קָבַר
to inter
Definition
The Hebrew verb קָבַר (qâbar) means 'to bury' or 'to inter.' It refers to the act of placing a deceased body in a grave, tomb, or other burial place, as seen in the burial of Sarah in Genesis 23:19. The word can also carry a figurative sense of being covered or hidden, such as in the concept of being 'buried' in the depths of the sea (Exodus 14:11) or, negatively, of being forgotten or consigned to oblivion (Psalm 79:3). In some contexts, it implies the completion of the mourning process and the proper care for the dead.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used over 120 times in the Old Testament, primarily in narrative books like Genesis, where burial is a significant cultural and familial duty (e.g., Abraham's purchase of a burial plot in Genesis 23). It appears in legal contexts regarding corpse impurity (e.g., Numbers 19:16) and in prophetic or poetic literature, sometimes metaphorically. A pattern is the emphasis on honorable burial, as opposed to being left unburied, which was considered a curse (e.g., Jeremiah 22:19).
Etymology
A primitive root, קָבַר is the base verb for burial. It is related to the noun קֶבֶר (qeber, H6913) meaning 'grave' or 'tomb.' Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, with similar meanings related to digging or burying, indicating a common ancient Near Eastern concept for interment.
Semantic Range
Proper burial in the Hebrew Bible is deeply tied to honor, covenant promise, and hope. Being gathered to one's ancestors in burial, as with Abraham (Genesis 25:8), is connected to inheritance and rest. Denial of burial is a severe divine judgment. The act also relates to human dignity and the belief that the body, as part of God's creation, deserves respect, foreshadowing concepts of resurrection hope.
In ancient Israelite culture, burial was a sacred family obligation, not a professional service. It typically involved placing the body in a family tomb, cave, or hewn chamber, often with grave goods. Prompt burial was important due to climate and ritual purity laws. The purchase of a burial site, as in Genesis 23, signified permanent landholding and legacy. Being left unburied was a profound dishonor and sign of divine rejection.
שָׂכַן (sâkan, H7931) — to dwell or reside; sometimes used for 'lying down' in death, but focuses on habitation rather than interment. טָמַן (ṭâman, H2934) — to hide or conceal; can mean to bury treasure or hide something, but not typically used for human burial. קָבַר is the specific, standard term for burying the dead.
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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