Word Study for H7032 (קָל) | Strong's Concordance

qâl /kawl/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to קוֹל

Meaning(a voice or sound)

KJV usagesound, voice.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qâl — 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 Aramaic word qâl, represented by H7032, is the corresponding term for קוֹל, meaning a voice or sound. It appears 7 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible, exclusively within the book of Daniel. Its usage encompasses both inanimate sounds, such as musical instruments, and the animate voices of humans and divine beings.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical context, H7032 is frequently associated with royal commands and pivotal moments of judgment. In Daniel chapter 3, the "sound" of various musical instruments serves as the signal for all people to fall down and worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image (Daniel 3:5, 3:7). The word also describes human expression, as when the king cries out with a "lamentable voice" at the lion's den Daniel 6:20. Furthermore, it carries prophetic and divine weight, referring to the "voice of the great words" spoken by the horn in a vision Daniel 7:11 and the "voice from heaven" that pronounces judgment on Nebuchadnezzar Daniel 4:31.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the function of H7032 as a sound that demands a response or carries a message:

H8086 shᵉmaʻ (to hear intelligently): This word is repeatedly paired with qâl, as people are commanded to hear the sound of the music as a trigger for action Daniel 3:15.
H4406 millâh (a word, command, discourse, or subject): The significance of the qâl is often defined by the words it carries, as in the "voice of the great words" spoken by the horn in Daniel's vision Daniel 7:11.
H2200 zᵉʻiq (to make an outcry; cry): This term specifies the type of vocalization, such as when the king cried with a lamentable voice Daniel 6:20.
H8065 shâmayin (heaven): This word specifies the origin of a divine communication, as when a voice fell from heaven to deliver a royal decree from God Daniel 4:31.

Theological Significance

The thematic significance of H7032 is concentrated in its role within the narratives of Daniel.

The Command of Earthly Kings: The "sound" of music is the mechanism by which an earthly king enforces idolatrous worship, creating a direct test of faith for God's people Daniel 3:10. The response to this sound determines life or death.
The Proclamation of the Heavenly King: In contrast, a "voice from heaven" demonstrates a higher authority. It is not a test but a final judgment, spoken directly to a prideful king to announce his downfall Daniel 4:31.
The Voice of Prophetic Power: The "voice" in Daniel's vision is not just sound but a focal point of prophetic interest. It represents the arrogant and powerful utterances of an end-times figure whose words are so significant they lead to judgment Daniel 7:11.

Summary

In summary, H7032 is a specific but potent Aramaic term. Though it has a limited number of occurrences, it consistently marks a critical juncture in the text. Whether it is the sound of an orchestra demanding idolatry, the distressed cry of a king, or the authoritative voice of God from heaven, qâl functions as the audible catalyst for moments of profound spiritual decision, divine judgment, and prophetic revelation.

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 noun across 7 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.

קָל
קָל

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

7 verses, all in Daniel — 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.