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קָאַת

𐤒𐤀𐤕

qâʼath

H6893 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קוא to vomit, disgorge

Definition

A large water bird, most likely the pelican, characterized by its association with desolation or wastelands in biblical texts. The term refers specifically to an unclean bird according to Israelite dietary law, probably the great white pelican native to the Levant, though some have suggested the cormorant or another large bird. In poetic texts, it evokes images of loneliness and desolation, often as a metaphor.

Semantic Range

pelican; cormorant; water bird associated with ruins or desolate places; symbol of solitude or desolation

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root קוא (q-w-ʼ), meaning 'to vomit'—possibly in reference to the pelican's feeding habits. The connection is based on phonetic resemblance and presumed behavior, as pelicans are known for their regurgitating feeding action with their young. Lexical evidence for this derivation is plausible but not certain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, קָאַת (qâʼath) is listed among unclean birds in Leviticus 11:18 and Deuteronomy 14:17, and it also appears in poetic and prophetic passages (Psalm 102:7, Isaiah 34:11, Zephaniah 2:14) as a bird inhabiting desolate places or ruins. Its precise identification has been debated: ancient translations (LXX and Vulgate) often rendered it as pelican (πελεκάνος, pellicanus), which has been accepted by most modern scholars given the pelican's regional presence and its gregarious yet sometimes solitary habits. However, some propose the cormorant, due to similarities in size, habitat, and possible association with vomiting (regurgitation). Traditionally, English translations have sometimes diverged: KJV uses 'pelican' in poetic contexts but 'cormorant' in dietary texts, often reflecting evolving modern ornithology rather than ancient Israelite identification. The bird's role as a symbol of desolation likely stems from its nesting and roosting in deserted or ruinous places.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from קוֹא; probably the pelican (from vomiting); cormorant.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קוא (q-w-ʾ) — to vomit, disgorge

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6892 קֵא in his vomit
H6958 קוֹא she vomited

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6893-03 קָאַ֣ת qaat HNcfsa pelican vomiting pelican 2
H6893-01 הַ/קָּאָ֖ת haqaat HTd/Ncfsa pelican the disgorging pelican 1
H6893-04 וְ/הַ/קָּאָ֥ת vehaqaat HC/Td/Ncfsa and the pelican and the pelican 1
H6893-02 לִ/קְאַ֣ת liqeat HR/Ncfsc a pelican pelican of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6893-01 Leviticus 11:18 הַ/קָּאָ֖ת haqaat HTd/Ncfsa pelican the disgorging pelican
H6893-04 Deuteronomy 14:17 וְ/הַ/קָּאָ֥ת vehaqaat HC/Td/Ncfsa and the pelican and the pelican
H6893-03 Isaiah 34:11 קָאַ֣ת qaat HNcfsa pelican vomiting pelican
H6893-03 Zephaniah 2:14 קָאַת֙ qaat HNcfsa the pelican vomiting pelican
H6893-02 Psalms 102:7 לִ/קְאַ֣ת liqeat HR/Ncfsc a pelican pelican of
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