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כָּבֵד

𐤊𐤁𐤃

kâbêd

H3516 noun

SILEX Entry

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

Definition

Liver, the internal organ of the body, considered in ancient times to be the seat of emotions, particularly of heaviness, grief, or inner affections. In anatomical contexts, refers specifically to the physical organ; in poetic or symbolic usage, may indicate the inner self or emotional state, analogous to the modern concept of 'heart' as the locus of feelings.

Semantic Range

liver (anatomical organ), seat of emotion (figurative usage), inner being (in poetic contexts); sorrow, grief (metaphorical extension)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew root כבד (K-B-D), which primarily means 'to be heavy, weighty, honored.' The noun כָּבֵד (kâbêd) in this context refers to the organ considered 'heavy' among the internal organs. The meaning of the internal organ 'liver' is a specialized development from the root idea of 'heaviness.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Hebrew culture, the liver (כָּבֵד) was often identified as the heaviest and one of the most significant internal organs, associated with the innermost emotions and sensations, much as the heart or kidneys are in other contexts. Its physical function was less important in Hebrew thought than its symbolic role as a seat of emotion or psychological experience, especially grief or sorrow (see Lamentations 2:11, where 'liver is poured out'). In ritual contexts (e.g., sacrificial regulations in Exodus, Leviticus), the liver is specified as part of the animal offerings. While most modern English translations render כָּבֵד simply as 'liver,' the symbolic or emotional dimension is often lost. The root is also used for the verb 'to be heavy' and as an adjective 'weighty, honored,' but this noun form is anatomically distinct, though related in concept to the idea of heaviness as significance or gravity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as כָּבֵד; the liver (as the heaviest of the viscera); liver.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כבד (k-b-d) — heaviness, weightiness, honor, burden

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3513 כָּבַד I will make weighty
H3514 כֹּבֶד heaviness of
H3515 כָּבֵד the liver
H3517 כְּבֵדֻת heaviness
H3519 כָּבוֹד in weighty honor

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3516-02 הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד hakaved HTd/Ncfsa liver the liver 11
H3516-01 בַּ/כָּבֵֽד bakaved HRd/Ncfsa in the liver in the liver 1
H3516-03 כְּבֵדִ֔/י kevedi HNcfsc/Sp1cs my liver my liver 1
H3516-04 כְּֽבֵד֗/וֹ kevedo HNcfsc/Sp3ms his liver his liver 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3516-02 Exodus 29:13 הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד hakaved HTd/Ncfsa the liver the liver
H3516-02 Exodus 29:22 הַ/כָּבֵד֙ hakaved HTd/Ncfsa of the liver the liver
H3516-02 Leviticus 3:4 הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד hakaved HTd/Ncfsa liver the liver
H3516-02 Leviticus 3:10 הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד hakaved HTd/Ncfsa liver the liver
H3516-02 Leviticus 3:15 הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד hakaved HTd/Ncfsa liver the liver
H3516-02 Leviticus 4:9 הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד hakaved HTd/Ncfsa liver the liver
H3516-02 Leviticus 7:4 הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד hakaved HTd/Ncfsa the liver the liver
H3516-02 Leviticus 8:16 הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד hakaved HTd/Ncfsa of the liver the liver
H3516-02 Leviticus 8:25 הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד hakaved HTd/Ncfsa of the liver the liver
H3516-02 Leviticus 9:10 הַ/כָּבֵד֙ hakaved HTd/Ncfsa the liver the liver
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