qa.las denotes acting in contempt toward someone, as in taunts against a person, a city, or kings.

The attested use is contemptuous mockery directed against persons or a city: boys address taunts to a man, those near and far mock a city, and an aggressor mocks kings; Ezekiel also uses the term in a clause concerning a prostitute and payment.

1. Contemptuous taunting or mockery · dominant

   In 2 Kings 2:23, the Hithpael sequential imperfect occurs as young boys address repeated taunts to him; the APB renders the action “mocked him.” In Ezekiel 22:5, the Hithpael imperfect describes those near and far acting against the city, while Habakkuk 1:10 uses the Hithpael imperfect of contempt toward kings; the APB renders both clauses with “mock.” Ezekiel 16:31 has a Piel infinitive construct in the comparison involving a prostitute and payment, where the APB likewise renders the clause “mocks at payment.”

   2 Kings 2:23Ezekiel 16:31Ezekiel 22:5Habakkuk 1:10

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB uses “mocked” or “mock” in 2 Kings 2:23, Ezekiel 22:5, and Habakkuk 1:10, and “mocks at payment” in Ezekiel 16:31. These renderings confirm the clauses' overall presentation rather than establish every nuance of the Hebrew term.