kh-w-r

Description

The Arabic root خور (kh-w-r) conveys the core meaning of emitting a hollow, low-pitched sound, particularly the lowing or bellowing of cattle. In the Quran, it appears specifically in reference to the golden calf fashioned during Moses' absence, describing the hollow sound it made when wind passed through it (Surah Ta-Ha 20:88 and Al-A'raf 7:148). This acoustic detail emphasizes the calf's lifelessness and artificiality, serving as a Quranic critique of idol worship by highlighting that this object of worship could only produce an empty, meaningless sound rather than possess any divine qualities or ability to communicate.