What does קָשַׁב (qāšab) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew verb qashab describes attentive listening, giving heed, or inclining oneself toward speech. Prophets and wisdom teachers call hearers to attend to God's word, instruction, warning, or testimony.
Hebrew · H7181
קָשַׁב
To prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
קָשַׁבH7181
Pronunciationqāšab
What does קָשַׁב (qāšab) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew verb qashab describes attentive listening, giving heed, or inclining oneself toward speech. Prophets and wisdom teachers call hearers to attend to God's word, instruction, warning, or testimony.
Reader summary
Full entry for קָשַׁב (H7181) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7181?
The BSB source-word alignment has 46 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Listen (8), Pay attention (8), Attend (3), and attend (2), hear (2).
Where does קָשַׁב (qāšab) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 15:22. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (9), Jeremiah (8), Proverbs (8), Psalms (8).
What This Word Actually Means
The Hebrew verb qashab describes attentive listening, giving heed, or inclining oneself toward speech. Prophets and wisdom teachers call hearers to attend to God's word, instruction, warning, or testimony. The verb can also expose destructive receptivity: an evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a ruler who listens to lies corrupts those who serve under him. Listening is therefore not automatically virtuous.
Its moral direction depends on the speaker, message, and response. Biblical attentiveness involves more than sound reaching the ear, but the verb should not be used to shame Deaf or hard-of-hearing people, people with auditory-processing differences, trauma responses, language barriers, or those who need time and accommodation. Nor does a call to listen require accepting every leader's claim without examination.
Responsible teaching distinguishes hearing God through the text from compliance with human authority, tests messages for truth, makes communication accessible, and recognizes that attentive listening may include asking questions, checking evidence, setting boundaries, or refusing lies.
How the Bible Uses It
Qashab marks directed attention to speech, instruction, warning, prayer, or deception. The object of attention and the hearer's response determine whether listening expresses faithfulness, vulnerability, or corrupt leadership.
- 2Chr.20.15
And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.
Judah and Jerusalem are called to listen to the Lord's message in the crisis facing Jehoshaphat.
- Isa.28.23
Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say.
Isaiah summons hearers to listen carefully before presenting an agricultural illustration about the Lord's wisdom.
- Isa.51.4
Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations; I will bring it about quickly.
The Lord calls His people and nation to give attention as instruction and justice go out from Him.
- Jer.6.17
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’
The people answer the watchmen's trumpet warning by saying that they will not listen.
- Prov.17.4
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
The proverb links wrongdoing with attentively listening to wicked lips and giving heed to falsehood.
- Prov.29.12
If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.
A ruler who listens to lies creates a corrupt environment among his officials.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItListen8×2 Chronicles 20:15, 2 Chronicles 33:10, Psalms 17:1, Psalms 142:6
Pay attention8×Job 33:31, Proverbs 4:1, Proverbs 4:20, Proverbs 5:1
Attend3×Psalms 55:2, Psalms 61:1, Jeremiah 18:19
and attend2×Psalms 86:6, Proverbs 7:24
hear2×Jeremiah 6:10, Daniel 9:19
listens2×Proverbs 17:4, Proverbs 29:12
[and] attentiveness1×1 Samuel 15:22
[Who] will listen1×Isaiah 42:23
and listen1×Job 13:6
are listening1×Song Of Solomon 8:13
Attend to1×Psalms 5:2
attention1×Jeremiah 6:19
has given heed1×Jeremiah 23:18
He has attended1×Psalms 66:19
he must be alert1×Isaiah 21:7
heed1×Jeremiah 18:18
I have listened1×Jeremiah 8:6
if you incline1×Proverbs 2:2
listened1×Malachi 3:16
or listen1×Nehemiah 9:34
or pay attention1×Zechariah 1:4
Take heed1×Hosea 5:1
to pay attention1×Zechariah 7:11
took1×Proverbs 1:24
will listen1×Isaiah 32:3
you had paid attention1×Isaiah 48:18
You will incline1×Psalms 10:17
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 15:22לְהַקְשִׁ֖יבto[and] attentivenessPreposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct2 Chronicles 20:15הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּtoListenVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural2 Chronicles 33:10הִקְשִֽׁיבוּ׃tolistenVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralNehemiah 9:34הִקְשִׁ֙יבוּ֙toor listenVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralJob 13:6הַקְשִֽׁיבוּ׃toand listenVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralJob 33:31הַקְשֵׁ֖בtoPay attentionVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularPsalms 5:2הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀toAttend toVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularPsalms 10:17תַּקְשִׁ֥יבtoYou will inclineVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularPsalms 17:1הַקְשִׁ֥יבָהtolistenVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularPsalms 55:2הַקְשִׁ֣יבָהtoAttendVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row1 Samuel 15:22
Aligned rows46
Books represented14
1 Samuel12 Chronicles2Nehemiah1Job2Psalms8Proverbs8Song Of Solomon1Isaiah9Jeremiah8Daniel1Hosea1Micah1Zechariah2Malachi1
Source forms
הַקְשִׁ֥יבָה2xhaq·šî·ḇāhPsalms 17:1, Jeremiah 18:19
הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה2xhaq·šî·ḇāhProverbs 4:20, Proverbs 5:1
הַקְשִׁ֤יבָה׀2xhaq·šî·ḇāhPsalms 5:2, Psalms 142:6
הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ2xhaq·šî·ḇū2 Chronicles 20:15, Isaiah 51:4
וְ֝הַקְשִׁ֗יבוּ2xwə·haq·šî·ḇūProverbs 4:1, Proverbs 7:24
מַקְשִׁ֣יב2xmaq·šîḇProverbs 17:4, Proverbs 29:12
הַקְשֵׁ֖ב1xhaq·šêḇJob 33:31
הִקְשַׁ֖בְתָּ1xhiq·šaḇ·tāIsaiah 48:18
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular9xPsalms 5:2, Psalms 17:1, Psalms 55:2, Psalms 61:1
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural6x2 Chronicles 20:15, Job 13:6, Isaiah 28:23, Isaiah 34:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural4xProverbs 4:1, Proverbs 7:24, Isaiah 49:1, Hosea 5:1
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct4x1 Samuel 15:22, Proverbs 2:2, Jeremiah 6:10, Zechariah 7:11
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural4x2 Chronicles 33:10, Nehemiah 9:34, Jeremiah 6:19, Zechariah 1:4
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular3xProverbs 1:24, Proverbs 17:4, Proverbs 29:12
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular2xIsaiah 10:30, Micah 1:2
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xPsalms 66:19, Jeremiah 23:18
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Provide captions, interpreters, readable text, assistive technology, quiet options, and adequate response time where needed.
- Institutions should establish protected reporting channels, preserve evidence, and ensure that leaders cannot retaliate against truthful correction.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that qashab commands obedience to every person who says that God has spoken through them.
- Do not claim that hearing loss or a different communication pattern proves rebellion, unbelief, or inattention.
- Do not claim that listening alone is virtuous when the message is deceitful, abusive, or contrary to Scripture.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Attentive listening requiring physical orientation of the whole person toward the speaker
Strong'sH7181
Lexical occurrences46 versesWord forms2 forms26 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkProverbs 17:4Source Gloss
to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Attentive listening requiring physical orientation of the whole person toward the speaker
to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken BDB: incline Usage: attend, (cause to) hear(-ken), give heed, incline, mark (well), regard.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms26
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action25×
Sequential imperfect2Chr 20:15 · Isa 28:23 · Isa 34:1 · Isa 51:4 · Jer 6:17 · Job 13:6 · Isa 10:30 · Mic 1:2 · Job 33:319×
Perfect2Chr 33:10 · Jer 6:19 · Neh 9:34 · Zech 1:4 · Jer 23:18 · Ps 66:19 · Isa 48:18 · Jer 8:68×
Participle activeProv 1:24 · Prov 17:4 · Prov 29:12 · Song 8:134×
ImperfectIsa 42:23 · Jer 6:17 · Ps 10:173×
CohortativeJer 18:181×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
ImperfectIsa 32:31×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Active attention given to wicked speakers and falsehood
Ruler's receptiveness to lies from his servants and officials
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 46 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
קָשַׁב is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Qashab is morally shaped by its object. Chronicles, Isaiah, and Jeremiah call communities to attend to the Lord's message in settings of crisis, instruction, and warning. The summons is covenantal and text-governed; it does not give every religious speaker equal authority. Proverbs supplies the necessary negative evidence. Wrongdoers can listen carefully to malicious speech, and rulers can build corrupt administrations by rewarding lies.
Attentiveness without truth is not faithfulness. This distinction matters pastorally. A leader may demand that someone listen while controlling the room, withholding evidence, or punishing questions. Qashab does not sanctify that behavior. Faithful hearing tests claims, remembers the complete biblical witness, and notices whose testimony is being excluded. It also refuses ableist application.
Deafness, hearing loss, neurodivergence, trauma, translation needs, fatigue, or delayed response is not the prophetic refusal condemned in Jeremiah 6. Communities can embody attentive hearing through interpreters, captions, written material, quiet settings, repetition, and time to process. Leaders especially must welcome truthful correction and protect people who report wrongdoing.
The verb calls for directed attention, but wisdom asks whether the voice leads toward God's truth, justice, and covenant faithfulness or toward flattery, fear, and falsehood.
Anchor passage
Isa.51.4
Doctrinal connections
- The Lord's people are summoned to attend because instruction and justice proceed from His revealed rule.
- Prophetic listening includes response to warning rather than passive exposure to religious words.
- Wisdom literature shows that receptivity has no automatic moral value when its object is falsehood.
- A ruler's listening habits shape the truthfulness and conduct of the surrounding institution.
- God's word remains the governing authority by which human messages and claims are tested.
- Communal attentiveness should make room for truthful testimony, correction, and accessible participation.
Qashab is a Hebrew verb commonly appearing in the Hiphil with the sense of giving attention, listening closely, or inclining the ear. The speaker or object introduced in the clause identifies what receives attention.
From Old to New Testament
New Testament exhortations to hear, obey, test teaching, and reject deception use Greek listening and discernment vocabulary. Canonical comparison can connect responsive faith and tested speech without treating all hearing terms as lexical equivalents.