כְּאֵב (ke.ev)
ke.ev
pain
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ke’ev denotes a deep sense of pain, encompassing both physical suffering and emotional sorrow. It appears in five verses, primarily within the books of Job, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. This word captures the weight of distress that affects the whole person, rather than just a momentary ache.
Its usage often reflects the profound grief associated with loss or divine judgment. For instance, it describes the anguish felt by those who mourn in Jeremiah, highlighting how sorrow can permeate daily life. The term is not limited to bodily injury; it equally addresses the heart’s burden, making it a versatile word for human suffering.
Translators typically render ke’ev as "pain" or "sorrow," depending on context. This choice preserves the dual nature of the experience, acknowledging that physical and mental distress often intertwine. The word reminds readers that grief is a shared human reality, acknowledged openly in Scripture without minimization.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ke’ev describes a heavy, lingering pain that settles deep within the person. It is not just a fleeting ache but a profound weight of sorrow or physical distress. When Scripture uses this term, it acknowledges that suffering touches every part of our being—body, mind, and spirit.
In Jeremiah 15:18, the prophet cries out about his perpetual pain and incurable wound. This raw honesty shows us that bringing our deepest hurts to God is an act of faith. He does not hide his anguish but lays it bare before the One who sees all.
We find comfort in knowing that our grief is never minimized by the biblical writers. Whether it stems from loss, judgment, or unexplained suffering, ke’ev validates the reality of our pain. You are seen in your sorrow, and your cries for relief are heard.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- pain/ my2×
- the/ pain1×
- from/ pain of1×
- and/ pain1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/כְּאֵ֣ב1×
- כְּאֵבִ֑/י1×
- כְאֵבִ/י֙1×
- וּ/כְאֵ֥ב1×
- הַ/כְּאֵ֖ב1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 15:18
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?
This verse captures the word's intensity by linking perpetual pain with an incurable wound, showing how deep distress can feel like a betrayal of God's reliability.
-
Job 2:13
So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
Here the term describes grief so great that it silences friends for seven days, highlighting the overwhelming weight of suffering that words cannot fix.
-
Isaiah 65:14
Behold, my servants will sing for joy of heart, but you will cry for sorrow of heart, and will wail for anguish of spirit.
The word contrasts the joy of God's servants with the sorrow of heart and anguish of spirit experienced by those who reject Him, showing its use for deep spiritual distress.