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כָּבֵד

𐤊𐤁𐤃

kâbêd

H3515 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root כבד to be heavy, to be honored, to be burdensome

Definition

To be heavy, weighty—both in a physical and abstract sense. The word can denote literal heaviness or weight, but more commonly, it expresses being heavy in importance, honor, or significance, and sometimes, in a negative sense, burdensome, oppressive, or dull. In the intensive (pi‘el) and causative (hiph‘il) stems, can mean to honor or make glorious, or to make heavy (burdensome).

Semantic Range

to be physically heavy, to be honored or distinguished, to be weighty in importance, to be oppressive or burdensome, to be slow or dull, to be grievous, to be severe, to be hardened (of heart)

Root / Etymology

Root: כָּבַד (k-v-d), whose core sense is 'to be heavy, weighty'. כָּבֵד is the qal stem adjective or verb form derived from this root, denoting the quality or condition of heaviness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כָּבֵד in its qal form often describes literal heaviness (e.g., Eli the priest was כָּבֵד, 'heavy,' 1 Samuel 4:18). More significantly, it developed wide abstract usage, denoting weightiness in terms of social honor or seriousness (e.g., honoring parents; cf. pi‘el 'to honor'). When negative, it connotes burdensome, oppressive, or stubborn qualities (as in Pharaoh's 'hardened' heart—his heart was 'heavy' or unyielding). English translations vary—sometimes rendering it as 'heavy,' 'burdensome,' 'grievous,' or as 'honor'/'glory' in the intensified stems. In later periods, the semantic field shifts somewhat toward the abstract, with less focus on mere physicality. It contrasts with roots denoting lightness or ease (e.g., קַל). 'Jew' or 'Jewish' terminology does not arise in texts using this root. Care is needed: the term 'hardened' in English can mislead if disconnecting from the Hebrew imagery of heaviness. The root also stands behind the important noun כָּבוֹד (kabod), 'glory' or 'honor,' though this has a distinct lexical history.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from כָּבַד; heavy; figuratively in a good sense (numerous) or in a bad sense (severe, difficult, stupid); (so) great, grievous, hard(-ened), (too) heavy(-ier), laden, much, slow, sore, thick.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כבד (k-b-d) — to be heavy, weighty, honored, burdensome

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3513 כָּבַד I will make weighty
H3514 כֹּבֶד heaviness of
H3516 כָּבֵד in the liver
H3517 כְּבֵדֻת heaviness
H3519 כָּבוֹד in weighty honor

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3515-02 כָּבֵ֥ד kaved HAamsa great heavy, weighty 21
H3515-05 כָבֵ֥ד khaved HAamsa heavy weighty 7
H3515-01 הַ/כָּבֵ֖ד hakaved HTd/Aamsa heavy the liver 3
H3515-08 וְ/כָבֵ֖ד vekhaved HC/Aamsa and heavy weighty 2
H3515-09 וְ/כִבְדֵ֥י vekhivedey HC/Aampc and heavy and weighty ones of 2
H3515-03 כֶּ֣בֶד keved HAamsc laden heavy 1
H3515-04 כְּבֵדִ֔ים kevedim HAampa heavy weighty ones 1
H3515-06 כְבַד khevad HAamsc slow of heavy-of 1
H3515-07 וּ/כְבַ֥ד ukhevad HC/Aamsc and slow of heavy of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3515-05 Genesis 12:10 כָבֵ֥ד khaved HAamsa severe weighty
H3515-05 Genesis 41:31 כָבֵ֥ד khaved HAamsa it will be severe weighty
H3515-02 Genesis 43:1 כָּבֵ֥ד kaved HAamsa was severe heavy, weighty
H3515-05 Genesis 47:4 כָבֵ֥ד khaved HAamsa severe weighty
H3515-05 Genesis 47:13 כָבֵ֥ד khaved HAamsa was heavy weighty
H3515-02 Genesis 50:9 כָּבֵ֥ד kaved HAamsa very heavy, weighty
H3515-08 Genesis 50:10 וְ/כָבֵ֖ד vekhaved HC/Aamsa and very weighty
H3515-02 Genesis 50:11 כָּבֵ֥ד kaved HAamsa grievous heavy, weighty
H3515-06 Exodus 4:10 כְבַד khevad HAamsc slow of heavy-of
H3515-07 Exodus 4:10 וּ/כְבַ֥ד ukhevad HC/Aamsc and slow of heavy of
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