קָלָה
𐤒𐤋𐤄
qâlâh
H7034 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To hold as insignificant, to disdain or treat with contempt. The verb denotes treating someone or something as of little worth, to scorn, disparage, or insult (in personal, social, or ritual contexts). In some rare cases, it implies slighting or undervaluing, but the primary sense relates to contempt or disregard.
Semantic Range
to treat with contempt, to disdain, to despise, to slight, to undervalue, to dishonor, to regard as insignificant
Root / Etymology
The verb derives from the root קלה, which carries the core meaning 'to be light (in weight).' In this form, it denotes making light of someone or something, i.e., to treat as negligible or worthless. The semantic shift is from physical 'lightness' (not heavy, insignificant) to a value judgment ('unimportant, contemptible').
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, קָלָה is used in contexts where persons, objects, or actions are treated as insignificant, dishonored, or belittled. While the primary root notion is 'lightness,' the actual biblical usage is rarely literal but almost always figurative, pertaining to matters of respect, honor, and social status. Its most frequent uses are in legal, cultic, and moral admonitions, warning against 'despising' sacred things, leaders, or covenant obligations. Contrasts with כָּבֵד (kaved, 'to be heavy,' which often connotes honor or significance), marking an important biblical polarity: to 'honor' is to treat as weighty or significant, while to 'despise' is to treat as light. English translations like 'despise' or 'hold in contempt' usually capture the sense, though the underlying contrast in Hebrew is more vivid. The term appears throughout monarchic and post-exilic texts, indicating a stable core meaning across periods, though the specific objects of contempt vary with historical context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only (be (causatively, hold) in contempt); base, contemn, despise, lightly esteem, set light, seem vile.
Bantu Hebrew
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קלה (q-l-h) — lightness, insignificance, treating lightly
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7022 | קִיקָלוֹן | intense disgrace |
| H7033 | קָלָה | one being roasted |
| H7036 | קָלוֹן | in disgrace |
| H7039 | קָלִי | the roasted grain |
| H7041 | קֵלָיָה | and Yah has dishonored |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7034-04 |
וְ/נִקְלָ֥ה | veniqelah | HC/VNq3ms |
and he be degraded | and he was treated lightly | 2 |
H7034-03 |
וְ/הַ/נִּקְלֶ֖ה | vehaniqeleh | HC/Td/VNrmsa |
and-the-despised | the one treated lightly | 1 |
H7034-05 |
וְ/נִקְלֶֽה | veniqeleh | HC/VNrmsa |
and lightly esteemed | being treated as insignificant | 1 |
H7034-01 |
מַקְלֶ֥ה | maqeleh | HVhrmsa |
is he who dishonors | one who makes light of | 1 |
H7034-02 |
נִ֭קְלֶה | niqeleh | HVNrmsa |
is lightly esteemed | one being treated lightly | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7034-04 |
Deuteronomy 25:3 | וְ/נִקְלָ֥ה | veniqelah | HC/VNq3ms |
and he be degraded | and he was treated lightly |
H7034-01 |
Deuteronomy 27:16 | מַקְלֶ֥ה | maqeleh | HVhrmsa |
is he who dishonors | one who makes light of |
H7034-05 |
1 Samuel 18:23 | וְ/נִקְלֶֽה | veniqeleh | HC/VNrmsa |
and lightly esteemed | being treated as insignificant |
H7034-03 |
Isaiah 3:5 | וְ/הַ/נִּקְלֶ֖ה | vehaniqeleh | HC/Td/VNrmsa |
and-the-despised | the one treated lightly |
H7034-04 |
Isaiah 16:14 | וְ/נִקְלָה֙ | veniqelah | HC/VNq3ms |
and-will-be-despised | and he was treated lightly |
H7034-02 |
Proverbs 12:9 | נִ֭קְלֶה | niqeleh | HVNrmsa |
is lightly esteemed | one being treated lightly |