קָטַל
𐤒𐤈𐤋
qâṭal
H6991 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To kill, slay; to put to death intentionally or by violence. The verb carries the sense of taking a life, whether in warfare, execution, or personal violence. In some contexts, it may refer more broadly to causing someone to die, with emphasis on the act of slaying rather than the particular motivation or legality. The term is primarily used for human victims but can, in rare cases, refer to animals.
Semantic Range
to put to death (by violence, execution, or warfare), to slay, to kill intentionally, judicial execution, killing in battle or by private violence
Root / Etymology
From the root קטל, which has the core meaning of 'to kill, slay, cause death.' This root relates to acts of slaying, particularly by deliberate or forceful means. It is distinct from other Hebrew roots for killing (e.g., הרג harag, מות mût), in its frequent association with execution or violent death.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb קָטַל is relatively rare in Biblical Hebrew compared to other verbs for 'to kill' such as הרג (harag) or מות (mût). It occurs especially in later or poetical passages and in Aramaic loan contexts, reflecting possible influence from cognate languages where this verb is more common (e.g., Aramaic and Akkadian). In the Hebrew Bible, it appears primarily in the Piel or passive stems and is often associated with legal or judicial putting to death, though it can also denote wanton violence or warfare. The term is rarely used for animal slaughter, which more commonly employs the verb טבח (ṭāvaḥ). English translations may render it as 'kill,' 'slay,' or 'put to death,' but the nuance of judicial or violent slaying is sometimes obscured. The verb took on more technical or legal connotations in post-biblical Hebrew and later Jewish literature, but in the Hebrew Bible its range remains focused on the act of slaying by force or authority.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to cut off, i.e. (figuratively) put to death; kill, slay.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קטל (q-ṭ-l) — kill, slay, cause death
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6991-03 |
יִ֭קְטְלֵ/נִי | yiqeteleni | HVqi3ms/Sp1cs |
He slays me | he slays me | 1 |
H6991-01 |
תִּקְטֹ֖ל | tiqetol | HVqi2ms |
you would slay | you will slay | 1 |
H6991-02 |
יִֽקְטָל | yiqetal | HVqi3ms |
he kills | he will slay | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6991-01 |
Psalms 139:19 | תִּקְטֹ֖ל | tiqetol | HVqi2ms |
you would slay | you will slay |
H6991-03 |
Job 13:15 | יִ֭קְטְלֵ/נִי | yiqeteleni | HVqi3ms/Sp1cs |
He slays me | he slays me |
H6991-02 |
Job 24:14 | יִֽקְטָל | yiqetal | HVqi3ms |
he kills | he will slay |