English · KJV
H7006

קָיָה

qâyâh /kaw-yaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto vomit
KJV usagespue.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qâyâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word qâyâh, represented by H7006, is a primitive root meaning to vomit; spue. Its rarity in scripture is notable, as it appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse. This singular usage lends significant weight to its appearance, portraying a powerful and visceral image of divine judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole instance of H7006 is found in Jeremiah 25:27. Here, the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, issues a command as an act of judgment. The people are instructed to "Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more." The act of vomiting is not a natural illness but the result of a divine decree, a consequence brought about "because of the sword which I will send among you" Jeremiah 25:27. It is the climactic physical reaction to consuming a judgment from which there is no recovery.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words in the passage illuminate the context of judgment surrounding H7006:

  • H8354 shâthâh (to imbibe): This word for drinking sets the stage for the judgment. The command to drink is the first step in a sequence that ends in ruin. It is sometimes used in contexts of lack, as in "ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink" Haggai 1:6.
  • H7937 shâkar (to become tipsy; be drunken): This describes the state of intoxication that leads to vomiting. Figuratively, it represents being overwhelmed by God's wrath, as when God promises that oppressors "shall be drunken with their own blood" Isaiah 49:26.
  • H2719 chereb (sword): This is the instrument of judgment that causes the entire sequence. The sword is often a symbol of divine punishment and warfare, as when the LORD punishes with His "great and strong sword" Isaiah 27:1.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7006 is tied directly to its context in divine judgment.

  • Symbol of Divine Rejection: To spue is to violently expel something. In its biblical usage, it serves as a powerful metaphor for God's utter rejection of a people. The act signifies a complete and forceful removal due to their wickedness.
  • The Finality of Judgment: The word is part of a sequence: drink, be drunken, spue, and fall, leading to the condition of being unable to "rise no more" Jeremiah 25:27. This links the act of vomiting to an irreversible and final state of destruction.
  • Consumption of Wrath: The imagery of drinking until one vomits illustrates the concept of being forced to consume the full measure of God's wrath. The physical revulsion is a picture of the spiritual consequence of facing divine justice delivered by the LORD's sword.

Summary

In summary, H7006 is a stark and infrequent term in the biblical lexicon. Its single appearance in Jeremiah 25:27 provides a graphic depiction of the finality of divine judgment. More than a simple physical act, qâyâh functions as a potent symbol of God's wrath being consumed, leading to the irreversible fall and rejection of those who stand against Him.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • תָקִיא
  • קְיוּ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H8354 שָׁתָה a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively); [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing) H7937 שָׁכַר a primitive root; to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to satiate with astimulating drink or (figuratively) influence; H2719 חֶרֶב from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implemen

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Jeremiah — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.