כֹּבֶד
weight, multitude, vehemence
Definition
The Hebrew noun כֹּבֶד (kôbed) primarily denotes 'weight' or 'heaviness,' both in a literal and figurative sense. In Proverbs 27:3, it describes the literal 'weight' of a stone or sand, used metaphorically for the unbearable 'heaviness' of a fool's provocation. It extends to signify a 'multitude' or 'great number,' as seen in Nahum 3:3, which speaks of the 'multitude' of slain bodies. Finally, it conveys 'vehemence' or 'fierceness,' particularly of divine judgment, as in Isaiah 30:27, describing the 'fierceness' of God's anger.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only four times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic books. It is used in three distinct contexts: for metaphorical weight (Proverbs 27:3), for a large, overwhelming number (Nahum 3:3; Isaiah 21:15), and for the intense, burning quality of divine wrath (Isaiah 30:27). Its usage is always weighty and impactful, describing things that are burdensome, overwhelming, or severe.
Etymology
כֹּבֶד is a noun derived from the root verb כָּבַד (kābad, H3513), which means 'to be heavy, weighty, or honored.' This root connects physical heaviness with concepts of importance, glory, and severity. The noun form retains this core idea of 'heaviness,' which then branches into the abstract meanings of multitude and intensity.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects to the 'weightiness' or 'gravity' of God's nature and actions. In Isaiah 30:27, it describes the 'fierceness' of His coming judgment, a manifestation of His holy and overwhelming power. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by revealing that God's judgment is not a light matter but carries immense, consequential weight. It also links to the related concept of 'glory' (כָּבוֹד, kābôd), which shares the same root, showing that God's majesty and His severe justice are both aspects of His profound 'heaviness' or importance.
In ancient Israelite culture, physical weight was a direct measure of value and substance (e.g., precious metals were weighed). Therefore, כֹּבֶד's metaphorical use for importance, severity, or multitude would have been intuitively understood. A 'heavy' matter was one of great consequence, and a 'heavy' multitude was an overwhelming force, concepts deeply felt in their agrarian and often militarily threatened society.
מִשְׂקָל (mishqāl, H4948) — specifically a measured weight or shekel. כָּבוֹד (kābôd, H3519) — glory, honor, from the same root but focusing on splendor and reputation. רֹב (rōb, H7230) — multitude, abundance, a more general term for a large number.
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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