כֶּשֶׂב

כֶּשֶׂב

a young sheep

Definition

The Hebrew noun כֶּשֶׂב (keseb) refers specifically to a young sheep, typically a lamb. It denotes a small, immature member of the flock, often contrasted with older sheep or goats, as seen in the separation of flocks in Genesis 30:32-40. In the Levitical law, it designates a permissible sacrificial animal, particularly for burnt offerings (Leviticus 1:10) and sin offerings (Leviticus 4:35). The term consistently implies a domesticated animal suitable for pastoral life and religious ritual.

Biblical Usage

כֶּשֶׂב is used exclusively in narrative and legal contexts in the Pentateuch (Genesis and Leviticus). In Genesis 30, it appears repeatedly in Jacob's breeding agreement with Laban, describing the speckled and spotted young sheep that would become Jacob's wages. In Leviticus, it is used in sacrificial instructions, specifying the type of animal to be offered for various offerings (e.g., Leviticus 3:7, 7:23). The usage is concrete and zoological, without extended metaphorical application in its occurrences.

Etymology

The word כֶּשֶׂב (keseb) is considered a transposed or variant form of the more common Hebrew word for lamb, כֶּבֶשׂ (kebes, H3532). Both words share the same root (כ-ב-שׂ) and core meaning. This kind of consonant metathesis (switching the 'b' and 's' sounds) is a known phenomenon in Semitic languages. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian, pointing to a common ancient term for a young sheep.

Semantic Range

As a designated sacrificial animal in the Mosaic law, כֶּשֶׂב is theologically significant. It represents innocence, purity, and substitution—qualities that prefigure the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the 'Lamb of God' (John 1:29). Understanding that the sacrificial system required specific, unblemished animals like the keseb deepens appreciation for the precision of God's holiness and the cost of atonement, enriching the typological reading of the Old Testament. In ancient Israel's pastoral-agrarian society, a keseb was a valuable economic asset, representing food, wool, and wealth. Its selection for sacrifice meant a tangible economic cost to the worshipper, making the offering a genuine act of devotion. The animal's youth and tenderness also made it a prized source of meat. This contrasts with a modern, often sentimental view of lambs, reminding us of the integrated role of livestock in daily life and worship. כֶּבֶשׂ (kebes, H3532) — The more frequent term for lamb, essentially synonymous but used in a wider range of contexts. שֶׂה (seh, H7716) — A broader term for a sheep or goat of any age, often used in collective or generic senses. טָלֶה (taleh, H2922) — Specifically a young lamb or suckling, emphasizing its youth and dependency.

Word Details