קָיָה
𐤒𐤉𐤄
qâyâh
H7006 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To expel the contents of the stomach through the mouth; to vomit, spew. This verb denotes the physical act of vomiting, and is used both literally and metaphorically, particularly in contexts describing a strong rejection or casting out. In its figurative senses, it can imply rejection or expulsion from a place or status, deriving from the imagery of forcible ejection.
Semantic Range
to vomit (physical action), to reject or expel forcibly (metaphorical), to spew out, to drive out (figurative of land ejecting inhabitants)
Root / Etymology
Root: קיה. This root is not attested elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew outside the specific form קָיָה (qâyâh). It forms a denominative verb built on a pattern associated with physical expulsion. The root meaning relates to the action of vomiting or ejecting, though it appears only rarely in the Hebrew Bible. Cognates in related Semitic languages are uncertain or unattested; thus, the etymology is considered uncertain beyond its in-context usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb קָיָה (qâyâh) is rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in contexts emphasizing involuntary expulsion—whether literally (in the case of physical vomiting) or metaphorically (such as a land 'vomiting out' its inhabitants due to their actions). The term is notably used in Leviticus to describe the land's expulsion of inhabitants due to moral failings, making the physical act of vomiting a vivid image for rejection. English translations typically render it as “vomit” or “spue/spew,” but in the specific Israelite context, the metaphorical usage highlights not mere disgust, but a forceful negation or annulment of presence. Other Hebrew verbs for vomiting, such as הקיא (hiqî’) in later texts, are more common; קָיָה is distinctive for its archaic and vivid tone.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to vomit; spue.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קיה (q-y-h) — to vomit, to spew, to expel forcibly
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7006-01 |
וּ/קְי֔וּ | uqeyu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and-vomit | and vomit, you all! | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7006-01 |
Jeremiah 25:27 | וּ/קְי֔וּ | uqeyu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and-vomit | and vomit, you all! |