Word Study for H7050 (קֶלַע) | Strong's Concordance

qelaʻ /keh'-lah/ Ask about this word

Meaninga sling; also a (door) screen (as if slung across), or the valve (of the door) itself

KJV usagehanging, leaf, sling.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qelaʻ — 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 qelaʻ, represented by H7050, has a dual meaning as both a sling and a hanging or leaf. It is derived from the root H7049 and appears 22 times in 22 unique verses. This word's usage is split between describing a weapon used for throwing stones and an architectural element, specifically the fabric hangings that formed the court of the Tabernacle.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7050 is used in several distinct contexts. As a weapon, it is famously wielded by David to defeat Goliath, where he "prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone" 1 Samuel 17:50. It is also listed as part of the armaments prepared by King Uzziah for his army 2 Chronicles 26:14. The most frequent use, however, is in the detailed instructions for the Tabernacle, where it refers to the linen hangings that enclosed the outer court (Exodus 27:9, Exodus 38:16). A third, less common use refers to the folding leaves of the fir tree doors in Solomon's temple 1 Kings 6:34.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and application of qelaʻ:

H7049 qâlaʻ (to sling; also to carve): This is the root verb from which H7050 originates. It describes the action of using a sling and is used metaphorically when Abigail tells David that God will "sling out" the souls of his enemies 1 Samuel 25:29.
H68 'eben (a stone): This word is the projectile used with a H7050 sling. The two are paired in the account of David and Goliath 1 Samuel 17:50 and in Job, where slingstones are turned to stubble Job 41:28.
H2691 châtsêr (court, tower, village): The hangings (qelaʻ) were used to enclose the Tabernacle's court. This relationship is stated repeatedly, as in "the hangings of the court" (Exodus 35:17, Exodus 38:9).
H5982 ʻammûwd (a column (as standing); also a stand, i.e. platform; pillar): These were the supports from which the hangings (qelaʻ) were suspended. The Tabernacle plans specify the hangings along with their pillars and sockets Exodus 27:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7050 is expressed through its different applications.

Instrument of Divine Victory: The sling, a simple shepherd's tool, becomes the instrument of God's power in the hands of David 1 Samuel 17:50. It is also used figuratively for divine judgment, where God protects the life of his servant while he will "sling out" the souls of enemies 1 Samuel 25:29.
Defining Sacred Space: As the hangings of the Tabernacle court, qelaʻ served to create a physical boundary between the holy and the common. These curtains of "fine twined linen" Exodus 27:9 visually established the perimeter of God's dwelling place among the Israelites.
Worship and Service: The hangings were not just walls but were integral pieces of the Tabernacle's equipment, listed among the holy items under the care of the Levites for "all the service thereof" Numbers 3:26, signifying that every detail of the sanctuary was consecrated.

Summary

In summary, H7050 is a versatile word that bridges the concepts of divine warfare and holy worship. As a sling, it represents God's ability to use humble means for great victory and to execute judgment. As hangings, it represents the sanctity, order, and precise detail of the space dedicated to God's presence. The word illustrates a God who is both a mighty warrior for His people and who meticulously plans the place where He will dwell among them.

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 22 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.

קְלָעִים
קַלְעֵי
קֶלַע
קַלְּע

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 22 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus (13 verses); never once in the other 32.

Exodus

Numbers

1 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Chronicles

Job

Zechariah

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.