Bible Dictionary: Terms Beginning with Q

Exploring biblical terms starting with "Q" reveals themes of seeking God, quality of character, the quietness that comes from trusting in the Lord, and God's questioning that leads to deeper understanding. Here's your comprehensive guide to essential biblical vocabulary.

Major Biblical Figures

Queen of Sheba Ruler who traveled to Jerusalem to test Solomon's wisdom with hard questions, overwhelmed by his knowledge and wealth, bringing spices and gold.

Queen Athaliah Wicked daughter of Ahab and Jezebel who seized Judah's throne by murdering royal descendants, ruled six years before execution.

Queen Candace Ethiopian monarch whose treasurer Philip evangelized on Gaza road, leading to his baptism and Christianity spreading to Africa.

Queen Esther Jewish orphan raised by Mordecai who became Persian queen and courageously interceded to save Jews from Haman's genocide plot.

Queen Jezebel Phoenician princess married to Ahab who promoted Baal worship, murdered Naboth for his vineyard, died violently as Elijah prophesied.

Queen Vashti Persian queen deposed by Ahasuerus for refusing to parade before drunken officials, opening throne for Esther.

Quartus Christian brother in Corinth who joined Paul in sending greetings to Roman church, member of early fellowship.

Quirinius Roman governor of Syria during census when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling Micah's prophecy about Messiah's birthplace.

Central Theological Terms

Quicken To make alive or give life. God quickens the dead; Holy Spirit quickens those dead in trespasses to newness of life.

Quickening Divine act of giving spiritual life to the dead soul, regeneration by the Spirit bringing salvation and eternal life.

Quickening Spirit Life-giving power of Holy Spirit who raised Christ from death and will resurrect believers, imparting eternal vitality.

Quiet State of peace and tranquility in trusting God. Believers should lead quiet godly lives; strength comes through quietness and confidence.

Quietness Calm trust in God's provision replacing anxiety and striving. Better is handful with quietness than both hands full with toil.

Quiet Spirit Gentle and peaceful disposition precious to God, inner beauty surpassing outward adornment, especially commended in believing women.

Question Inquiry seeking knowledge or testing understanding. God questioned Job; Jesus answered questions with divine wisdom and counter-questions.

Quick (Living) Being alive rather than dead. Word of God is quick and powerful; Christ judges both quick and dead at His return.

Quench To extinguish or suppress. Believers must not quench the Holy Spirit's work; many waters cannot quench love's flame.

Quest Earnest search or spiritual pursuit. Wise men's quest for the King; believers seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness.

Places and Regions

Quarries of Gilgal Stone pits near Gilgal where Ehud turned back after delivering tribute to King Eglon, site of carved idols.

Biblical Objects and Symbols

Quail Small migratory birds God provided as meat for complaining Israelites in wilderness, demonstrating both provision and judgment for ingratitude.

Quarry Place where stones are extracted and cut. Solomon's temple stones were fully quarried and shaped before delivery, maintaining sacred silence during construction.

Quiver Leather case worn for carrying arrows in warfare or hunting. Children are heritage from the Lord like arrows in warrior's quiver.

Queen's Crown Royal diadem symbolizing authority and honor. Ahasuerus offered Vashti's crown to Esther; bride is husband's crown of glory.

Additional Theological Concepts

Quarrel Dispute or contention between parties. Beginning of quarrels is like breaching dam; wisdom avoids unnecessary quarrels over trifles.

Quarrelsome Contentious disposition eager for disputes. Quarrelsome wife is like constant dripping; elders must not be quarrelsome but gentle.

Qualify To make fit or competent for purpose. Father has qualified believers to share in saints' inheritance through Christ's redemption.

Quality Essential character or nature of something. Each person's work quality will be tested by fire on judgment day.

Quantity Amount or measure of something. God provides quality of relationship over quantity of sacrifices; widow's small quantity worth more than large sums.

Quake To tremble or shake violently. Mountains quaked at God's presence on Sinai; earth quaked when Christ died and rose.

Quarantine Isolation period for those with leprosy or ceremonial uncleanness, protecting community while allowing time for healing and restoration.

Queen Female monarch or king's wife. Several queens influenced Israel's history both positively like Esther and negatively like Jezebel and Athaliah.

Queen Mother King's mother holding significant court influence in ancient Near East. Bathsheba became queen mother when Solomon reigned.

Queen of Heaven False goddess worshiped by apostate Israelites in Jeremiah's time, likely referring to Babylonian deity Ishtar condemned by prophets.

Questioning God Human inquiry into divine purposes, sometimes acceptable like Abraham's intercession, sometimes presumptuous like Israel's wilderness complaints.

Questions of Jesus Teaching method Christ employed to provoke thought, expose hearts, and lead to self-discovery of truth and personal conviction.

Quick to Hear Readiness to listen before speaking, mark of wisdom. Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Quick to Speak Hasty speech without listening, characteristic of folly. Even fool appears wise when keeping silent rather than quick to speak.

Quicksands Dangerous shifting sands or metaphor for unstable foundations. Paul's ship feared running aground on Syrtis quicksands near Africa.

Quietness of Faith Confident rest in God's promises without anxious striving, demonstrated by those who wait patiently upon the Lord's deliverance.

Quietness of Trust Peace that surpasses understanding, resting in God's sovereignty when circumstances appear chaotic, mark of mature faith.

Quit Yourselves Like Men Exhortation to act courageously and maturely. Paul urged Corinthians to be courageous and strong in faith battles.

Quiver Full Blessed state of having many children as heritage from the Lord. Man with full quiver faces enemies confidently at the gate.

More Key Figures

Quartus the Brother Believer in Corinth identified as "brother" by Paul, greeted Romans alongside Erastus the city treasurer and others.

Queen Maacah Mother of King Asa who made abominable idol for Asherah, removed from position as queen mother for promoting idolatry.

Queen Nehushta Mother of King Jehoiachin who went into Babylonian exile with her son, daughter of Elnathan from Jerusalem.

Queen Zeresh Haman's wife who advised building gallows for Mordecai, later warned her husband about Jewish triumph being certain.

Biblical Practices and Events

Quest for Wisdom Solomon's request for wisdom above riches, pleasing God who granted both. Believers should seek wisdom above earthly treasures.

Quest for the Messiah Wise men's journey following star to worship newborn King, representing Gentiles' search for salvation through Christ.

Question and Answer Teaching Rabbinic method Jesus employed, using questions to challenge assumptions, reveal truth, and guide students to discover wisdom personally.

Questioning Faith Honest doubts bringing believers to deeper understanding, like Thomas's questions leading to profound confession of Christ's deity.

Quietness Before God Contemplative posture of listening and waiting on the Lord, contrasting worldly noise with sacred stillness before divine presence.

Quenching Thirst God's provision for physical and spiritual needs. Christ offers living water quenching eternal thirst; believers never thirst again spiritually.

Quenching Fiery Darts Shield of faith extinguishing enemy's accusations and temptations, protecting believers in spiritual warfare against demonic attacks.