Proverbs 14:6 — Word Study
WLCבִּקֶּשׁ־ לֵ֣ץ חָכְמָ֣ה וָאָ֑יִן וְדַ֖עַת לְנָב֣וֹן נָקָֽל׃
BSAA mockerlûwts [scoffer, one who scorns wisdom] seeksbâqash■ [to search for, to look for] wisdomchokmâh [skill, prudence, or good judgment] and [finds] noneʼayin [discovers, obtains, nothing, no wisdom] ◂but knowledgedaʻath [understanding, discernment] comes easilyqâlal [is easy to obtain, is readily available] to the discerningbîyn [one who understands, has insight]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בִּקֶּשׁ־ | he seeks | Verb, Piel, perfect third person masculine singular |
| לֵ֣ץ | a mocker | Adj |
| חָכְמָ֣ה | wisdom | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וָאָ֑יִן | and there [is] not | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְדַ֖עַת | and knowledge | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| לְנָב֣וֹן | to a discerning [person] | Preposition, verb niphal participle (active) masculine singular |
| נָקָֽל׃ | it is trifling | Verb, Niphal, participle (active) masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. |
| KJV | A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. |
| ASV | A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding. |
| YLT | A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent [is] easy. |
| WEB | A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person. |
| BBE | The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man. |
Where they part company is לֵ֣ץ — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses connected by a conjunction, contrasting the outcomes of the mocker and the discerning.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectלֵץ
verbבָּקַשׁ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 14:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Contrast of Wisdom and Foolishnessgenerated
Proverbs 14:6 illustrates the futility of a mocker's quest for wisdom, juxtaposed with the ease of acquiring knowledge for the discerning. This verse is part of a larger discourse in Proverbs that emphasizes the importance of wisdom and understanding, as seen in the surrounding verses, which caution against foolishness and highlight the value of discernment.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 18:2 | A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions. |
| 2 | Proverbs 26:12 | Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. |
| 3 | Isaiah 8:20 | To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 8:9 | The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have? |
| 5 | Matthew 6:22–23 | The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 16 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָּקַשׁ, bi.kesh-generated
The verb בָּקַשׁ (baqash) means to seek or search for something, often in a context of earnest desire. It is a Piel form, indicating an active pursuit, and is frequently used in the Hebrew Bible to denote a quest for something valuable, such as wisdom or God’s presence.
In this verse, the mocker seeks wisdom but does not find it, highlighting a contrast between genuine seekers and those who approach wisdom with scorn. The verb's use here implies an active searching that ultimately leads to disappointment, as the mocker lacks the sincerity required to attain true wisdom.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses mocker for לֵ֣ץ. The KJV and ASV also use mocker, while the FBV and WEB opt for scoffer.
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse, emphasizing the mocker's failure to find wisdom while knowledge is easily accessible to the discerning.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses: the first describes the action of the mocker seeking wisdom, while the second presents the contrasting situation of knowledge coming easily to the discerning. The structure highlights the futility of the mocker's quest against the ease of understanding for those who truly seek it.
The finite verb בִּקֶּשׁ governs the first clause, with the subject לֵ֣ץ and the object חָכְמָ֣ה. The second clause introduces וְדַ֖עַת as the subject, with the verb נָקָֽל, creating a clear contrast in the outcomes of the two types of individuals.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בָּקַשׁ as ζητήσεις, which carries the sense of seeking but may imply a more earnest pursuit than the Hebrew. This choice suggests a deeper inquiry into wisdom than merely a superficial search.
The translation of לֵ֣ץ as σκορπίζων indicates a broader interpretation, focusing on the scornful nature of the mocker, aligning with the overall theme of the verse.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 14:6 tells us that a mocker tries to find wisdom but does not succeed, while knowledge is easy for those who understand. This verse teaches us about the difference between those who seek wisdom sincerely and those who approach it with scorn.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
A mocker is someone who scorns or ridicules wisdom, often dismissing it without genuine consideration.
The mocker fails to find wisdom because their approach is insincere; they do not truly seek or value wisdom.
This indicates that those who are genuinely open to understanding and insight will find knowledge readily available to them.
One can become more discerning by actively seeking knowledge, being open to learning, and valuing wisdom in their decisions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life might I be acting like a mocker, dismissing wisdom without consideration?
- How can I cultivate a more discerning attitude toward knowledge and understanding?
- What steps can I take to seek wisdom sincerely rather than superficially?
- How can I encourage others to value wisdom and understanding in their lives?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this verse, illustrating how the mocker's insincere search for wisdom leads to failure.
The mocker seeks wisdom, etc. Caiaphas, who said to the Lord, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ"; because he sought badly, he did not deserve to find what he sought.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 14 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 14:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not,.... So the scornful Greeks, that scoffed at the plainness and simplicity of the Gospel, sought natural wisdom, and thought they found it, and professed
Read John Gill on Proverbs 14 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and (findeth it) not: but knowledge (is) easy (Hebrew, an easy thing) unto him that understandeth.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 14 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA scorner; a proud, self-conceited, and profane person. Findeth it not, because he doth not seek it aright, to wit, sincerely, and earnestly, and seasonably, and in a constant and diligent use of all the means which God hath appointed to that end, and with an honest intention of employing his knowledge to the service of God, and the furtherance of his practice of religion. Knowledge is easy unto him, is plain and easily attained by him, that understandeth; that knoweth and is deeply sensible of his own want of knowledge, and of the great worth and necessity of knowledge, which will make him use all possible means to it, and, among other ways, pray earnestly to God for it. Or, that is honest…
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 14 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge [is] easy unto him that understandeth.Ver. 6. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not.] Or, He seeketh wisdom, and he seeketh it not. He seeketh it not seriously, seasonably, duly; he seeks it as a coward seeks his adversary, with a hope he shall not find him; or a man seeks his false coin, which he hath no joy to look upon. "What is truth?" said Pilate in a jeer to Christ, but stayed not for the answer. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" said those carnal Capernaites, and away they went, who, if they had stayed out the sermon, might have been satisfied in the point. Herod sought to see Christ, but…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 14 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(6) A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not.—Because “God resisteth the proud” (1 Peter 5:5), and none can give wisdom but He who alone has it (1 Corinthians 2:11); but He teaches him that “feareth the Lord” (Psalms 25:11).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 14 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. A scorner seeketh wisdom] I believe the scorner means, in this book, the man that despises the counsel of God; the infidel. Such may seek wisdom; but he never can find it, because he does not seek it where it is to be found; neither in the teaching of God's Spirit, nor in the revelation of his will.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 14 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. findeth it not] Lit. and it is not (there)! Only to the lowly and reverent does Wisdom reveal herself. Comp. Matthew 11:25.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 14 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFindeth it not - literally, there is none. The successful pursuit of wisdom presupposes at least earnestness and reverence. The scoffer shuts himself out from the capacity of recognizing truth.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 14 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
The scorner seeks wisdom but finds none, but understanding is easy for a discerning person.
Tyndale line
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy to him that understandeth.
A scorner seeketh wisdome, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easie to him that will vnderstande.
Strictly literal
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none [for him]; but knowledge is easy unto the intelligent.
A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent [is] easy.
A scorner has sought wisdom, and it is not, || And knowledge [is] easy to the intelligent.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
A mocker seeks wisdom and there is none, but knowledge comes easy to the one who is discerning.
From the Latin
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.
Simplified
It's pointless for a scoffer to look for wisdom, but knowledge comes easily to someone who understands.
The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with six of the seven words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls present a similar text, though seven words were supplied by an editor due to damage, indicating a high degree of textual consistency across these witnesses.
בִּקֶּשׁ־ לֵ֣ץ חָכְמָ֣ה וָאָ֑יִן וְדַ֖עַת לְנָב֣וֹן נָקָֽל׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[בקש] [לץ] [חכמה] [ואין] [ודעת] [לנבון] [נקל]
nothing on the leather here — 7 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 14:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בָּקַשׁ (baqash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to seek or search out, often in the context of worship or prayer. It encompasses a range of actions including asking, desiring, and requiring. The verb can appear in different forms, such as Piel and Pual, indicating various nuances of seeking or being sought.
[בָּקַשׁ] 224 vb. seek
Pi.
seek to find
seek to secure
seek the face
desire, demand
require, exact
exact equivalent or penalty for
(late) ask, request
Pu. be sought
base
H1245 בָּקַשׁ seek
1245 baqash baw-kash'
a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically
in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after:--ask,
beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure,
(make) request, require, seek (for).
בָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) — to seek.
1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to seek to find
1a2) to seek to secure
1a3) to seek the face
1a4) to desire, demand
1a5) to require, exact
1a6) to ask, request
1b) (Pual) to be sought
V-Piel-Perf-3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singularHVpp3ms
לִיץ (luwts) means to scorn or mock, with various forms indicating actions like deriding or acting as a scorner. It can also refer to interpreting language or serving as an ambassador. The entries highlight its use in different contexts, including boasting and showing arrogance.
[לִיץ] vb. scorn
Qal scorn
Hiph.
deride
Pt. interpreter
Po‛lel scorners
Hithp. act as a scorner, shew oneself a mocker
base
H3887 [לִיץ] scorn .scorn
. . deride
. Pt. interpreter
.scorners
. act as a scorner, shew oneself a mocker
3887 luwts loots
a primitive root; properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff;
hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to
interpret, or (generally) intercede:--ambassador, have in
derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker, scorn(-er, -ful),
teacher.
לִיץ (luts) — to mock.
1) to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to boast
1a2) to scorn
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to mock, deride
1b2) to interpret (language)
1b2a) interpreter (participle)
1b2b) ambassador (fig.)
1c) (Hithpalpel) to be inflated, scoff, act as a scorner, show oneself a mocker
Also means: la.tsats (לָצַץ "to scorn" H3945)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
חָכְמָה (chokmah) means wisdom and encompasses various forms of skill, including in war and administration, as well as shrewdness and ethical prudence. It is built from the root word for wisdom, חָכַם (chakam). The term appears in contexts related to both practical and religious matters.
חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom
skill in war
wisdom, in administration
shrewdness, wisdom
wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
wisdom, ethical and religious
base
H2451 חָכְמָה wisdom . skill in war
. wisdom, in administration
. shrewdness, wisdom
. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
. wisdom, ethical and religious
2451 chokmah khok-maw'
from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom,
wisely, wit.
see HEBREW for 02449
חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) — wisdom.
1) wisdom
1a) skill (in war)
1b) wisdom (in administration)
1c) shrewdness, wisdom
1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
wiz'-dum:
1. Linguistic
2. History
3. Religious Basis
4. Ideals
5. Teaching of Christ
6. Remainder of the New Testament
(1) James
(2) Paul
7. Hypostasis
LITERATURE
1. Linguistic:
In the Revised Version (British and American) the noun "wisdom" and its corresponding adjective and verb ("be wise," "act wisely," etc.) represent a variety of Hebrew words: bin (binah, and in the English Revised Version tebunah), sakhal (sekhel, sekhel), lebh (and in the English Revised Version labhabh), tushiyah (and in the English Revised Version Te`em, `ormah, piqqach. None of these, however, is of very frequent occurrence and by far the most common group is the verb chakham, with the adjective chakham, and the nouns chokhmah, chokhmoth, with something over 300 occurrences in the Old Testament (of which rather more than half are in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes). Cokhmah, accordingly, may be treated as the Hebrew…
אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.
אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought
to nothing, as nothing
cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
in circumst. clauses
with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
with prefixes
base
H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing
. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
. in circumst. clauses
. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
. with prefixes
369 'ayin ah'-yin
as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not
exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative
particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,
in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,
thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),
well-nigh, without. Compare 370.
see HEBREW for 0370
אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.
1) nothing, not, nought n
1a) nothing, nought neg
1b) not
1c) to have not (of possession) adv
1d) without w/prep
1e) for lack of
Conj | Part — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
דַּ֫עַת (da`ath) means knowledge, encompassing perception, skill, and moral understanding. It is associated with prophetic knowledge and is noted for its divine aspect, particularly in the context of wisdom literature. The entries highlight its use in various forms of knowledge, including discernment and understanding.
דַּ֫עַת n.f. knowledge
knowledge, perception
= skill (in workmanship)
of proph. knowledge
esp. knowledge with moral quality
knowledge possessed by God
esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom
base
H1847 דַּ֫עַת knowledge . . knowledge, perception
. = skill (in workmanship)
. of proph. knowledge
. esp. knowledge with moral quality
. knowledge possessed by God
. esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom
1847 da`ath dah'-ath
from 3045; knowledge:--cunning, (ig-)norantly, know(-ledge),
(un-)awares (wittingly).
see HEBREW for 03045
דַּ֫עַת (da.at) — knowledge.
1) knowledge
1a) knowledge, perception, skill
1b) discernment, understanding, wisdom
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Ncfsa
בִּין (biyn) is a Hebrew verb meaning to discern or understand. It encompasses a range of meanings including perceiving, considering, and teaching, with various forms indicating different nuances, such as being intelligent or discreet. The entries highlight its use in contexts requiring mental separation or insight, but do not present any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
בִּין vb. discern
Qal
perceive
understand, know (with mind)
observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)
have discernment, insight, understanding
Niph. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding
Po. he attentively considereth him
Hiph.
understand
give heed to, attend to, observe, discern
give understanding, make understand, teach
Hithp.
shew oneself attentive, consider diligently
get understanding, understand
shew oneself to have understanding
base
H995 בִּין discern .. perceive
. understand, know (with mind)
. observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)
. have discernment, insight, understanding
. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding
. he attentively considereth him
. . understand
. give heed to, attend to, observe, discern
. give understanding, make understand, teach
. . shew oneself attentive, consider diligently
. get understanding, understand
. shew oneself to have understanding
995 biyn bene
a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish),
i.e.(generally) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning,
diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct,
have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be
prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause,
make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal)
wise(-ly, man).
בִּין (bin) — to understand.
1) to discern, understand, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to perceive, discern
1a2) to understand, know (with the mind)
1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider
1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding
1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to understand
1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach
1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently
1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct
2) (TWOT) prudent, regard
Prep | V-Niphal — Preposition · verb niphal participle (active) masculine singularHR/VNrmsa
The Hebrew word קָלַל (qalal) is a primitive root meaning to be light or trifling, covering a range of senses from being swift to being of little account. It can also mean to curse or treat with contempt. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances such as making light or being lightly esteemed.
[קָלַל] 82 vb. be slight, swift, trifling
Qal
be slight, of water, be abated
be swift
trifling, i.e. of little account
Niph.
shew oneself swift
appear trifling
be lightly esteemed
Pi. curse (prop. make contemptible)
Pu. be cursed
Hiph.
make light, lighten
treat with contempt
Pilp.
shake
(peculiarly) whet
Hithpalp. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves
base
H7043 קָלַל be slight, swift, trifling .. be slight, of water, be abated
. be swift
. trifling, i.e. of little account
. . shew oneself swift
. appear trifling
. be lightly esteemed
. curse (prop. make contemptible)
. be cursed
. . make light, lighten
. treat with contempt
. . shake
. (peculiarly) whet
. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves
7043 qalal kaw-lal'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) light, literally
(swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling,
vile, etc.):--abate, make bright, bring into contempt,
(ac-)curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make
somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly
afflict, -ly esteem, thing), X slight(-ly), be swift(-er),
(be, be more, make, re-)vile, whet.
קָלַל (qa.lal) — to lighten.
1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water)
1a2) to be swift
1a3) to be trifling, be of little account
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift
1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant
1b3) to be lightly esteemed
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to make despicable
1c2) to curse
1d) (Pual) to be cursed
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to make light, lighten
1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour
1f) (Pilpel)
1f1) to shake
1f2) to whet
1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro
V-Niphal — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine singularHVNrmsa