Bible Word Study
קָבַל
qâbal · to admit, i.e. take (literally or figuratively)
קָבַל
to admit, i.e. take (literally or figuratively)
Definition
The Hebrew verb קָבַל (qâbal) fundamentally means 'to take, receive, or accept.' In its literal sense, it describes the physical act of taking or receiving something, such as receiving gold and silver (Ezra 8:30). Figuratively, it extends to accepting responsibility, as when David's men 'undertook' to help him (1 Chronicles 12:18), or to receiving a divine message, as when David 'received' the word of the prophet Gad (1 Chronicles 21:11). In some technical contexts, particularly in Exodus regarding the tabernacle construction, it refers to the joining or coupling of curtains (Exodus 26:5; 36:12).
Biblical Usage
קָבַל is used 12 times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, historical, and instructional contexts. It is found in Exodus (tabernacle instructions), Chronicles (historical narratives of David and Hezekiah), Ezra (post-exilic history), and Esther. A pattern emerges where it denotes accepting a task or role (1 Chronicles 12:18), receiving objects or messages (Ezra 8:30; 1 Chronicles 21:11), and performing a ritual or technical action (2 Chronicles 29:16, 22; Exodus 26:5).
Etymology
קָבַל is a primitive root. It is related to the Aramaic verb with the same spelling (קְבַל), which also means 'to receive.' This root is the basis for later Jewish Aramaic terms like 'qabbalah' (tradition, that which is received), highlighting the core idea of reception. The meaning developed from the concrete act of taking something in hand to more abstract concepts of acceptance and undertaking.
Semantic Range
This word is significant for understanding human response to God. It portrays the act of receiving from God, whether a prophetic word (1 Chronicles 21:11) or materials for His worship (Ezra 8:30). It also illustrates the human undertaking of divine service, as seen in the volunteers who joined David (1 Chronicles 12:18) and the Levites who purified the temple (2 Chronicles 29:16). Understanding qâbal enriches our view of faith as an active reception and undertaking of God's will and gifts. In its ancient Near Eastern context, 'receiving' (qâbal) often carried a formal or solemn connotation, especially when involving objects for religious use (Ezra 8:30) or messages from a prophet. The use in tabernacle construction (Exodus 26:5) reflects specific artisan terminology for joining materials, indicating a precise, skilled action undertaken for a sacred purpose. לָקַח (lāqaḥ, H3947) — a more general term for 'to take' or 'get,' without the specific nuance of reception or undertaking. נָשָׂא (nāśā', H5375) — often 'to lift, carry, or bear,' focusing on the action of bearing a load or responsibility, whereas qâbal focuses on the initial act of accepting it.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]