Word Study for H7046 (קָלַס) | Strong's Concordance

qâlaç /kaw-las'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto disparage, i.e. ridicule

KJV usagemock, scoff, scorn.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qâlaç — 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 qâlaç, represented by H7046, is a primitive root used to mean to disparage, i.e. ridicule; mock, scoff, scorn. It is a specific and potent term for expressing contempt, appearing 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. Its rarity highlights the severity of the action it describes.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7046 is used to depict acts of severe disrespect and derision. In one notable account, little children mocked the prophet Elisha for his appearance 2 Kings 2:23. The term is also used in a prophetic context to describe the arrogance of a conquering nation, which will scoff at kings and deride fortifications Habakkuk 1:10. In Ezekiel, the word describes the degenerate state of Jerusalem, which is so far gone in its sin that it scornest the payment typically associated with harlotry Ezekiel 16:31, and as a result, surrounding nations shall mock the infamous city Ezekiel 22:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to frame the concept of mockery and scorn:

H4890 mischaq (a laughing-stock; scorn): This noun appears alongside H7046 in Habakkuk's prophecy, where princes are described as becoming a scorn to the invading army, emphasizing the outcome of being scoffed at Habakkuk 1:10.
H559 ʼâmar (to say): This verb is often linked to the expression of mockery. The children who mocked Elisha did so by saying specific, insulting words to him, showing that the ridicule of H7046 is often verbal 2 Kings 2:23.
H7832 sâchaq (to deride, mock, scorn): This word is used in parallel with H7046 to describe the actions of the conquering army in Habakkuk, which will deride every strong hold, reinforcing the theme of contemptuous laughter in the face of power Habakkuk 1:10.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7046 is centered on the sin of prideful contempt and rebellion.

Disparaging God's Messengers: The mocking of Elisha by the children is a direct affront to a representative of God, demonstrating a rejection of divine authority 2 Kings 2:23.
Arrogance Against Authority: In Habakkuk, scoffing at kings is portrayed as an act of ultimate hubris by a conquering power, an attitude that stands in opposition to divine order Habakkuk 1:10.
Mark of Spiritual Corruption: For Ezekiel, mockery and scorn are symptoms of Jerusalem's deep-seated spiritual decay. The city's infamy invites the mockery of others, and its own act of scorning hire signifies a complete rebellion against moral and divine standards (Ezekiel 16:31, Ezekiel 22:5).

Summary

In summary, H7046 is a powerful and specific term for contemptuous ridicule. Though used infrequently, its appearances in scripture are significant, marking moments of brazen disrespect toward divine prophets, the hubris of conquering empires, and the profound spiritual degradation of God's own people. The word captures an intense form of mockery that reveals a heart of rebellion and scorn.

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 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

יִּתְקַלְּסוּ
יִתְקַלְּסוּ
יִתְקַלָּס
קַלֵּס

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

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

2 Kings

Ezekiel

Habakkuk

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.