The Hebrew word qôwʼ, represented by H6958, is a primitive root that means to vomit or spue (out). It appears 8 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible, often used to illustrate a visceral and forceful rejection, whether literal or metaphorical.
In its biblical usage, H6958 describes both physical and symbolic expulsion. Literally, it is used when the great fish H1709 vomited out Jonah onto the shore at the Lord's command Jonah 2:10. The book of Proverbs uses it to warn against overindulgence, noting that if one eats too much honey, they will vomit it Proverbs 25:16. Figuratively, the term is used to personify the land, which vomiteth out its inhabitants because they have defiled it with their iniquity Leviticus 18:25. Similarly, Job describes how ill-gotten riches, once swallowed, will be vomited up again Job 20:15.
Several related words help clarify the context and meaning of H6958:
- H1104 bâlaʻ (swallow down): Defined as "to make away with (specifically by swallowing)," this root is the direct opposite of vomiting. It is used in contrast to H6958 in Job 20:15, where riches are swallowed down only to be forcibly vomited up.
- H2930 ṭâmêʼ (defile): This word, meaning "to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense," is the direct cause for the land's violent reaction in Leviticus. The land vomits out its people because they first defile it (Leviticus 18:25, Leviticus 18:28).
- H398 ʼâkal (eat): This root, meaning "to eat," is the action that often precedes vomiting. In Proverbs, having eaten a morsel or too much honey leads to the consequence of vomiting it up (Proverbs 23:8, Proverbs 25:16).
- H3423 yârash (cast out): Meaning "to occupy (by driving out previous tenants)," this term is conceptually linked to the consequence of being vomited out. In Job 20:15, after the wicked man vomits up his riches, it is stated that God shall cast them out of his belly.
The theological weight of H6958 is centered on the concepts of rejection and judgment.
- Rejection of Defilement: The word is a powerful metaphor for the absolute incompatibility of holiness and sin. The land, as God's creation, cannot tolerate moral corruption and therefore spued out the nations that defiled it, serving as a warning to Israel Leviticus 18:28.
- Divine Judgment: Being "spued out" is presented as an act of divine judgment. God warns the Israelites that if they fail to keep His statutes, the land will spue you not out Leviticus 20:22, linking their ability to remain in the land to their obedience.
- Forced Restitution: The imagery illustrates that gains from wickedness are temporary. God himself will ensure that what was unjustly swallowed will be vomited up again, demonstrating that injustice will ultimately be reversed Job 20:15.
In summary, H6958 is more than a simple biological term; it is a vivid depiction of total rejection. While it has literal applications in the stories of Jonah and the wisdom of Proverbs, its primary significance is metaphorical. It powerfully illustrates how defilement leads to expulsion, how injustice results in forced restitution, and how the divine order violently rejects that which is corrupt. The word uses a base physical reaction to communicate a profound spiritual truth.
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