What does קָלָה mean in the Bible?
קָלָה is a Hebrew word meaning "to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only ( be [causatively, hold ] in contempt )".
Hebrew · H7034
קָלָה
To be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only ( be [causatively, hold ] in contempt )
Reading a lexicon entry
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Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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קָלָה H7034
What does קָלָה mean in the Bible?
קָלָה is a Hebrew word meaning "to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only ( be [causatively, hold ] in contempt )".
Full entry for קָלָה (H7034) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7034?
The BSB source-word alignment has 7 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and be degraded (1), and lightly esteemed (1), and the base (1), he who dishonors (1), to be lightly esteemed (1).
Where does קָלָה appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 25:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (2), Isaiah (2), 1 Samuel (1), 2 Samuel (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 It and be degraded 1× Deuteronomy 25:3
and lightly esteemed 1× 1 Samuel 18:23
and the base 1× Isaiah 3:5
he who dishonors 1× Deuteronomy 27:16
to be lightly esteemed 1× Proverbs 12:9
who gathered together 1× 2 Samuel 20:14
will become an object of contempt 1× Isaiah 16:14
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 25:3 וְנִקְלָ֥ה to and be degraded Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 27:16 מַקְלֶ֥ה to he who dishonors Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular 1 Samuel 18:23 וְנִקְלֶֽה׃ to and lightly esteemed Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 20:14 וַיִּקָּלְהוּ to who gathered together Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Proverbs 12:9 נִ֭קְלֶה to to be lightly esteemed Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Isaiah 3:5 וְהַנִּקְלֶ֖ה to and the base Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Isaiah 16:14 וְנִקְלָה֙ to will become an object of contempt Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Deuteronomy 25:3
Aligned rows 7
Books represented 5
Deuteronomy 2 1 Samuel 1 2 Samuel 1 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 2
Source forms
וְהַנִּקְלֶ֖ה 1x wə·han·niq·leh Isaiah 3:5
וַיִּקָּלְהוּ 1x way·yiq·qå̄·lə·hū 2 Samuel 20:14
וְנִקְלָ֥ה 1x wə·niq·lāh Deuteronomy 25:3
וְנִקְלָה֙ 1x wə·niq·lāh Isaiah 16:14
וְנִקְלֶֽה׃ 1x wə·niq·leh 1 Samuel 18:23
מַקְלֶ֥ה 1x maq·leh Deuteronomy 27:16
נִ֭קְלֶה 1x niq·leh Proverbs 12:9
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 2x Deuteronomy 25:3, Isaiah 16:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x 2 Samuel 20:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular 1x 1 Samuel 18:23
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular 1x Isaiah 3:5
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular 1x Deuteronomy 27:16
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular 1x Proverbs 12:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only ( be [causatively, hold ] in contempt )
Source Gloss
to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only ( be [causatively, hold ] in contempt )
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only (be [causatively, hold] in contempt) BDB: be lightly esteemed Usage: base, contemn, despise, lightly esteem, set light, seem vile.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 2
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 1×
Participle active Deut 27:16 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 1×
Participle active Prov 12:9 1×
Word Origins
קָלָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain