7052. qeloqel

Lexical Summary

qeloqel: Worthless, trivial, insignificant

Original Word: קְלֹקֵל
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: qloqel
Pronunciation: keh-lo-kel
Phonetic Spelling: (kel-o-kale')
KJV: light
NASB: miserable
Word Origin: [from H7043 (קָלַל - cursed)]

1. insubstantial

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

light

From qalal; insubstantial -- light.

see HEBREW qalal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from qalal
Definition
contemptible, worthless
NASB Translation
miserable (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

קְלֹקֵל adjective contemptible, worthless (compare Ol^{§ 189 f} Ba^{NB 160}); — ׳בַּלֶּחֶם הַקּ Numbers 21:5 (JE).

Topical Lexicon

Root Meaning and Context

The noun קְלֹקֵל (qĕloqēl) conveys the idea of something vile, contemptible, or of no value. Its lone appearance in Numbers 21:5 captures Israel’s disdain for the manna, the divinely given sustenance that had kept the nation alive throughout its wilderness journey. By labeling God’s provision “this wretched food,” the people rejected His sufficiency and questioned His character.

Usage in Scripture

Numbers 21:5: “And the people spoke against God and Moses: ‘Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!’ ”

Here קְלֹקֵל serves to highlight the extremity of Israel’s ingratitude. The word sharpens the offense: it is not mere boredom with manna but a scornful verdict that God’s gift is worthless. The rebellion stands in stark contrast to earlier affirmations of manna’s sweetness (Exodus 16:31) and its sustaining power (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Historical Background

The complaint occurs in the fortieth year of the wilderness wanderings, east of Edom’s territory. After decades of daily manna, Israel’s impatience resurfaces. The use of קְלֹקֵל marks a climactic rejection, prompting the Lord’s immediate discipline by the fiery serpents (Numbers 21:6). This episode, framed by the deaths of Miriam and Aaron and the transition to the conquest generation, underscores how deeply grumbling threatened covenant faithfulness.

Theological Implications

1. Contempt for Grace: Calling manna “worthless” elevates personal appetite above divine provision, foreshadowing every later attempt to replace God’s Word with human wisdom (Isaiah 55:2; Amos 8:11).
2. Judgment and Mercy: The serpents reveal God’s holiness, yet the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8–9) reveals His mercy, prefiguring Jesus Christ who said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up” (John 3:14).
3. Typology of Bread: Manna anticipates Christ as “the bread of life” (John 6:31–35). Rejecting manna mirrors any rejection of Christ’s sufficiency, a warning reiterated in Hebrews 3:12.

Practical Ministry Application

• Cultivate gratitude: Regular remembrance of God’s past mercies guards against modern forms of קְלֹקֵל contempt—treating Scripture, fellowship, or sacrament as common.
• Preach Christ’s sufficiency: The episode provides a gospel bridge from Old Testament narrative to New Testament fulfillment.
• Warn against grumbling: Paul applies the serpent incident to the church, “And do not complain, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel” (1 Corinthians 10:10). Teaching on קְלֹקֵל equips believers to recognize the spiritual peril of murmuring.

Cross-References and Thematic Links

Exodus 16:2–3; Psalm 78:17–32; Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 106:24–25; Proverbs 30:8; John 6:48–51; Philippians 2:14; Jude 16.

Forms and Transliterations

הַקְּלֹקֵֽל׃ הקלקל׃ hakkeloKel haq·qə·lō·qêl haqqəlōqêl

Englishman's Concordance

Numbers 21:5
HEB: קָ֔צָה בַּלֶּ֖חֶם הַקְּלֹקֵֽל׃
NAS: and we loathe this miserable food.
KJV: loatheth this light bread.
INT: loathe food miserable

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7052
1 Occurrence

haq·qə·lō·qêl — 1 Occ.