קָלָל
𐤒𐤋𐤋
qâlâl
H7044 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Adjective describing a surface that is made bright by being polished, typically through rubbing or burnishing; primarily used of metallic objects such as weapons or armor, indicating a gleaming or reflective quality. In extended usage, emphasizes the visual effect of such brightness rather than only the process of polishing.
Semantic Range
polished, burnished, made bright by rubbing, gleaming (especially of metal weapons or armor)
Root / Etymology
Root: קלל (k-l-l), whose core sense is 'to be light, swift, or trifling.' The form קָלָל (qalal) is likely a passive adjectival form, functioning as a descriptor for something that has been made bright or gleaming by action (i.e., burnished). The extended meaning 'polished, burnished' emerges from the sense of something made 'light' in appearance—hence 'bright/shining.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, קָלָל is most frequently encountered in poetic or descriptive contexts (e.g., describing the visual quality of a weapon or armor—Ezekiel 21:10, 21:15). Its primary association is with metals, particularly swords, where the emphasis is on the shining, gleaming result of careful polishing or burnishing, which signified both readiness for battle and the intimidating power or value of the object described. Unlike other adjectives for 'bright' or 'shining' (such as ברק, 'flash/sparkle'), קָלָל focuses specifically on the result of human action (polishing/burnishing), not just inherent luminescence. Standard English translations often render it as 'polished,' 'burnished,' or, less precisely, 'bright.' The term does not refer to lightness in weight—a meaning sometimes associated with its root—or to nonmetallic surfaces. The term does not occur frequently and is archaic by Second Temple and later periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָלַל; brightened (as if sharpened); burnished, polished.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קלל (q-l-l) — lightness, swiftness, insignificance
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7031 | קַל | the light one |
| H7032 | קָל | light |
| H7040 | קַלַּי | Kallai |
| H7043 | קָלַל | his despising him |
| H7045 | קְלָלָה | the despising-curse |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7044-01 |
קָלָֽל | qalal | HAamsa |
polished | burnished bright | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7044-01 |
Ezekiel 1:7 | קָלָֽל | qalal | HAamsa |
polished | burnished bright |
H7044-01 |
Daniel 10:6 | קָלָ֑ל | qalal | HAamsa |
polished | burnished bright |