7031. qal

Lexicon

qal: Light, swift, agile

Original Word: קַל
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: qal
Pronunciation: kahl
Phonetic Spelling: (kal)
Definition: Light, swift, agile
Meaning: light, rapid

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

light, swiftly

Contracted from qalal; light; (by implication) rapid (also adverbial) -- light, swift(-ly).

see HEBREW qalal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from qalal
Definition
light, swift, fleet
NASB Translation
insignificant (1), swift (7), swift man (1), swift-footed* (1), swifter (1), swiftly (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

קַל adjective light, swift, fleet; — masculine singular ׳ק Amos 2:15 +, קָ֑ל vAmos 2:14; feminine singular קַלָּה Jeremiah 2:23; plural קַלִּים Isaiah 18:2+; — קַל בְּרַגְלָיו light with his feet Amos 2:15; 2 Samuel 2:18; ׳ק, alone, swift, messengers Isaiah 18:2, pursuers Lamentations 4:19 (מִן compare), camel Jeremiah 2:23, cloud Isaiah 19:1; of swift vanishing of wicked Job 24:18 (Bu קַלּוּ for קַל הוּא); as substantive Amos 2:14; Jeremiah 46:6; Ecclesiastes 9:11, = swift (horse) Isaiah 30:16; קַל as adverb, swiftly (+ מְהֵרָה) Isaiah 5:26; Joel 4:4.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1645 (ἐλαφρός, elaphros): This Greek term means "light" in weight or burden, similar to the Hebrew קַל in its sense of lightness.
• G3691 (ὀξύς, oxus): This Greek word means "sharp" or "swift," aligning with the Hebrew קַל in its connotation of rapidity or quickness.

Usage: The term קַל is used in various contexts in the Hebrew Bible to describe swiftness or lightness, whether in physical movement, metaphorical speed, or the lightness of an object. It can refer to the quickness of a person, animal, or even the fleeting nature of time or events.

Context: The Hebrew root קַל (qal) is utilized in the Old Testament to convey the concept of lightness and swiftness. This term appears in several passages, often in poetic or metaphorical language. For instance, in 2 Samuel 1:23, it is used to describe the swiftness of Saul and Jonathan: "Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, and in death they were not parted; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions." Here, קַל emphasizes the rapidity and agility of these figures, likening them to the swiftest of birds.

In another instance, Job 7:6 uses קַל to describe the fleeting nature of life: "My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope." This metaphor highlights the brevity and rapid passage of time, a common theme in wisdom literature.

The word also appears in the context of military or strategic movement, as in Isaiah 30:16, where it describes the speed of horses: "You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift!"

קַל is a versatile term that captures both the physical and metaphorical aspects of speed and lightness, reflecting the dynamic and often transient nature of life and events in the biblical narrative.

Forms and Transliterations

הַקַּ֔ל הקל וְקַ֥ל וקל לַקַּלִּ֨ים לקלים מִקָּ֔ל מקל קַ֣ל קַ֥ל קַֽל־ קַל֙ קַלִּ֗ים קַלִּ֤ים קַלָּ֖ה קל קל־ קלה קלים hakKal haq·qal haqqal kal kalLah kalLim lakkalLim laq·qal·lîm laqqallîm mikKal miq·qāl miqqāl qal qal- qal·lāh qal·lîm qallāh qallîm veKal wə·qal wəqal

Englishman's Concordance

2 Samuel 2:18
HEB: וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֑ל וַעֲשָׂהאֵל֙ קַ֣ל בְּרַגְלָ֔יו כְּאַחַ֥ד
NAS: and Asahel [was] [as] swift-footed as one
KJV: and Asahel [was as] light of foot
INT: and Asahel and Asahel light of foot one

Job 24:18
HEB: קַֽל־ ה֤וּא ׀ עַל־
NAS: They are insignificant on the surface
KJV: He [is] swift as the waters;
INT: are insignificant he on

Ecclesiastes 9:11
HEB: כִּ֣י לֹא֩ לַקַּלִּ֨ים הַמֵּר֜וֹץ וְלֹ֧א
NAS: that the race is not to the swift and the battle
KJV: that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle
INT: for is not to the swift the race is not

Isaiah 5:26
HEB: וְהִנֵּ֥ה מְהֵרָ֖ה קַ֥ל יָבֽוֹא׃
NAS: it will come with speed swiftly.
KJV: with speed swiftly:
INT: and behold speed swiftly will come

Isaiah 18:2
HEB: לְכ֣וּ ׀ מַלְאָכִ֣ים קַלִּ֗ים אֶל־ גּוֹי֙
NAS: Go, swift messengers,
KJV: [saying], Go, ye swift messengers,
INT: Go messengers swift to A nation

Isaiah 19:1
HEB: עַל־ עָ֥ב קַל֙ וּבָ֣א מִצְרַ֔יִם
NAS: is riding on a swift cloud
KJV: rideth upon a swift cloud,
INT: and cloud A swift to come to Egypt

Isaiah 30:16
HEB: תְּנוּס֑וּן וְעַל־ קַ֣ל נִרְכָּ֔ב עַל־
NAS: And we will ride on swift [horses], Therefore
KJV: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue
INT: shall flee on swift will ride and

Jeremiah 2:23
HEB: עָשִׂ֑ית בִּכְרָ֥ה קַלָּ֖ה מְשָׂרֶ֥כֶת דְּרָכֶֽיהָ׃
NAS: you have done! You are a swift young camel
KJV: what thou hast done: [thou art] a swift dromedary
INT: have done young swift entangling her ways

Jeremiah 46:6
HEB: אַל־ יָנ֣וּס הַקַּ֔ל וְאַל־ יִמָּלֵ֖ט
NAS: Let not the swift man flee, Nor
KJV: Let not the swift flee away,
INT: Nor flee the swift Nor escape

Lamentations 4:19
HEB: קַלִּ֤ים הָיוּ֙ רֹדְפֵ֔ינוּ
NAS: Our pursuers were swifter Than
KJV: Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles
INT: were swifter become our pursuers

Joel 3:4
HEB: אַתֶּם֙ עָלַ֔י קַ֣ל מְהֵרָ֔ה אָשִׁ֥יב
NAS: you do recompense Me, swiftly and speedily
KJV: and if ye recompense me, swiftly [and] speedily
INT: you and swiftly and speedily will return

Amos 2:14
HEB: וְאָבַ֤ד מָנוֹס֙ מִקָּ֔ל וְחָזָ֖ק לֹא־
NAS: will perish from the swift, And the stalwart
KJV: shall perish from the swift, and the strong
INT: will perish Flight the swift and the stalwart Nor

Amos 2:15
HEB: לֹ֣א יַעֲמֹ֔ד וְקַ֥ל בְּרַגְלָ֖יו לֹ֣א
NAS: will not stand [his ground], The swift of foot
KJV: the bow; and [he that is] swift of foot
INT: Nor stand the swift of foot Nor

13 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7031
13 Occurrences

haq·qal — 1 Occ.
qal — 6 Occ.
qal·lāh — 1 Occ.
qal·lîm — 2 Occ.
laq·qal·lîm — 1 Occ.
miq·qāl — 1 Occ.
wə·qal — 1 Occ.