meant to rely on our own strength or the stability of the world, which will eventually fade. Instead, we find rest in knowing that God remains constant. His promises do not wither like the grass, offering a secure hope for every season of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they will wither1×
- it has withered1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָמַ֑ל1×
- קָמֵֽלוּ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 19:6
The rivers will become foul. The streams of Egypt will be diminished and dried up. The reeds and flags will wither away.
This verse uses the word to describe the physical drying up of Egypt's water sources, showing how natural resources can fail when they are not sustained.
-
Isaiah 33:9
The land mourns and languishes. Lebanon is confounded and withers away. Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel are stripped bare.
Here the term describes Lebanon and Sharon becoming like a desert, illustrating how even fertile lands can become barren and stripped bare without divine support.