What does קָשַׁב (qāšab) mean in the Bible?
קָשַׁב (qāšab): Attentive listening requiring physical orientation of the whole person toward the speaker
Hebrew · H7181
קָשַׁב
To prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
קָשַׁב H7181
Pronunciation qāšab
What does קָשַׁב (qāšab) mean in the Bible?
קָשַׁב (qāšab): Attentive listening requiring physical orientation of the whole person toward the speaker
Full entry for קָשַׁב (H7181) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7181?
The BSB source-word alignment has 46 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Listen (8), Pay attention (8), Attend (3), and attend (2), hear (2).
Where does קָשַׁב (qāšab) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 15:22. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (9), Jeremiah (8), Proverbs (8), Psalms (8).
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 Listen 8× 2 Chronicles 20:15, 2 Chronicles 33:10, Psalms 17:1, Psalms 142:6
Pay attention 8× Job 33:31, Proverbs 4:1, Proverbs 4:20, Proverbs 5:1
Attend 3× Psalms 55:2, Psalms 61:1, Jeremiah 18:19
and attend 2× Psalms 86:6, Proverbs 7:24
hear 2× Jeremiah 6:10, Daniel 9:19
listens 2× Proverbs 17:4, Proverbs 29:12
[and] attentiveness 1× 1 Samuel 15:22
[Who] will listen 1× Isaiah 42:23
and listen 1× Job 13:6
are listening 1× Song Of Solomon 8:13
Attend to 1× Psalms 5:2
attention 1× Jeremiah 6:19
has given heed 1× Jeremiah 23:18
He has attended 1× Psalms 66:19
he must be alert 1× Isaiah 21:7
heed 1× Jeremiah 18:18
I have listened 1× Jeremiah 8:6
if you incline 1× Proverbs 2:2
listened 1× Malachi 3:16
or listen 1× Nehemiah 9:34
or pay attention 1× Zechariah 1:4
Take heed 1× Hosea 5:1
to pay attention 1× Zechariah 7:11
took 1× Proverbs 1:24
will listen 1× Isaiah 32:3
you had paid attention 1× Isaiah 48:18
You will incline 1× Psalms 10:17
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 15:22 לְהַקְשִׁ֖יב to [and] attentiveness Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct 2 Chronicles 20:15 הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ to Listen Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural 2 Chronicles 33:10 הִקְשִֽׁיבוּ׃ to listen Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural Nehemiah 9:34 הִקְשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ to or listen Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural Job 13:6 הַקְשִֽׁיבוּ׃ to and listen Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural Job 33:31 הַקְשֵׁ֖ב to Pay attention Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular Psalms 5:2 הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀ to Attend to Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular Psalms 10:17 תַּקְשִׁ֥יב to You will incline Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Psalms 17:1 הַקְשִׁ֥יבָה to listen Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular Psalms 55:2 הַקְשִׁ֣יבָה to Attend Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 1 Samuel 15:22
Aligned rows 46
Books represented 14
1 Samuel 1 2 Chronicles 2 Nehemiah 1 Job 2 Psalms 8 Proverbs 8 Song Of Solomon 1 Isaiah 9 Jeremiah 8 Daniel 1 Hosea 1 Micah 1 Zechariah 2 Malachi 1
Source forms
הַקְשִׁ֥יבָה 2x haq·šî·ḇāh Psalms 17:1, Jeremiah 18:19
הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה 2x haq·šî·ḇāh Proverbs 4:20, Proverbs 5:1
הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀ 2x haq·šî·ḇāh Psalms 5:2, Psalms 142:6
הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ 2x haq·šî·ḇū 2 Chronicles 20:15, Isaiah 51:4
וְ֝הַקְשִׁ֗יבוּ 2x wə·haq·šî·ḇū Proverbs 4:1, Proverbs 7:24
מַקְשִׁ֣יב 2x maq·šîḇ Proverbs 17:4, Proverbs 29:12
הַקְשֵׁ֖ב 1x haq·šêḇ Job 33:31
הִקְשַׁ֖בְתָּ 1x hiq·šaḇ·tā Isaiah 48:18
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular 9x Psalms 5:2, Psalms 17:1, Psalms 55:2, Psalms 61:1
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural 6x 2 Chronicles 20:15, Job 13:6, Isaiah 28:23, Isaiah 34:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural 4x Proverbs 4:1, Proverbs 7:24, Isaiah 49:1, Hosea 5:1
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct 4x 1 Samuel 15:22, Proverbs 2:2, Jeremiah 6:10, Zechariah 7:11
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural 4x 2 Chronicles 33:10, Nehemiah 9:34, Jeremiah 6:19, Zechariah 1:4
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular 3x Proverbs 1:24, Proverbs 17:4, Proverbs 29:12
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular 2x Isaiah 10:30, Micah 1:2
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular 2x Psalms 66:19, Jeremiah 23:18
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Attentive listening requiring physical orientation of the whole person toward the speaker
Strong's H7181
Lexical occurrences 46 verses Word forms 2 forms 26 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 17:4 Source Gloss
to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Attentive listening requiring physical orientation of the whole person toward the speaker
to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken BDB: incline Usage: attend, (cause to) hear(-ken), give heed, incline, mark (well), regard.
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 26
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 25×
Sequential imperfect 2Chr 20:15 · Isa 28:23 · Isa 34:1 · Isa 51:4 · Jer 6:17 · Job 13:6 · Isa 10:30 · Mic 1:2 · Job 33:31 9×
Perfect 2Chr 33:10 · Jer 6:19 · Neh 9:34 · Zech 1:4 · Jer 23:18 · Ps 66:19 · Isa 48:18 · Jer 8:6 8×
Participle active Prov 1:24 · Prov 17:4 · Prov 29:12 · Song 8:13 4×
Imperfect Isa 42:23 · Jer 6:17 · Ps 10:17 3×
Cohortative Jer 18:18 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1×
Imperfect Isa 32:3 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Active attention given to wicked speakers and falsehood
Ruler's receptiveness to lies from his servants and officials
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 46 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
קָשַׁב 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