כָּמַס
𐤊𐤌𐤎
kâmaç
H3647 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cover over or hide something by storing it away, often with the implication of keeping it safe, concealed, or preserved. In some contexts, can mean to reserve or set aside for future use, and figuratively, to remember or keep in mind something as if hidden within.
Semantic Range
to cover over so as to hide, to store away, to conceal (information or objects), to lay aside for future use, to treasure up in memory (figuratively), to reserve
Root / Etymology
From the root כמס (k-m-s), which conveys the sense of covering, hiding, or concealing. Though the precise derivation within Semitic languages is uncertain, the root is consistently associated with the idea of storing away or hiding something from plain sight.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical context, כָּמַס appears rarely and only in poetic passages. Usage indicates not just mundane storage, but conveys the act of intentionally covering, concealing, or safeguarding, with both positive (protection, preservation) and negative (hoarding, secretiveness) nuances depending on context. In Job 10:13, it takes on a figurative sense of storing up thoughts or intentions, hinting at hidden motives or knowledge. The verb is distinct from related terms such as צָפַן (ṣāpan, 'to hide, store up, treasure'), which more often references the act of treasuring or keeping something precious. In later Hebrew periods, kāmaṣ is not widely attested, and its meaning does not substantially shift. Modern English translations vary between 'hide,' 'store up,' and 'lay up,' which may obscure the specific sense of concealed or protected storage inherent in the term. The theological or doctrinal weight placed on 'memory' in some translations reflects later interpretation rather than original nuance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to store away, i.e. (figuratively) in the memory; lay up in store.
Bantu Hebrew
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כמס (k-m-s) — cover, conceal, store away
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3647-01 |
כָּמֻ֣ס | kamus | HVqsmsa |
stored up | hidden-away | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3647-01 |
Deuteronomy 32:34 | כָּמֻ֣ס | kamus | HVqsmsa |
stored up | hidden-away |