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קֶלַע

𐤒𐤋𐤏

qelaʻ

H7050 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קלע to sling, to hurl, to twist

Definition

A sling (a device for hurling stones, typically consisting of a pouch and cords); by extension, something that hangs or is suspended, especially a draped or hanging curtain or screen (sometimes specifically the leaf or movable part of a door). In context, refers both to the weapon used in battle or hunting, and to hung or swinging elements such as door coverings or screens.

Semantic Range

sling (weapon), hanging curtain or screen, door leaf or valve, anything slung or suspended

Root / Etymology

From the root קלע (q-l-ʻ), meaning 'to sling, to hurl, to throw' or 'to twist'. קֶלַע (qelaʻ) is a concrete noun deriving from this root, originally indicating a device used for slinging, but secondarily extended to objects that hang, are suspended, or are 'slung' (such as curtains or door leaves).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite contexts, קֶלַע most commonly refers to the sling, a known and significant weapon in the ancient Near East, prominently ascribed to shepherds and young warriors such as David. In post-monarchic and later biblical texts, the term can refer to a curtain, screen, or the hanging part of a door, reflecting a semantic extension from the idea of 'slung' objects. English translations often render the term as 'sling' or 'hanging', but the word’s usage as a door 'leaf' or screen is context-dependent and less frequently captured in such translations. The development demonstrates a linguistic shift from a concrete tool (the weapon) to other items sharing a physical characteristic of being suspended or moveable. Related terms include מַסָּךְ (māsākh, 'curtain'), though קֶלַע in this sense always retains an association with hanging or swinging motion. Later translations, including many English Bibles, may obscure the distinction between sling and curtain, and do not capture the underlying conceptual connection in Hebrew between 'slung' and 'suspended.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from קָלַע; a sling; also a (door) screen (as if slung across), or the valve (of the door) itself; hanging, leaf, sling.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קלע (q-l-ʿ) — to sling, to hurl, to twist

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4734 מִקְלַעַת carved relief
H7049 קָלַע he slung
H7051 קַלָּע the slingers
H7084 קְעִילָה in Keilah

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7050-06 קְלָעִ֨ים qelaim HNcmpa hangings slung hangings 10
H7050-04 קַלְעֵ֣י qaleey HNcmpc the hangings slung-hangings of 6
H7050-03 קָֽלַע qala HNcmsa sling he slung 1
H7050-02 הַ/קָּֽלַע haqala HTd/Ncmsa of the sling the sling 1
H7050-07 וְ/קַלְעֵ֣י veqaleey HC/Ncmpc the hangings of slings of 1
H7050-08 וְ/קַלְּע֣/וֹ veqaleo HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and his sling and his sling 1
H7050-05 קֶ֔לַע qela HNcmsa sling stone-sling 1
H7050-01 בַּ/קֶּ֣לַע baqela HRd/Ncmsa with a sling in the sling 1

Occurrences in Scripture

22 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7050-06 Exodus 27:9 קְלָעִ֨ים qelaim HNcmpa hangings slung hangings
H7050-06 Exodus 27:11 קְלָעִ֖ים qelaim HNcmpa hangings slung hangings
H7050-06 Exodus 27:12 קְלָעִ֖ים qelaim HNcmpa hangings slung hangings
H7050-06 Exodus 27:14 קְלָעִ֖ים qelaim HNcmpa hangings slung hangings
H7050-06 Exodus 27:15 קְלָעִ֑ים qelaim HNcmpa hangings slung hangings
H7050-04 Exodus 35:17 קַלְעֵ֣י qaleey HNcmpc the hangings slung-hangings of
H7050-04 Exodus 38:9 קַלְעֵ֤י qaleey HNcmpc hangings of slung-hangings of
H7050-06 Exodus 38:12 קְלָעִים֙ qelaim HNcmpa hangings slung hangings
H7050-06 Exodus 38:14 קְלָעִ֛ים qelaim HNcmpa curtains slung hangings
H7050-06 Exodus 38:15 קְלָעִ֕ים qelaim HNcmpa hangings slung hangings
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