קֶלֶס
𐤒𐤋𐤎
qeleç
H7047 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An object of ridicule, derision, or mockery; something or someone held up to contempt and laughter. In biblical contexts, qeleç refers to a person or thing that becomes a target for public scorn, often as a result of disgrace or perceived humiliation.
Semantic Range
object of ridicule, derision, mockery, public contempt, laughing-stock
Root / Etymology
From the root קָלַס (qalás), meaning 'to mock, deride, ridicule.' The noun form קֶלֶס (qeleç) is a direct nominalization from the verb, formed in the common masculine singular pattern.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קֶלֶס appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible and is used to denote a state of being openly mocked or ridiculed, especially as a form of social humiliation. Its usage is sometimes interchangeable with terms like חֶרְפָּה (herpah, 'disgrace') or לַעַג (la‘ag, 'mockery'), but it may convey a sharper, more public or formal sense of contempt. The semantic nuance often includes the public and performative aspect of ridicule, in which the subject is held up as a lesson or warning. Over time, the word did not undergo significant semantic shift but remained rare in post-biblical Hebrew; later Hebrew and Aramaic texts use related roots for the concept of mockery. English translations often render the word as 'derision' or 'mockery,' but the term carries connotations of public shaming that may not always be captured by these equivalents. In biblical usage, those described as קֶלֶס are typically marginalized or punished in public view, reinforcing social boundaries and norms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָלַס; a laughing-stock; derision.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קלס (q-l-s) — to mock, to deride, to ridicule
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7047-02 |
וָ֝/קֶ֗לֶס | vaqeles | HC/Ncmsa |
and derision | object of mockery | 2 |
H7047-01 |
וּ/לְ/קֶ֖לֶס | uleqeles | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and a derision | and to a laughing-stock | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7047-01 |
Jeremiah 20:8 | וּ/לְ/קֶ֖לֶס | uleqeles | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and a derision | and to a laughing-stock |
H7047-02 |
Psalms 44:14 | וָ֝/קֶ֗לֶס | vaqeles | HC/Ncmsa |
and-scorn | object of mockery |
H7047-02 |
Psalms 79:4 | וָ֝/קֶ֗לֶס | vaqeles | HC/Ncmsa |
and derision | object of mockery |