Hebrew · H7043, G2672 · unreviewed

קָלַל

To be (causatively, make ) light , literally ( swift , small , sharp , etc.) or figuratively ( easy , trifling , vile , etc.) · to execrate; by analogy, to doom

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

קָלַל H7043 to be (causatively, make ) light , literally ( swift , small , sharp , etc.) or figuratively ( easy , trifling , vile , etc.)
Pronunciation qālal
Core semantic shift from physical lightness to moral degradation; cursing involves making someone light or worthless.
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καταράομαι G2672 to execrate; by analogy, to doom
Pronunciation kataráomai
To curse someone by invoking divine judgment or condemnation; opposite of blessing.
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What does קָלַל (qalal) mean in the Bible?

קָלַל · καταράομαι is a Hebrew word meaning "to treat with contempt or pronounce a curse".

Full entry for קָלַל (H7043, G2672) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to treat with contempt or pronounce a curse
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action
Sequential imperfect 1Kgs 12:4 · 1Kgs 12:9 · 1Kgs 12:10 · 2Chr 10:4 · 2Chr 10:9 · 2Chr 10:10
Perfect Ezek 22:7 · Isa 8:23
Imperfect 1Sam 6:5
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense
Perfect 2Sam 1:23 · Gen 8:11 · Jer 4:13 · Job 7:6 · Job 9:25 · Job 40:4 · Nah 1:14
Imperfect 1Sam 2:30
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 17×
Imperfect 2Sam 16:9 · 2Sam 16:10 · Lev 20:9 · Lev 24:15 · Prov 30:11 · Exod 22:27 · Lev 19:14 · Ps 62:5 · Ps 109:28
Perfect 2Sam 19:22 · Lev 20:9 · Eccl 7:22
Participle active 1Sam 3:13 · Prov 20:20
Jussive Eccl 10:20
Sequential imperfect 2Sam 16:10
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action
Perfect 2Kgs 20:10 · Isa 49:6
Participle passive Jer 6:14 · Jer 8:11
Imperfect Isa 30:16
Participle active Prov 14:6
Pilpel
Perfect Eccl 10:10 · Ezek 21:26
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject
Imperfect Isa 65:20 · Job 24:18
Pealal
Perfect Jer 4:24
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 45 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Imperfect 16 Perfect 14 Imperative 7 Participle 3 Perfective 3 Participle passive 2
Stem
Piel 17 Hiphil 9 Qal 8 Niphal 6 Pilpel 2 Pual 2 Pealal 1
Mood
Indicative/jussive 14 Indicative 14 Imperative 7 Jussive 2
OT Occurrences
Gen 8:11 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 22:27 Piel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 19:14 Piel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 20:9 Piel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 20:9 Piel · Perfect · Indicative Lev 24:15 Piel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive 1 Sam 2:30 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive 1 Sam 3:13 Piel · Participle 1 Sam 6:5 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive 2 Sam 1:23 Qal · Perfect · Indicative 2 Sam 16:9 Piel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive 2 Sam 16:10 Piel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive 2 Sam 16:10 Piel · Imperative · Imperative 2 Sam 19:22 Piel · Perfect · Indicative 1 Kgs 12:4 Hiphil · Imperative · Imperative 1 Kgs 12:9 Hiphil · Imperative · Imperative 1 Kgs 12:10 Hiphil · Imperative · Imperative 2 Kgs 20:10 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative 2 Chr 10:4 Hiphil · Imperative · Imperative 2 Chr 10:9 Hiphil · Imperative · Imperative 2 Chr 10:10 Hiphil · Imperative · Imperative Job 7:6 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Job 9:25 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Job 24:18 Pual · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Job 40:4 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Ps 62:5 Piel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Ps 109:28 Piel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Prov 14:6 Niphal · Participle Prov 20:20 Piel · Participle Prov 30:11 Piel · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Eccl 7:22 Piel · Perfect · Indicative Eccl 10:10 Pilpel · Perfective Eccl 10:20 Piel · Imperfect · Jussive Eccl 10:20 Piel · Imperfect · Jussive Isa 8:23 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative Isa 30:16 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Isa 49:6 Niphal · Perfect · Indicative Isa 65:20 Pual · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Jer 4:13 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Jer 4:24 Pealal · Perfective +5 more occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources