כָּבָה
to expire or (causatively) to extinguish (fire, light, anger)
Definition
The Hebrew verb כָּבָה (kâbâh) primarily means 'to go out' or 'to be extinguished,' describing the cessation of fire or light, as seen in Leviticus 6:12-13 regarding the altar fire. In a causative sense (Hiphil stem), it means 'to extinguish' or 'to quench,' such as putting out a literal fire or lamp (2 Samuel 21:17, Proverbs 31:18). Figuratively, it is applied to the 'extinguishing' of life or a family line—a metaphor for death or the end of a lineage—as in 2 Samuel 14:7 and 2 Kings 22:17. It can also describe the quenching of anger or wrath (Proverbs 15:18).
Biblical Usage
כָּבָה appears 24 times in the Old Testament, used in narrative, legal, and prophetic texts. Its literal usage is most common, pertaining to fire on the altar (Leviticus 6:12-13), lamps (1 Samuel 3:3), or torches (Judges 15:4-5). The figurative usage for the end of a life or family line is prominent in royal and prophetic contexts (2 Samuel 14:7, 2 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 34:25). The metaphorical sense of quenching strife or anger appears in wisdom literature (Proverbs 15:18, 26:20).
Etymology
A primitive root, its basic meaning relates to 'going out' or 'becoming faint.' Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic 'kabā' (to fade, decline) and Akkadian 'kabû' (to be extinguished). The core idea developed from the literal extinguishing of fire to metaphorical extensions like the end of life or emotion.
Semantic Range
This word carries theological weight in depicting God's judgment and the fragility of human life. Prophetic texts use it for the threatened 'extinguishing' of dynasties or nations due to disobedience (2 Kings 22:17), highlighting the seriousness of covenant failure. Conversely, its use for the perpetual altar fire (Leviticus 6:13) symbolizes God's enduring presence, making its potential extinguishing a grave concern. Understanding כָּבָה enriches reading by revealing how biblical authors used the concrete image of a dying flame to portray spiritual consequences.
In an ancient Near Eastern context reliant on oil lamps and open flames for light and sacrifice, the extinguishing of a fire had immediate practical and symbolic significance. A perpetually burning altar fire, as commanded in Leviticus, represented God's continual acceptance and presence; letting it go out was a serious ritual failure. The metaphor of a 'quenched' family line (the 'spark' or 'coal' left) would resonate in a culture deeply concerned with lineage and inheritance.
דָּעַךְ (dāʿak, H1846) — also means to go out/extinguish, but often with a nuance of fading or growing dim, used more for lamps. שָׁבַת (shābat, H7673) — means to cease/rest, a broader term for stopping activity, not specific to fire.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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