Lexical Summary qatal: To kill, slay Original Word: קָטַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance kill, slay A primitive root; properly, to cut off, i.e. (figuratively) put to death -- kill, slay. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to slay NASB Translation kills (1), slay (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [קָטַל] verb slay (in poetry and late) (Arabic  Ethiopic  Sabean קתל HomChrest.126, all slay (original form with ת; changed later, after ק); Aramaic קְטַל,  ; Old Aramaic קטל, כטל, קתל); — Qal Imperfect with accusative of person, 3 masculine singular יִקְטָלֿ Job 24:14; suffix, subject God, יִקְטְלֵנִי Job 13:15; of God also 2masculine singular תִּקְטֹל Psalm 139:19. [קְטַל] verb slay (ᵑ7 Syriac (often); see Biblical Hebrew (late, rare)); — Pe`al Participle active קָטֵל Daniel 5:19, accusative of person Pe`îl be slain: Perfect3masculine singular קְטִיל Daniel 5:30, 3feminine singular קְטִילַת Daniel 7:11. Pa`el slay: Perfect3masculine singular קַטִּל Daniel 3:22 (accusative of person); Infinitive לְקַטָּלָה Daniel 2:14 (ל accusative of person). Hithpe`el be slain: Infinitive לְהִתְקְטָלָה Daniel 2:13; Participle (= gerundive, K§ 76, 3) plural מִתְקַטְלִין Daniel 2:13 were to be slain. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Significance קָטַל portrays the deliberate taking of life, whether by God or by human hands. Unlike the more common verbs for “kill,” it is confined to poetic and wisdom contexts, emphasizing the stark finality of slaying rather than the legal or military nuances found elsewhere. Canonical Occurrences • Job 13:15 – “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him”. The verb underscores Job’s conviction that even lethal judgment from God cannot sever covenant trust. Theology of Divine Sovereignty and Judgment In Job 13:15 and Psalm 139:19 the subject of קָטַל is God. Scripture affirms His absolute right over life (Deuteronomy 32:39) and His moral prerogative to execute justice (Romans 12:19). The verb therefore functions as a sober reminder that divine judgment is neither arbitrary nor unjust; it upholds righteousness and ultimately vindicates the faithful. Human Violence and Moral Accountability Job 24:14 places קָטַל on the lips of Job as he catalogs the deeds of the wicked. The contrast between God’s righteous slaying and humanity’s lawless bloodshed highlights accountability (Genesis 9:6). The text invites believers to lament oppression while trusting that every act of violence will face divine reckoning (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Wisdom Literature and the Problem of Evil Job and Psalms wrestle with the coexistence of righteous sufferers and violent oppressors. קָטַל surfaces in these struggles, illustrating the tension between present injustice and eschatological hope. Job’s declaration of trust in the God who may “slay” him models persevering faith amid adversity, later echoed in Habakkuk 3:17-19 and 1 Peter 4:19. Implications for Prayer and Worship Psalm 139 demonstrates that petitions for God to “slay” wickedness can coexist with intimate worship (“Search me, O God,” Psalm 139:23-24). Imprecation, when governed by love for God’s glory and the well-being of His people, becomes an act of aligning with divine justice rather than personal vengeance. Christological Perspective At the cross the righteous One was “slain” (Revelation 5:6) by human hands under God’s foreordained plan (Acts 2:23). The lethal verb of judgment meets its redemptive counterpart in Christ’s atoning death, transforming the theme of slaying into the means of life for His people (Isaiah 53:10-11). Pastoral and Missional Application 1. Suffering believers may echo Job 13:15, entrusting themselves to God’s sovereign goodness even when circumstances appear lethal. Summary קָטַל, though rare, concentrates profound theological truths: God’s uncontested authority over life, the moral horror of human violence, and the hope of ultimate justice. In Christ, the narrative arc moves from the fear of being slain to the assurance that the slain Lamb secures eternal life for all who believe. Forms and Transliterations יִ֭קְטְלֵנִי יִֽקְטָל־ יקטל־ יקטלני תִּקְטֹ֖ל תקטל tikTol tiq·ṭōl tiqṭōl Yikteleni yiktol yiq·ṭāl- yiq·ṭə·lê·nî yiqṭāl- yiqṭəlênîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 13:15 HEB: הֵ֣ן יִ֭קְטְלֵנִי [לֹא כ] NAS: Though He slay me, I will hope KJV: Though he slay me, yet will I trust INT: Though slay not will hope Job 24:14 Psalm 139:19 3 Occurrences |
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