H3526 כָּבַס kâbaç → Root
5 languagesRoot of the כבס kâbaç family (1 member).
To wash textiles thoroughly, particularly by vigorous means such as trampling or beating—the standard method of cleaning cloth in the ancient Near East; by extension, to cause to become clean or purified. The verb commonly signifies laundering garments, especially in preparation for ritual or social occasions, and can carry the nuance of ritual purification in certain literary contexts.
Etymology
Root is כ-ב-ס (כָּבַס), denoting the action of washing or cleansing, particularly of fabrics. The root reflects a process of forceful washing, traditionally achieved by trampling or agitating textiles in water. The development of the verb may relate to the physical process of treading on garments to clean them.