כָּבַשׁ
𐤊𐤁𐤔
kâbash
H3533 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To subdue, bring under control, or dominate, especially by force or strength; to bring into subjection. In biblical usage, כָּבַשׁ (kâbash) most often refers to the act of subduing territory, peoples, or other entities, either through military conquest or exercised dominion. It can also carry the nuance of making something subject to one’s authority or control, and is sometimes used for oppressing or violating, depending on context.
Semantic Range
to subdue, bring into subjection, conquer, take possession of, dominate, suppress, oppress, violate
Root / Etymology
Root: כבש. The root meaning is 'to subdue, to bring into bondage, to dominate.' The verb כָּבַשׁ is a direct derivation from this root, describing the action of bringing something or someone under one’s authority or dominion. The root is not directly connected to Hebrew words for 'treading' or 'walking,' as sometimes inferred by older sources; instead, it centers on the concept of exerting control or dominion, whether over land, people, or situations.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the earliest biblical context (Genesis 1:28), כָּבַשׁ refers to humankind’s commission to control or manage the earth, with a focus on authority rather than exploitation or violence. In military or political narratives (e.g., Numbers 32:22, 29; 2 Chronicles 28:10), it describes the conquest or subjugation of peoples and lands, frequently by force. The connotation of oppression emerges especially in prophetic and later writings, where subjugation can imply unjust domination. While related terms like רָדָה ('to rule, have dominion') may emphasize legitimate governance, כָּבַשׁ often has a stronger sense of aggressive subjugation. English translations sometimes render it with terms such as 'subdue', 'bring into subjection', or 'conquer', but can obscure the breadth of the term, especially its non-military uses in Genesis. In post-biblical Hebrew, the root develops additional, sometimes more neutral senses, such as 'to suppress'. The word is distinct from roots like לחם (to fight) or יַרַשׁ (to possess, inherit), which focus on battle or legal transfer rather than active subjugation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to tread down; hence, negatively, to disregard; positively, to conquer, subjugate, violate; bring into bondage, force, keep under, subdue, bring into subjection.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כבש (k-b-sh) — to subdue, to bring under control, to dominate
Word Forms
12 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3533-10 |
וְ/נִכְבְּשָׁ֨ה | venikhebeshah | HC/VNq3fs |
and is subdued | and she was subdued | 3 |
H3533-03 |
לִ/כְבּ֧וֹשׁ | likhebosh | HR/Vqc |
to-force | to subdue | 2 |
H3533-01 |
כֹ֠בְשִׁים | khoveshim | HVqrmpa |
subjugating | subduers | 1 |
H3533-07 |
וַֽ/יִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּ/ם | vayikhebeshum | HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp |
and they subdued them | they subdued them | 1 |
H3533-12 |
יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ | yikhebosh | HVqi3ms |
He will subdue | he will subdue | 1 |
H3533-05 |
נִכְבְּשָׁ֖ה | nikhebeshah | HVNp3fs |
was subdued | was subdued | 1 |
H3533-06 |
וַ/תִּכְבְּשׁ֣וּ | vatikhebeshu | HC/Vqw2mp |
and you brought into subjection | and you subdued | 1 |
H3533-08 |
וְ/כָֽבְשׁוּ֙ | vekhaveshu | HC/Vqp3cp |
and shall tread down | and they subdued | 1 |
H3533-02 |
כִּבֵּֽשׁ | kibesh | HVpp3ms |
he had subdued | he forcefully subdued | 1 |
H3533-04 |
נִכְבָּשׁוֹת֙ | nikhebashot | HVNsfpa |
having been subjugated | subdued ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
15 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3533-09 |
Genesis 1:28 | וְ/כִבְשֻׁ֑/הָ | vekhiveshuha | HC/Vqv2mp/Sp3fs |
and subdue it | subdue her |
H3533-10 |
Numbers 32:22 | וְ/נִכְבְּשָׁ֨ה | venikhebeshah | HC/VNq3fs |
and-the-land-is-subdued | and she was subdued |
H3533-10 |
Numbers 32:29 | וְ/נִכְבְּשָׁ֥ה | venikhebeshah | HC/VNq3fs |
and is subdued | and she was subdued |
H3533-05 |
Joshua 18:1 | נִכְבְּשָׁ֖ה | nikhebeshah | HVNp3fs |
was subdued | was subdued |
H3533-02 |
2 Samuel 8:11 | כִּבֵּֽשׁ | kibesh | HVpp3ms |
he had subdued | he forcefully subdued |
H3533-11 |
Jeremiah 34:11 | ו/יכבישו/ם | vykhvyshvm | HC/Vhw3mp/Sp3mp |
and-subdued-them | and they brought them into subjection |
H3533-07 |
Jeremiah 34:11 | וַֽ/יִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּ/ם | vayikhebeshum | HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3mp |
and they subdued them | they subdued them |
H3533-06 |
Jeremiah 34:16 | וַ/תִּכְבְּשׁ֣וּ | vatikhebeshu | HC/Vqw2mp |
and you brought into subjection | and you subdued |
H3533-12 |
Micah 7:19 | יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ | yikhebosh | HVqi3ms |
He will subdue | he will subdue |
H3533-08 |
Zechariah 9:15 | וְ/כָֽבְשׁוּ֙ | vekhaveshu | HC/Vqp3cp |
and shall tread down | and they subdued |