Lexical Summary
qol: Voice, sound, noise
Original Word:קוֹל
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:qowl
Pronunciation:kohl
Phonetic Spelling:(kole)
KJV: + aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim, proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, + yell
NASB:voice, sound, noise, voices, thunder, proclamation, listen
Word Origin:[from an unused root meaning to call aloud]
1. a voice or sound
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
aloud, bleating, crackling, cry out, fame, lightness, lowing, noise,
Or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound -- + aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim, proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, + yell.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionsound, voice
NASB Translationbirds (1), bleating (1), crackling (2), cry (2), crying (1), growl* (1), listen (4), loudly (1), loudness (1), lowing (2), news (1), noise (21), obey* (14), obeyed* (5), outcry (1), proclamation (7), public (1), report (1), roared loudly* (1), roared* (1), screamed* (1), shout (1), sound (98), sound* (1), sounds (3), speaks (1), thunder (11), thunderbolt* (2), tinkling (1), voice (284), voice was like the sound (1), voices (14), wept* (1), what i say (1), what my are saying (1), what you say (2), witness (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(sometimes, with prefix and suffix, )
506Genesis 39:14 ; — absoluteGenesis 4:10 + (Genesis 27:22;Genesis 45:16); constructGenesis 3:8 + (Exodus 19:16,Exodus 4:8 (twice in verse)); suffix1 Samuel 26:17 +,Judges 18:25 +, etc. (Genesis 22:18,Exodus 3:18, etc.); plural (usually of thunder)Exodus 9:23 4t.,Exodus 20:18 (GiExodus 20:15),1 Samuel 2:17 5t.; —
sound: especially
Joshua 6:10;2 Kings 7:10; in speechGenesis 27:22 (twice in verse);1 Samuel 1:13;1 Samuel 24:17;1 Samuel 26:17 (twice in verse); recognized ()1 Samuel 26:17;Jeremiah 18:3;Ezekiel 33:32pleasant of voice, compareSongs 2:14 (twice in verse);Songs 8:13; in singingExodus 32:18;2 Samuel 19:36;Isaiah 52:8, callingJudges 9:7, shoutingExodus 32:17;1 Samuel 4:6 (twice in verse);1 Kings 1:40;Ezra 3:13, rejoicingJeremiah 7:34 (4 t. in verse) =Jeremiah 16:9;Jeremiah 25:10;Jeremiah 33:11, praisePsalm 66:8;Psalm 26:7;Joel 2:10, laughterJeremiah 30:19, weepingGenesis 21:16;Judges 2:4;1 Samuel 11:4;Ruth 1:9,14;Ezra 3:13, outcryGenesis 39:15,18;1 Samuel 4:14;Jeremiah 8:19, distress, lamentJeremiah 9:18;Ezekiel 27:30;Zechariah 11:3;Psalm 102:6, supplicationPsalm 28:2;Psalm 28:6;Psalm 31:23;Psalm 86:6; adverbwith one voiceExodus 24:3; 2Chronicles 5:13,loud voice2 Samuel 15:23 + (compareGenesis 39:14;1 Samuel 28:12 +),Deuteronomy 27:14;Genesis 21:16 + (see (5)),Genesis 39:15 + (see ); on as independent noun, followed by subject + verb of callingPsalm 3:5;Psalm 27:7;Psalm 142:2 see Ges§ 144m
ofGenesis 3:8,10;Isaiah 6:8;Exodus 19:19;1 Kings 19:3;Micah 6:9;Ezekiel 10:5 (compare also ) +; adverbDeuteronomy 5:19;Ezekiel 9:1;1 Kings 19:12.
Isaiah 6:4.
Daniel 8:16 ( i.e. in human speech, compare Bev);Daniel 10:6,9 (twice in verse).
1 Samuel 15:14, lowing of cattle1 Samuel 15:14;Jeremiah 9:9, neighing of horsesJeremiah 8:16, roaring of lionAmos 3:4;Jeremiah 2:15 +, hissing of serpentJeremiah 46:22 (in simile), singing of birdsNahum 2:8;Zephaniah 2:14;Psalm 104:12;Songs 2:12;Ecclesiastes 12:4.
,a sound of...! = hark!Genesis 4:10;Isaiah 13:4;Isaiah 40:3;Isaiah 52:8;Jeremiah 4:15;Jeremiah 10:22;Jeremiah 50:28;Songs 2:8;Songs 5:2 (Ges§ 146b).
sound:
Exodus 9:16;Exodus 20:18 (GiExodus 20:15)Amos 2:2;1 Kings 1:41 +, 2Chronicles 5:13,Ezekiel 26:13,Job 21:12; of on high priest's robeExodus 28:35.
(compare Dr1 Samuel 12:17), (or )Amos 1:2;Isaiah 30:30,31;Jeremiah 10:13 =Jeremiah 51:16,Joel 2:11; Joel 4:16;Psalm 18:14 =2 Samuel 22:14;Psalm 29:3;Psalm 29:7;Psalm 46:7;Job 37:4 (compare1 Samuel 7:10;Psalm 77:18;Psalm 77:19;Psalm 104:7), so especially plural absolute (see above)Exodus 9:23,28,29,33,34;Exodus 19:16;Exodus 20:18 (GiExodus 20:15),1 Samuel 7:10;1 Samuel 12:17,18;Job 28:26 =Job 38:25.
1 Kings 14:6 compare2 Kings 6:32, and (probably)Genesis 3:8; also2 Samuel 5:24 =1 Chronicles 14:15; of runners2 Kings 11:13; 2Chronicles 23:12.
Jeremiah 47:3;Ezekiel 26:10 ( +chariots, etc.), compare1 Kings 1:41.
Nahum 3:2;Joel 2:5; wheelsEzekiel 3:13; whipNahum 3:2.
Habakkuk 3:10;Ezekiel 1:24;Ezekiel 43:2;Psalm 93:3;Psalm 93:4, compareJeremiah 50:42 (in simile);Psalm 42:8.
Ezekiel 37:7.
a fallJeremiah 49:21;Ezekiel 26:15;Ezekiel 31:16.
1 Samuel 4:14;Isaiah 13:4;Ezekiel 23:42.
Exodus 32:17;Jeremiah 50:22,46;Jeremiah 51:55;Lamentations 2:7.
Ezekiel 1:24;Ezekiel 3:13;Ezekiel 10:5.
Joel 2:5; crackling of thornsEcclesiastes 7:6; rustling of leavesLeviticus 26:36.
Jeremiah 25:10;Ecclesiastes 12:4.
(1) often of human advice, command, entreatyGenesis 3:17;Genesis 4:23;Exodus 3:18;Exodus 4:1,9;Deuteronomy 1:45;Deuteronomy 21:18 (twice in verse);Deuteronomy 21:20;1 Samuel 2:25;1 Samuel 8:7,9;2 Samuel 12:18;Deuteronomy 1:34;Deuteronomy 5:25; even of written words2 Kings 10:6; so alsoExodus 4:8 (twice in verse)voice (teaching)of the sign. (2) of a reportGenesis 45:16;Ecclesiastes 10:20. (3) of a proclamationExodus 36:6 (P), 2 Chronicles 24:9; 30:5; 36:22 =Ezra 1:1;Ezra 10:7;Nehemiah 8:15. (4)Leviticus 5:1utterance of adjuration.
often (especially Deuteronomy, Jeremiah) of words ofGenesis 22:18;Genesis 26:5;Exodus 5:2;Exodus 15:26;Exodus 19:5;Deuteronomy 8:20;Deuteronomy 9:23;Deuteronomy 13:15;Deuteronomy 13:19 +,Judges 2:2,20;Judges 6:10;1 Samuel 12:14,15;1 Samuel 15:1,19,20,22;Jeremiah 3:13,25;Jeremiah 7:23 +; ofExodus 23:21,22. —Jeremiah 3:9 see below .
(so Vrss Ki Gie; Gf thinks = ; > =voice); —Jeremiah 3:9. —voice, see .
(√ of following; Biblical Hebrew , ).
Topical Lexicon
General Range of Meaningקול is an elastic word embracing any audible phenomenon: articulate speech, whispered prayer, shouted alarm, musical sound, crashing thunder, or the roar of battle. Its versatility enables Scripture to describe the entire spectrum of communication between God and humanity and within human society itself.
The Voice of God
1. Personal Address: “And the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9). From Eden onward, the divine קול initiates relationship, convicting, instructing, and consoling.
2. Self-Revelation: At Sinai “all the people witnessed the thunderings” (literally “the voices,”Exodus 20:18), teaching that God’s character is disclosed not by human speculation but by spoken revelation.
3. Authority and Efficacy: “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made… He spoke, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:6-9). His קול both commands and accomplishes.
4. Intimacy and Guidance: “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21). The shepherd’s voice motif culminates inJohn 10:3-4, where Jesus assumes the prerogative of the divine קול.
Theophanic Manifestations (Thunder as His Voice)
“When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar” (Jeremiah 10:13). Twenty-two times קול is paired with “thunder,” especially in the Exodus plagues (Exodus 9:23) and David’s hymn (2 Samuel 22:14). The imagery links nature’s awe to covenantal faithfulness, underscoring that every storm testifies to the Sovereign Lord.
Prophetic Revelation
Prophets uniformly ground their message in having “heard the קול of the LORD” (e.g.,Isaiah 6:8;Amos 3:8). The authenticity of a prophet rests on reception of that voice, not on rhetorical skill. Hence the recurrent burden: “Hear the word of the LORD.”
Covenant and Law
Deuteronomy repeatedly warns Israel to “obey the קול of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 28:2, 15). Blessing and curse hinge on attentiveness. The historical narratives illustrate this principle: obedience to the קול brings victory (Joshua 6:5, the shout around Jericho); refusal invites judgment (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
Liturgical Use
1. Praise: “Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy” (Psalm 33:3). קול expresses exuberant worship through psalmody, trumpets, and cymbals (1 Chronicles 15:16).
2. Lament: “My eye weeps bitterly… for the קול of the lament” (Lamentations 2:18). The same organ that exults also mourns, showing worship’s full emotional range.
3. Corporate Response: In revival scenes the people answer with “a great קול” affirming covenant renewal (Nehemiah 8:6).
Human Speech and Emotion
Scripture charts human קול from infancy (“the קול of the infant,”Exodus 2:6) to death-bed blessings (Genesis 27:22). It records:
• Joyous celebration (1 Kings 1:40).
• Anguish and prayer (1 Samuel 1:13).
• Betrayal and deceit (Genesis 27:22-23).
Every facet of human voice finds representation, validating the breadth of real experience brought before God.
Call to Battle
Military usage spans trumpet blasts (Numbers 10:9), war cries (Joshua 6:10), and mustering commands (Judges 7:18-20). Victory or defeat often turns on whether Israel heeds the divine קול conveyed through prophetic or priestly intermediaries (2 Chronicles 20:15-22).
Creation and Dominion
Psalm 29 devotes eleven references to the קול of the LORD, moving from waters to wilderness, demonstrating that creation is responsive to its Maker’s voice. The psalmist’s refrain anticipates the final subjection of all things when “the LORD sits enthroned as King forever.”
Echoes in Wisdom Literature
Proverbs contrasts the קול of wisdom with the seductive קול of folly (Proverbs 1:20-21; 7:11). Ecclesiastes laments the fading קול of old age (Ecclesiastes 12:4). Job craves an audience with God, longing to hear His קול (Job 13:22). Wisdom literature therefore probes not merely acoustics but moral audition.
Eschatological Anticipation
Prophecies of the Day of the LORD feature a decisive קול: “The LORD will roar from Zion” (Joel 3:16). Zechariah envisions the King’s arrival accompanied by trumpet קול (Zechariah 9:14). Revelation gathers these motifs, describing voices, trumpets, and thunder proceeding from God’s throne (Revelation 4:5), demonstrating continuity between Testaments.
Pastoral and Homiletical Implications
• Hearing and Obedience: Ministry must press the link between listening and doing (Deuteronomy 30:20;James 1:22).
• Assurance: Believers rest in the Shepherd’s recognizable voice (Psalm 95:7;John 10:27).
• Proclamation: Preaching echoes the prophetic pattern—declaring “Thus says the LORD” with clarity and authority (2 Timothy 4:2).
• Worship: Encourage congregational participation that engages the קול—singing, praying, confessing—mirroring biblical models.
• Discernment: Test every competing קול against Scripture’s revealed word (1 John 4:1).
Key Clusters of Usage
• Genesis–Deuteronomy: Foundational revelation and covenantal obedience.
• Historical Books: Guidance in conquest, monarchy, and reform.
• Psalms: Nearly 60 occurrences, chiefly in praise and lament.
• Prophets: Over 170 occurrences, focusing on judgment and restoration.
These distributions demonstrate that קול is integral to every major section of the Old Testament, binding narrative, law, poetry, and prophecy into a unified testimony of God who speaks and expects to be heard.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּ֝קוֹל֗וֹ בְּ֝קוֹלוֹ בְּ֭קוֹלוֹ בְּק֔וֹל בְּק֖וֹל בְּק֣וֹל בְּק֣וֹל ׀ בְּק֤וֹל בְּק֥וֹל בְּק֨וֹל בְּקֹ֣לְכֶ֔ם בְּקֹל֔וֹ בְּקֹל֖וֹ בְּקֹל֥וֹ בְּקֹלִ֑י בְּקֹלִ֔י בְּקֹלִ֖י בְּקֹלִֽי׃ בְּקֹלִי֙ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ בְּקֹלֶ֑ךָ בְּקֹלָ֑הּ בְּקֹלֽוֹ׃ בְּקוֹל֔וֹ בְּקוֹל֙ בְּקוֹלִ֑י בְּקוֹלִֽי׃ בְּקוֹלֵ֔נוּ בְּקוֹלֶ֔ךָ בְּקוֹלָ֑הּ בְּקוֹלָ֑ם בְּקוֹלָ֔ם בְּקוֹלָ֖הּ בְּקוֹלָֽם׃ בְּקוֹל־ בְק֫וֹלִ֥י בְקֹֽלְכֶ֔ם בְקֹל֔וֹ בְקֽוֹל׃ בְקוֹלִ֔י בְקוֹלִ֖י בְקוֹלִי֙ בְקוֹלֵ֔ךְ בְקוֹלֶ֙ךָ֙ בְקוֹל־ בקול בקול־ בקול׃ בקולה בקולו בקולי בקולי׃ בקולך בקולם בקולם׃ בקולנו בקלה בקלו בקלו׃ בקלי בקלי׃ בקלך בקלכם בקלנו הֲקֹלְךָ֥ הֲקוֹלְךָ֥ הַקֹּל֙ הַקֹּל֣וֹת הַקֹּלוֹת֙ הַקּ֔וֹל הַקּ֖וֹל הַקּ֜וֹל הַקּוֹל֙ הַקּוֹלֹ֜ת הקול הקולך הקולת הקל הקלות הקלך וְ֝קוֹלִ֗י וְהַקֹּ֣ל וְהַקֹּלֹ֖ת וְהַקּ֥וֹל וְק֖וֹל וְק֣וֹל וְק֣וֹל ׀ וְק֥וֹל וְקַמְתָּ֣ וְקֹ֥ל וְקוֹל֗וֹ וְקוֹל֙ וְקוֹלָ֖הּ וָק֣וֹל וּ֝בְק֗וֹל וּבְק֣וֹל וּבְק֥וֹל וּבְקֹל֣וֹ וּבְקוֹל֖וֹ וּבְקוֹלִ֥י וּלְקֹלִ֣י ׀ ובקול ובקולו ובקולי ובקלו והקול והקל והקלת ולקלי וקול וקולה וקולו וקולי וקל וקמת כְּק֣וֹל כְּק֥וֹל כְּקוֹל֙ כְּקוֹל֩ כְּקוֹל־ כְק֤וֹל כקול כקול־ לְ֝ק֗וֹל לְק֖וֹל לְק֣וֹל לְק֣וֹל ׀ לְק֥וֹל לְק֨וֹל לְק֬וֹל לְקֹ֖ל לְקֹלֶ֑ךָ לְקֹלֶ֔ךָ לְקֹלָ֑ם לְקֹלָ֖ם לְקוֹל֙ לְקוֹלִ֑י לְקוֹלִֽי׃ לְקוֹלֵ֖ךְ לקול לקולי לקולי׃ לקולך לקל לקלך לקלם מִ֭קּוֹל מִקֹּ֣ל מִקֹּל֨וֹת ׀ מִקּ֖וֹל מִקּ֗וֹל מִקּ֣וֹל מִקּ֤וֹל מִקּ֥וֹל מִקּ֨וֹל מִקּוֹל֙ מִקּוֹל֩ מִקּוֹלָם֙ מקול מקולם מקל מקלות ק֔וֹל ק֕וֹל ק֖וֹל ק֗וֹל ק֚וֹל ק֛וֹל ק֜וֹל ק֝וֹלִ֗י ק֞וֹל ק֠וֹל ק֠וֹלוֹ ק֣וֹל ק֣וֹל ׀ ק֤וֹל ק֤וֹל ׀ ק֥וֹל ק֧וֹל ק֨וֹל ק֭וֹל ק֭וֹלִי ק֭וֹלוֹ קֹל֑וֹ קֹל֖וֹ קֹל֖וֹת קֹל֥וֹ קֹלְךָ֥ קֹלֵ֔נוּ קֹלָ֖הּ קֹלֹ֥ת קֹלֹ֨ת קֹלֹת֙ קֹלֽוֹת׃ קּ֑וֹל קֽוֹל־ קֽוֹל׃ קוֹל֑וֹ קוֹל֔וֹ קוֹל֖וֹ קוֹל֗וֹ קוֹל֙ קוֹל֛וֹ קוֹל֩ קוֹלְךָ֖ קוֹלְכֶ֔ם קוֹלְכֶֽם׃ קוֹלִ֑י קוֹלִ֔י קוֹלִ֖י קוֹלִ֣י קוֹלִ֥י קוֹלִֽי׃ קוֹלֵ֑ךְ קוֹלֵ֔ךְ קוֹלֵ֖ךְ קוֹלֵ֥ךְ קוֹלֵךְ֙ קוֹלֶ֑ךָ קוֹלֶ֔ךָ קוֹלֶֽךָ׃ קוֹלָ֑ם קוֹלָ֔ם קוֹלָ֔ן קוֹלָ֖הּ קוֹלָ֖ם קוֹלָ֖ן קוֹלָֽהּ׃ קוֹלָֽם׃ קוֹלָם֙ קוֹלֽוֹ׃ קוֹל־ קוֹלוֹ֙ קול קול־ קול׃ קולה קולה׃ קולו קולו׃ קולי קולי׃ קולך קולך׃ קולכם קולכם׃ קולם קולם׃ קולן קלה קלו קלות קלות׃ קלך קלנו קלת bə·qō·lāh bə·qō·le·ḵā bə·qō·lə·ḵem ḇə·qō·lə·ḵem bə·qō·lê·nū bə·qō·lî bə·qō·lōw ḇə·qō·lōw bə·qō·w·lāh bə·qō·w·lām bə·qō·w·le·ḵā ḇə·qō·w·le·ḵā bə·qō·w·lê·nū ḇə·qō·w·lêḵ bə·qō·w·lî ḇə·qō·w·lî bə·qō·w·lōw bə·qō·wl ḇə·qō·wl bə·qō·wl- ḇə·qō·wl- beKol bekoLah bekoLam bekoLecha beKoleChem bekoLenu bekoLi bekoLo bəqōlāh bəqōleḵā bəqōləḵem ḇəqōləḵem bəqōlênū bəqōlî bəqōlōw ḇəqōlōw bəqōwl ḇəqōwl bəqōwl- ḇəqōwl- bəqōwlāh bəqōwlām ḇəqōwlêḵ bəqōwleḵā ḇəqōwleḵā bəqōwlênū bəqōwlî ḇəqōwlî bəqōwlōw cheKol hă·qō·lə·ḵā hă·qō·wl·ḵā hakKol hakkoLot hakolCha hakoleCha haq·qō·lō·wṯ haq·qō·w·lōṯ haq·qō·wl haq·qōl hăqōləḵā hăqōwlḵā haqqōl haqqōlōwṯ haqqōwl haqqōwlōṯ kə·qō·wl ḵə·qō·wl kə·qō·wl- kekOl kəqōwl ḵəqōwl kəqōwl- Kol koLah koLam koLan kolCha kolChem koLech koleCha koLenu koLi koLo koLot lə·qō·lām lə·qō·le·ḵā lə·qō·w·lêḵ lə·qō·w·lî lə·qō·wl lə·qōl leKol lekoLam lekoLech lekoLecha lekoLi ləqōl ləqōlām ləqōleḵā ləqōwl ləqōwlêḵ ləqōwlî mikKol mikkoLam mikkoLot miq·qō·lō·wṯ miq·qō·w·lām miq·qō·wl miq·qōl miqqōl miqqōlōwṯ miqqōwl miqqōwlām qō·lāh qō·lə·ḵā qō·lê·nū qō·lō·wṯ qō·lōṯ qō·lōw qō·w·lāh qō·w·lām qō·w·lān qō·w·le·ḵā qō·w·lêḵ qō·w·lî qō·w·lōw qō·wl qō·wl- qō·wl·ḵā qō·wl·ḵem qōlāh qōləḵā qōlênū qōlōṯ qōlōw qōlōwṯ qōwl qōwl- qōwlāh qōwlām qōwlān qōwlêḵ qōwleḵā qōwlî qōwlḵā qōwlḵem qōwlōw ū·ḇə·qō·lōw ū·ḇə·qō·w·lî ū·ḇə·qō·w·lōw ū·ḇə·qō·wl ū·lə·qō·lî ūḇəqōlōw ūḇəqōwl ūḇəqōwlî ūḇəqōwlōw ulekoLi ūləqōlî uveKol uvekoLi uvekoLo vaKol vehakKol vehakkoLot vekamTa veKol vekoLah vekoLech vekoLecha vekoleChem vekoLi vekoLo wā·qō·wl wāqōwl wə·haq·qō·lōṯ wə·haq·qō·wl wə·haq·qōl wə·qam·tā wə·qō·w·lāh wə·qō·w·lî wə·qō·w·lōw wə·qō·wl wə·qōl wəhaqqōl wəhaqqōlōṯ wəhaqqōwl wəqamtā wəqōl wəqōwl wəqōwlāh wəqōwlî wəqōwlōw
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