קַרְסֹל (qar.sol)
qar.sol
ankle
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qarṣōl refers specifically to the ankle, the joint connecting the foot to the lower leg. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 2 Samuel 18:25, where a watchman on the city wall spots a runner approaching Jerusalem.
This single occurrence highlights the word’s descriptive precision. The text notes that the man was running alone, and his movement would have been visible at the ankle level before the rest of his body came clearly into view. The term focuses on the physical mechanics of motion rather than the person as a whole.
Because it is so rare, qarṣōl does not carry broad theological weight or metaphorical usage in Scripture. It serves as a concrete anatomical detail, grounding the narrative in the physical reality of the scene. Translators consistently render it as "ankle," preserving the specific bodily reference without adding symbolic meaning.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qarṣōl appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in 2 Samuel 18:25. It describes the ankle of a runner approaching Jerusalem. This single mention grounds the story in physical reality, showing how God’s narratives often include precise, tangible details.
While we do not find deep theological metaphors attached to ankles in Scripture, this rare word reminds us that God cares about the concrete moments of our lives. Just as the watchman noticed the movement at the ankle level before seeing the whole person, God notices the small, steady steps you take each day.
Even when your path feels uncertain or your progress seems slow, remember that your movements are seen and known. The Bible does not ignore the physical realities of our journey; it honors them. This attention to detail reflects a God who is present in every step you take.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ankles/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קַרְסֻלָּֽ/י\׃1×