כּוֹכָב (H3556) — Hebrew Lexicon

כּוֹכָב

𐤊𐤅𐤊𐤁

kôwkâb

H3556 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A luminous celestial body, a star; used of individual stars, constellations, and the broader host of 'heavenly lights.' The term encompasses both physical and symbolic usages: physically, as astronomical bodies observable in the night sky; symbolically, as figures of prominence, status, or destiny (e.g., notable individuals, princes). Occasionally invoked metaphorically for numerousness or splendor.

Semantic Range

star (celestial body), individual star, constellation, stars collectively, symbolic for numerousness, figurative for notable person or leader, astral being, object of worship

Root / Etymology

The word כּוֹכָב (kokav) is usually derived from the triliteral root כוכב (root: כוכב), though the specific root is uncertain and may be onomatopoeic or related to notions of blazing or rolling, as suggested by associations with כָּבָה ('to extinguish') or כָּבּוֹן ('roundness'). No clear Semitic cognates exist, and some scholars consider the etymology uncertain. The noun form suggests a primary reference to a celestial object appearing as a luminous point.

Historical & Contextual Notes

כּוֹכָב appears throughout the Hebrew Bible in both poetic and prose contexts to denote individual stars (e.g. Genesis 1:16, Job 38:7), astral hosts (e.g. Deuteronomy 4:19), and constellations (Amos 5:26). Stars are associated with divine creation and order (e.g., Genesis 1:16), often invoked in similes for countlessness (Genesis 15:5, Ex. 32:13) or radiance. Figuratively, 'star' can denote distinguished persons (e.g., Numbers 24:17, where a 'star from Jacob' symbolizes a coming leader). Ancient Israelite cosmology saw stars as part of the heavenly hierarchy, often contrasted with sun and moon in enumerations (Genesis 1:16), and sometimes as objects of temptation for astral worship (Deuteronomy 17:3; 2 Kings 23:5). Later translations (e.g., LXX, Vulgate, KJV) maintain 'star,' but subsequent religious traditions ascribe theological meanings not present in the Hebrew text. In Second Temple and later literature, celestial bodies gained increasing association with angels or supernatural beings, but these developments are extraneous to the primary biblical usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "star" 37 occurrences

The primary and most natural English equivalent for כּוֹכָב is "star." This noun covers the physical sense (individual stars, the host of heaven, constellations) and the common figurative senses (prominent person, manyness, splendor). Using the singular base "star" allows consistent inflection to plural or possessive forms in the SIBI while remaining idiomatic and broadly accurate to the SILEX semantic range.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from the same as כַּבּוֹן (in the sense of rolling) or כָּוָה (in the sense of blazing); a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince; star(-gazer).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כוכב (k-w-k-b) — to shine, to glitter, to be prominent

Root כוכב to shine, to glitter, to be prominent

Word Forms

14 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H3556-04`	כְּ/כוֹכְבֵ֣י	kekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	as the stars	like stars of	like stars of	8
`H3556-02`	הַ/כּוֹכָבִֽים	hakokhavim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the stars	the stars	the stars	6
`H3556-14`	וְ/כוֹכָבִ֖ים	vekhokhavim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and stars	and shining stars	and stars	6
`H3556-07`	כּֽוֹכָבִ֔ים	kokhavim	`HNcmpa`	the stars	shining stars	stars	4
`H3556-08`	כּ֥וֹכְבֵי	kokhevey	`HNcmpc`	morning stars	stars of	stars of	3
`H3556-06`	כּוֹכָ֜ב	kokhav	`HNcmsa`	a star	shining star	shining star	2
`H3556-11`	לְ/כֽוֹכְבֵי	lekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	the stars of	to stars of	to the stars of	1
`H3556-01`	בַּ/כּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים	bakokhavim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	by the stars	in the stars	in the stars	1
`H3556-13`	וְ/הַ/כּוֹכָבִ֑ים	vehakokhavim	`HC/Td/Ncmpa`	and the stars	and the shining stars	and the stars	1
`H3556-03`	כַּ/כּוֹכָבִ֖ים	kakokhavim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	like the stars	stars	like the stars	1
`H3556-05`	כוֹכְבֵ֤י	khokhevey	`HNcmpc`	stars	stars of	stars of	1
`H3556-12`	מִ/כּוֹכְבֵ֖י	mikokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	than the stars	from stars of	than the stars	1
`H3556-10`	לַ/כּוֹכָבִ֑ים	lakokhavim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	of the stars	to the shining stars	to the shining stars	1
`H3556-09`	כֹּֽכְבֵי/הֶ֑ם	kokheveyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their-stars	their stars	their stars	1

Occurrences in Scripture

37 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H3556-02`	Genesis 1:16	הַ/כּוֹכָבִֽים	hakokhavim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the stars	the stars	the stars
`H3556-02`	Genesis 15:5	הַ/כּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים	hakokhavim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the stars	the stars	the stars
`H3556-04`	Genesis 22:17	כְּ/כוֹכְבֵ֣י	kekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	as the stars	like stars of	like stars of
`H3556-04`	Genesis 26:4	כְּ/כוֹכְבֵ֣י	kekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	as the stars	like stars of	like stars of
`H3556-07`	Genesis 37:9	כּֽוֹכָבִ֔ים	kokhavim	`HNcmpa`	stars	shining stars	stars
`H3556-04`	Exodus 32:13	כְּ/כוֹכְבֵ֖י	kekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	as the stars	like stars of	like stars of
`H3556-06`	Numbers 24:17	כּוֹכָ֜ב	kokhav	`HNcmsa`	a star	shining star	shining star
`H3556-04`	Deuteronomy 1:10	כְּ/כוֹכְבֵ֥י	kekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	like the stars	like stars of	like stars of
`H3556-02`	Deuteronomy 4:19	הַ/כּֽוֹכָבִ֗ים	hakokhavim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the stars	the stars	the stars
`H3556-04`	Deuteronomy 10:22	כְּ/כוֹכְבֵ֥י	kekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	as the stars	like stars of	like stars of
`H3556-04`	Deuteronomy 28:62	כְּ/כוֹכְבֵ֥י	kekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	as the stars of	like stars of	like stars of
`H3556-02`	Judges 5:20	הַ/כּֽוֹכָבִים֙	hakokhavim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the stars	the stars	the stars
`H3556-05`	Isaiah 13:10	כוֹכְבֵ֤י	khokhevey	`HNcmpc`	stars	stars of	stars of
`H3556-11`	Isaiah 14:13	לְ/כֽוֹכְבֵי	lekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	the stars of	to stars of	to the stars of
`H3556-01`	Isaiah 47:13	בַּ/כּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים	bakokhavim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	by the stars	in the stars	in the stars
`H3556-14`	Jeremiah 31:35	וְ/כוֹכָבִ֖ים	vekhokhavim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and-stars	and shining stars	and stars
`H3556-09`	Ezekiel 32:7	כֹּֽכְבֵי/הֶ֑ם	kokheveyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	their-stars	their stars	their stars
`H3556-14`	Joel 2:10	וְ/כוֹכָבִ֖ים	vekhokhavim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and stars	and shining stars	and stars
`H3556-14`	Joel 4:15	וְ/כוֹכָבִ֖ים	vekhokhavim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and-stars	and shining stars	and stars
`H3556-06`	Amos 5:26	כּוֹכַב֙	kokhav	`HNcmsc`	star	shining star	shining star
`H3556-07`	Obadiah 1:4	כּֽוֹכָבִ֖ים	kokhavim	`HNcmpa`	the stars	shining stars	the stars
`H3556-12`	Nahum 3:16	מִ/כּוֹכְבֵ֖י	mikokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	than the stars	from stars of	than the stars
`H3556-14`	Psalms 8:4	וְ֝/כוֹכָבִ֗ים	vekhokhavim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and stars	and shining stars	and stars
`H3556-14`	Psalms 136:9	וְ֭/כוֹכָבִים	vekhokhavim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and stars	and shining stars	and stars
`H3556-10`	Psalms 147:4	לַ/כּוֹכָבִ֑ים	lakokhavim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	of the stars	to the shining stars	to the shining stars
`H3556-08`	Psalms 148:3	כּ֥וֹכְבֵי	kokhevey	`HNcmpc`	stars	stars of	stars of
`H3556-08`	Job 3:9	כּוֹכְבֵ֪י	kokhevey	`HNcmpc`	stars of	stars of	stars of
`H3556-07`	Job 9:7	כּוֹכָבִ֣ים	kokhavim	`HNcmpa`	the stars	shining stars	stars
`H3556-07`	Job 22:12	כּוֹכָבִ֣ים	kokhavim	`HNcmpa`	of the stars	shining stars	stars
`H3556-14`	Job 25:5	וְ֝/כוֹכָבִ֗ים	vekhokhavim	`HC/Ncmpa`	and the stars	and shining stars	and stars
`H3556-08`	Job 38:7	כּ֣וֹכְבֵי	kokhevey	`HNcmpc`	morning stars	stars of	stars of
`H3556-13`	Ecclesiastes 12:2	וְ/הַ/כּוֹכָבִ֑ים	vehakokhavim	`HC/Td/Ncmpa`	and the stars	and the shining stars	and the stars
`H3556-02`	Daniel 8:10	הַ/כּוֹכָבִ֖ים	hakokhavim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	the stars	the stars	the stars
`H3556-03`	Daniel 12:3	כַּ/כּוֹכָבִ֖ים	kakokhavim	`HRd/Ncmpa`	like the stars	stars	like the stars
`H3556-02`	Nehemiah 4:15	הַ/כּוֹכָבִֽים	hakokhavim	`HTd/Ncmpa`	of the stars	the stars	the stars
`H3556-04`	Nehemiah 9:23	כְּ/כֹכְבֵ֖י	kekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	as the stars	like stars of	like stars of
`H3556-04`	1 Chronicles 27:23	כְּ/כוֹכְבֵ֥י	kekhokhevey	`HR/Ncmpc`	like the stars of	like stars of	like stars of

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