קֹבָה
𐤒𐤁𐤄
qôbâh
H6897 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A physical cavity or hollow part, specifically the belly or abdomen of a person or animal; can also refer more generally to the inner body cavity. In some contexts, may refer to a physical container or hollowed-out space, though primary use is anatomical.
Semantic Range
body cavity, belly, abdomen, hollow space (anatomical), inner cavity
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root קָבַב (qavav), 'to hollow out, pierce, curse,' indicating the idea of a hollow or empty space. The word קֹבָה (qôbâh) applies this sense to the body, particularly the 'belly' or 'abdomen,' as a natural hollow or cavity.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Usage of קֹבָה (qôbâh) is limited within the Hebrew Bible, occurring notably in Numbers 25:8 to describe the pierced belly of an offender. The term is more anatomical and concrete than other words for 'belly' such as בֶּטֶן (bēten), which can carry figurative senses such as 'womb.' In Israelite Hebrew, קֹבָה is not used euphemistically or poetically, in contrast to other terms related to the abdomen. Over time, it did not become a common general term for 'belly' or 'stomach.' English translations typically render it as 'belly' or 'abdomen,' which accurately reflects the physical sense but may not capture the specific anatomical focus of the Hebrew. Use of the term is restricted to narrative accounts and does not appear in cultic, legal, or poetic texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָבַב; the abdomen (as a cavity); belly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קבב (q-b-b) — to hollow out, pierce, make a hole
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6894 | קַב | the hollow measure-vessel |
| H6895 | קָבַב | to utter a curse |
| H6896 | קֵבָה | and the paunch |
| H6898 | קֻבָּה | the domed tent |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6897-01 |
קֳבָתָ֑/הּ | qovatah | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
her belly | her belly-cavity | her belly-cavity | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6897-01 |
Numbers 25:8 | קֳבָתָ֑/הּ | qovatah | HNcfsc/Sp3fs |
her belly | her belly-cavity | her belly-cavity |