Bible Word Study
קִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה
Qibrôwth hat-Taʼă-vâh · Kibroth-hat-Taavh, a place in the Desert
קִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה
Kibroth-hat-Taavh, a place in the Desert
Definition
Kibroth-hat-Taavah is a proper noun meaning 'Graves of Craving' or 'Graves of Lust.' It was a location in the wilderness where the Israelites camped after departing Mount Sinai. The name commemorates a severe judgment from God, as recorded in Numbers 11:34-35, where many Israelites died and were buried there after craving meat and rejecting God's provision of manna. This site is listed in the itinerary of Israel's wilderness wanderings in Numbers 33:16-17 and is referenced again in Deuteronomy 9:22 as one of the places where the people provoked the Lord.
Biblical Usage
This place name is used exclusively in the context of Israel's wilderness journey in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy. It appears in historical narrative accounts of the event (Numbers 11:34-35) and in the summary list of camping sites (Numbers 33:16-17). Its final mention in Deuteronomy 9:22 serves as a reminder of Israel's pattern of rebellion. The usage consistently highlights it as a landmark of divine judgment for discontentment.
Etymology
The name is a compound Hebrew phrase. It combines the feminine plural construct of 'qeber' (H6913), meaning 'grave' or 'tomb,' with the noun 'ta'avah' (H8378), meaning 'craving,' 'desire,' or 'lust.' The definite article 'ha-' is attached to 'ta'avah.' Thus, it literally translates to 'the graves of the craving,' directly describing the event that occurred there.
Semantic Range
This name is theologically significant as a stark memorial to the dangers of discontentment and craving (lust) that rejects God's provision. It illustrates the serious consequences of grieving the Holy Spirit (as referenced in the context of Numbers 11) and serves as a warning against ingratitude and testing God. Understanding this Hebrew name enriches the reading of passages like 1 Corinthians 10:6, where this event is cited as an example for believers. In ancient Near Eastern culture, place names often commemorated significant historical events. Naming a location 'Graves of Craving' permanently etched a moral lesson into the geography itself, serving as a powerful, generations-long reminder of a national failure. This differs from modern place names, which are often merely descriptive or honorific. qeber (H6913) — The root word for 'grave' or 'tomb.' ta'avah (H8378) — The root word for 'craving' or 'lust.'
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]