What does קַו (qawwām) mean in the Bible?
קַו (qawwām): Cord that connects and measures, extending figuratively to rule, standard, and musical harmony.
Hebrew · H6957
קַו
קַו (qawwām): Cord that connects and measures, extending figuratively to rule, standard, and musical harmony.
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קַוH6957
Pronunciationqawwām
What does קַו (qawwām) mean in the Bible?
Full entry for קַו (H6957) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6957?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a measuring line (4), line (4), on line (4), the measuring line (2), by measure (1).
Where does קַו (qawwām) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 2 Kings 21:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (16), 2 Chronicles (1), 2 Kings (1), Ezekiel (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ita measuring line4×Job 38:5, Isaiah 34:11, Isaiah 44:13, Lamentations 2:8
line4×Isaiah 28:10, Isaiah 28:13
on line4×Isaiah 28:10, Isaiah 28:13
the measuring line2×2 Kings 21:13, Isaiah 28:17
by measure1×Isaiah 34:17
from a powerful1×Isaiah 18:7
in circumference1×2 Chronicles 4:2
their voice1×Psalms 19:4
to a powerful1×Isaiah 18:2
with a measuring line1×Ezekiel 47:3
Show sample aligned rows
2 Kings 21:13קָ֣וtothe measuring lineNoun - masculine singular construct2 Chronicles 4:2וְקָו֙toin circumferenceConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularJob 38:5קָּֽו׃toa measuring lineNoun - masculine singularPsalms 19:4קַוָּ֗םtotheir voiceNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralIsaiah 18:2קָ֣וtoto a powerfulNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 18:2קַו־toNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 18:7קָ֣וtofrom a powerfulNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 18:7קַו־toNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 28:10קַ֥וtolineNoun - masculine singularIsaiah 28:10לָקָ֖וtoon linePreposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row2 Kings 21:13
Aligned rows22
Books represented7
2 Kings12 Chronicles1Job1Psalms1Isaiah16Lamentations1Ezekiel1
Source forms
קָ֣ו3xqāw2 Kings 21:13, Isaiah 18:2, Isaiah 18:7
קַ֣ו2xqawIsaiah 28:10, Isaiah 28:13
קַו־2xqaw-Isaiah 18:2, Isaiah 18:7
בַּקָּ֑ו1xbaq·qāwIsaiah 34:17
וְקָו֙1xwə·qāw2 Chronicles 4:2
וְקָ֣ו1xwə·qāwEzekiel 47:3
לְקָ֔ו1xlə·qāwIsaiah 28:17
לָקָ֖ו1xlā·qāwIsaiah 28:10
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular11xJob 38:5, Isaiah 18:2, Isaiah 18:7, Isaiah 28:10
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular5xIsaiah 28:10, Isaiah 28:13, Isaiah 28:17
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular2x2 Chronicles 4:2, Ezekiel 47:3
Noun - masculine singular construct2x2 Kings 21:13, Isaiah 34:11
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural1xPsalms 19:4
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular1xIsaiah 34:17
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Cord that connects and measures, extending figuratively to rule, standard, and musical harmony.
Source Gloss
a cord (as connecting), especially for measuring ; figuratively, a rule ; also a rim , a musical string or accord
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Cord that connects and measures, extending figuratively to rule, standard, and musical harmony.
a cord (as connecting), especially for measuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a musical string or accord Usage: line. Compare 6978.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Their line; measuring line; can also refer to a musical string or 'voice'; indicates the reach of their influence
Showing 1 selected witness from 20 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
קַו is built from these roots: