קָל

𐤒𐤋

qâl

H7032 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קל to be light, swift, to make a sound, utter

Definition

Sound, noise, or voice; refers broadly to any audible signal or vocalization, human or otherwise. In Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, particularly Daniel and Ezra, the term denotes the act of speaking (voice), proclamation, report, or any distinct auditory event (sound, noise). The specific meaning depends on context, ranging from a literal voice to any perceivable sound.

Semantic Range

voice, sound, noise, proclamation, report, utterance, spoken announcement

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root ק־ל (qal), corresponding to the Hebrew root ק-ו-ל (qwl) conveying the sense of sound or voice. In Aramaic, the spelling and form reflect dialectal differences but share the same core etymological base with Hebrew קוֹל (qōl).

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word is an Aramaic noun parallel to the common Hebrew קוֹל. It is used mainly within Aramaic passages in Daniel and Ezra, often appearing in official or narrative speech to signal spoken proclamation (voice) or announce a command (sound, report). The term, like its Hebrew equivalent, can refer to both human utterance and inanimate or supernatural sounds. English translations typically use 'voice', 'sound', or 'noise' depending on context, but some nuance, such as the authoritative or performative aspect of official proclamations, may be lost. Distinct from Hebrew שֵׁמַע (shéma‘, “hearing”), which emphasizes reception rather than emission of sound.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to קוֹל; {a voice or sound}; sound, voice.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קל (q-l) — lightness, swiftness, sound-making, utterance

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7032-02 קָ֣ל qal ANcmsc sound light 6
H7032-01 בְּ/קָ֥ל beqal AR/Ncmsa with-a-voice with a sound 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7032-02 Daniel 3:5 קָ֣ל qal ANcmsc sound light
H7032-02 Daniel 3:7 קָ֣ל qal ANcmsc sound light
H7032-02 Daniel 3:10 קָ֣ל qal ANcmsc the sound light
H7032-02 Daniel 3:15 קָ֣ל qal ANcmsc sound light
H7032-02 Daniel 4:28 קָ֖ל qal ANcmsa a voice light
H7032-01 Daniel 6:21 בְּ/קָ֥ל beqal AR/Ncmsa with-a-voice with a sound
H7032-02 Daniel 7:11 קָל֙ qal ANcmsc the sound light