כֹּ֫בֶד (ko.ved)
ko.ved
heaviness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ko.ved denotes physical weight or heaviness, but in Scripture it frequently describes an abstract intensity. It appears in Isaiah and Proverbs to characterize situations that are burdensome, abundant, or forceful. Rather than referring only to mass, the word captures the sensation of something pressing down with significant force.
Its range extends from literal weight to vehemence, such as the heavy hand of war or judgment. In Proverbs, it can describe a heavy heart or a burdensome situation, while Isaiah uses it to depict the overwhelming nature of divine action. The term conveys a sense of gravity that is both tangible and emotional.
Etymologically, ko.ved shares roots with words for being heavy or serious. This connection underscores its use in describing states that are difficult to bear or intensely powerful. Translators often render it as "heavy" or "weight," preserving the original sense of pressure and magnitude found in these ancient texts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This Hebrew word describes more than just physical mass; it captures the feeling of pressure, intensity, and gravity in our lives. When Scripture speaks of heaviness, it often points to situations that press down on us with significant force. It acknowledges that some burdens are real, tangible, and difficult to carry alone.
In Proverbs, we see a striking comparison: while a stone or sand is heavy, the provocation of a fool weighs even more. This reminds us that relational conflict can feel heavier than physical labor. Yet, this word also appears in Isaiah describing the overwhelming nature of divine action. It suggests that God’s presence and justice are not light or trivial matters, but forces of profound significance.
When you face a season where life feels too heavy to bear, remember that this weight is seen and understood. The Bible does not dismiss your struggle as minor. Instead, it validates the intensity of your experience, inviting you to bring that burden to God, who meets us with both seriousness and grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [is] heaviness of1×
- [the] weight of1×
- [the] heaviness of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כֹּֽבֶד\־1×
- כֹּ֥בֶד1×
- וְ/כֹ֖בֶד1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
This verse uses the word to contrast physical weight with the emotional toll of a fool's provocation, showing that relational conflict can feel heavier than literal stones.
-
Isaiah 30:27
Behold, Yahweh’s name comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation. His tongue is as a devouring fire.
Here the term describes the intensity of God's anger and judgment, conveying a sense of overwhelming divine power rather than mere physical mass.
-
Isaiah 21:15
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.
The word appears in the context of fleeing from battle, linking heaviness to the urgent pressure and danger of war.