Original Word: קָלַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qala`
Pronunciation: kah-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-lah')
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. carve, sling (out)

carve, sling out

A primitive root: to sling: also to carve (as if a circular motion, or into light forms) -- carve, sling (out).

I. [קָלַע] verb sling, hurl forth (Thes compare Arabic sit insecurely (see also Frä²²⁴, Socin in Buhl^{Lex 13}), waver, whence sail (loan-word Frä^l.c.), Jewish-Aramaic קַלְעָא id., Biblical Hebrew Late Hebrew קֶלַע curtain; thence hurl, sling; but this perhaps denominative (Soc^l.c.) from loosened clod, compare Syriac id. (Nö in Frä^l.c.); Arabic sling, Eth : id.; ᵑ7 קְלַע verb sling, Syriac noun sling); —

Qal Participle קֹלֵעַ בָּאֶבֶן אֶלֿ Judges 20:16 one slinging (with) a stone at a hair; ׳קוֺ with accusative of person Jeremiah 10:18 I will sling forth the inhabitants.

Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִקַלַּע 1 Samuel 17:49 and he slang (that is, the stone); suffix יְקַלְּעֶנָּה 1 Samuel 25:29 he shall sling away (life of enemy).

II. קָלַע verb carve; —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳ק: with 2 accusative, carve walls with, 1 Kings 6:29; with accusative of congnate meaning with verb + עַל 1 Kings 6:32; with accusative of thing carved 1 Kings 6:35.

Physical Skill with the Sling

Judges 20:16 presents a corps of seven hundred left-handed Benjaminites, each able “to sling a stone at a hair and not miss.” The precision attributed to these warriors illustrates the high level of military training that existed during the era of the judges and shows how a simple, inexpensive weapon could neutralize more heavily armed foes. The same skill is dramatized in 1 Samuel 17:49, where “David put his hand into the bag, took a stone, and slung it; he struck the Philistine in the forehead… so that he fell facedown on the ground.” The verb under study captures both the action and the confidence of a faith-filled shepherd confronting a giant. Scripture therefore records the sling as an instrument through which human weakness is transformed into divinely empowered victory.

Metaphorical Use in Divine Judgment and Deliverance

Abigail’s plea to David employs the sling metaphor to describe God’s protection and retribution: “the life of my lord will be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God, but the lives of your enemies He will sling away as from the pocket of a sling” (1 Samuel 25:29). Here the term envisions the Lord hurling away hostile forces with effortless ease, underscoring His sovereignty over the destinies of both the righteous and the wicked.

Jeremiah extends the image from personal enemies to an entire nation under judgment: “Behold, at this time I will sling out the inhabitants of the land and will bring distress on them” (Jeremiah 10:18). The prophet’s language conveys violent expulsion, signaling the certainty of exile for covenant infidelity. In both passages the same verb that once depicted the heroics of David now depicts the severity of divine discipline, affirming that the Lord wields history as unerringly as the Benjaminites wielded their stones.

Artistic Craftsmanship in Solomon’s Temple

An unexpected nuance appears in the construction of the first temple. Three times the historian records that Solomon “carved” cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on the walls and doors (1 Kings 6:29, 1 Kings 6:32, 1 Kings 6:35). The sculptor’s chisel, like the warrior’s sling, projects material away from a target with purpose and precision. The shared verb unites battlefield, household, and sanctuary, suggesting that every sphere of life—warfare, daily living, and worship—falls under the same divine artistry.

The carvings themselves testify to theological themes: cherubim signify God’s throne room, palm trees evoke Edenic blessing, and open flowers recall life and beauty. That the same action-word describes both a weapon of war and temple ornamentation highlights the holistic vision of Scripture, where craftsmanship and combat alike display skill submitted to God’s glory.

Theological Reflection

1. Providence and Human Agency

Whether a stone leaving David’s sling or an idolater leaving the land, the motion depicted is guided by the Lord. Human skill is real, yet ultimately subordinate to divine purpose.

2. Judgment and Mercy Held in Balance

Abigail’s comfort and Jeremiah’s warning show that the same action can preserve the faithful and remove the faithless. God’s covenant faithfulness embraces both protection and chastening.

3. Worship Shaped by Precision

The temple carvings remind believers that reverence includes attention to detail. The verb’s presence in 1 Kings 6 invites modern craftsmen, artists, and worship leaders to pursue excellence as an act of devotion.

Ministry Implications

• Encourage believers to devote their skills—manual, artistic, or strategic—to the Lord’s service, confident that He equips and directs.
• Remind congregations that God’s judgment, though severe, is executed with perfect accuracy; therefore, repentance and obedience are urgent.
• Highlight the unity of Scripture by teaching how a single Hebrew verb can trace a theological thread from Judges through the monarchy to the prophets, reinforcing trust in the Bible’s coherence.

Summary

Across seven occurrences, the verb translated “sling” or “carve” moves from battlefield to temple and from narrative to prophecy. It portrays precision in human hands and, above all, in God’s governance of history. The believer is invited to marvel at the Lord who both fashions beauty and hurls away evil, accomplishing all things with unerring aim.

וְקָלַ֣ע וְקָלַ֤ע וַיְקַלַּ֔ע ויקלע וקלע יְקַלְּעֶ֔נָּה יקלענה קָלַ֗ע קֹלֵ֧עַ קוֹלֵ֛עַ קולע קלע kaLa koLea qā·la‘ qāla‘ qō·lê·a‘ qō·w·lê·a‘ qōlêa‘ qōwlêa‘ vaykalLa vekaLa way·qal·la‘ wayqalla‘ wə·qā·la‘ wəqāla‘ yə·qal·lə·‘en·nāh yekalleEnnah yəqallə‘ennāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts