Bible Dictionary
Churl
Churl in Scripture describes a crafty or miserly person, while churlish describes someone harsh, rough, or ill-natured. Nabal is an example of the latter character.
Definition
In Isaiah, churl refers to a crafty or possibly miserly person. In the description of Nabal, churlish means hard, rough, severe, coarse, or ill-natured.
Biblical Usage
Isaiah uses the term for a character opposed to the noble person. Nabal is described as churlish because of his rough and ill-mannered character.
Historical Background
The English word came to be associated with a boorish person because “churl” originally referred to the lowest order of freemen in Saxon society.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
In Isa. 32:5 (R.V. marg., “crafty”), means a deceiver. In 1 Sam. 25:3, the word churlish denotes a man that is coarse and ill-natured, or, as the word literally means, “hard.” The same Greek word as used by the LXX. here is found in Matt. 25:24, and there is rendered “hard.”
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>churl (kilay or kelay): The Hebrew word occurs only in Isa 32:5,7, in the latter verse in a form slightly modified so as to produce a pleasing assonance with the word immediately following. The word probably means "crafty" or "miserly," both ideas being suitable to the context, though "miserly" accords with the setting in Isa somewhat better.</p><p>In 1Sa 25:3 the Hebrew qasheh which means "hard," "severe," "rough," is rendered "churlish." In Saxon, churl, as the name for the lowest order of freemen, came to be used of persons boorish in manner. The rough and ill-mannered Nabal is aptly described as churlish.</p><p>John Richard Sampey</p>