כָּאַב (ka.av)
ka.av
to pain
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb ka’av describes a state of being in pain or sorrow, covering both physical discomfort and deep mental anguish. In the Old Testament, it appears in five verses, often highlighting the human experience of suffering. For instance, Job uses it to express his profound distress, while Proverbs employs it to illustrate the consequences of foolish speech that causes hurt.
This word carries a dual nuance: it can refer to literal bodily pain or the emotional weight of grief. The Hiphil stem extends this meaning to active causation, describing actions that cause pain or mar something’s integrity. This versatility allows the text to connect physical injury with relational harm, showing how words or deeds can wound as deeply as a blow.
Its usage in II Kings and wisdom literature underscores the tangible impact of sin and folly on human well-being. Translators often render it as "pain," "sorrow," or "hurt," depending on context. The term reminds readers that suffering is not merely abstract but a concrete reality affecting body and spirit, woven into the fabric of biblical narrative and instruction.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ka’av reminds us that pain is a real part of human life, whether it comes from physical injury or deep emotional sorrow. In Job’s story, we see how this word captures both the body’s hurt and the soul’s mourning. God does not ignore our suffering; instead, He binds up what is broken, offering healing even when the cause of pain remains a mystery.
Proverbs also uses this concept to warn us about the weight of our words. Even laughter can hide a heavy heart, showing that inner sorrow often hides behind outward smiles. This truth invites us to look beyond surface appearances and care for one another with gentleness. When we acknowledge our own limits and hurts, we create space for grace to enter.
Ultimately, this word points to a God who understands pain intimately. He does not dismiss our struggles but walks through them with us. In moments of weakness, we can trust that our suffering is seen and held by a loving Creator who brings restoration where there was once brokenness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it is in pain2×
- you will spoil1×
- in pain1×
- he causes pain1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּכְאִ֖בוּ1×
- כֹּֽאֲבִ֗ים1×
- יַכְאִ֣יב1×
- יִכְאָ֑ב1×
- יִכְאַב\־1×
Key Verses
-
Job 5:18
For he wounds and binds up. He injures and his hands make whole.
This verse highlights God’s dual role as both the one who wounds and the one who heals, showing that suffering is not outside His sovereign care.
-
Job 14:22
But his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”
Here the word distinguishes between physical flesh and inner soul, illustrating how pain affects the whole person simultaneously.
-
Proverbs 14:13
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
This occurrence reveals that sorrow can persist even in moments of outward joy, warning against assuming peace based only on external appearances.