All the possible meanings of the word “kol” are basically one: making a sound. Voice, sound and noise are audible by nature. When we vote we actually translate our voice of either support or protest into an action.
The word for a loud and vulgar person is “ko-la-ni.” (kind of “voicey,” if there were such a word in English).
The basic form of voice is carrying the human attribute that is unique to each one of us:
“And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, is this your voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king”
Other occurrences of “kol” in the Bible are attributed to the voice of God or to objects and natural phenomena that are meant to cause awe and to show the greatness of God:
“Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?”
“These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice…”
“and when you hear the sound of the shofar, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat…”
“When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices”
“Kol” is used to express emotions:
“And all the country wept with a loud voice…”
“and the king cried with a loud voice”
“the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride…”
“Kol” is part of the expression that means complete silence: “ein kol ve-ein o-ne” (no voice and no answer).
“But there was no voice, nor any who answered…”
Another “kol” that we witness often in the Bible is a voice from heaven:
“Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ’This is my beloved Son…’”
Perhaps the most supernatural manifestation of voice happens at the foot of Mount Sinai. Check in your Bible the text in Exodus 20:18. The English translation in most Bible versions somewhat deviates from the exact Hebrew wording, which says: “And all the people saw the voices… .” But even the English is quite supernatural: “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the sound of the shofar….”
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