כָּבֵד (ka.ved)
ka.ved
liver
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun kaved refers specifically to the liver, the large internal organ responsible for filtering blood and processing nutrients. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears thirteen times, with a significant concentration in the legal texts of Leviticus and Exodus where dietary laws are detailed.
Its primary meaning is anatomical, yet its usage often carries symbolic weight. The word is derived from a root meaning "heavy," reflecting the liver’s physical density as one of the heaviest organs in the body. This etymological link suggests that ancient Hebrew speakers associated the organ with substance and perhaps emotional depth, though the text itself primarily uses it in literal sacrificial contexts.
Translators consistently render kaved as "liver" without ambiguity. Its presence in Levitical law highlights the precision required in ritual offerings, where specific parts of animals were designated for God. The word anchors readers in the tangible reality of ancient worship, reminding us that biblical faith engaged with the physical body and its material needs.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kaved refers to the liver, a vital organ that filters blood and processes nutrients. In the Bible, it appears mostly in Leviticus and Exodus, where God gives detailed instructions for sacrifices. These laws required specific parts of animals, including the cover of the liver, to be burned on the altar. This shows that ancient worship was not just about feelings but involved real, physical actions.
While we do not offer animal sacrifices today, these passages remind us that God cares about the tangible details of our lives. The liver’s heaviness in the body may hint at its importance, much like how our inner selves matter to God. In Proverbs 7:23, the word describes a sudden, painful injury, showing that the body’s parts are deeply connected to our experience of life and vulnerability.
Understanding kaved helps us see the seriousness with which Scripture treats the body and worship. It invites us to honor God with our whole being, including our physical lives, while trusting in His care for our inner health and peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ liver11×
- liver/ my1×
- liver/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/כָּבֵ֔ד8×
- הַ/כָּבֵד֙2×
- כְּבֵדִ֔/י1×
- כְּֽבֵד֗/וֹ1×
- הַ/כָּבֵֽד\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 29:13
You shall take all the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
This verse establishes the liver's role in the consecration of priests, showing it as a sacred part of the offering.
-
Leviticus 3:4
and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the cover on the liver, with the kidneys, he shall take away.
Here the cover of the liver is specified for peace offerings, highlighting its consistent inclusion in voluntary worship.
-
Proverbs 7:23
Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.
This metaphorical use illustrates sudden, fatal danger, linking the physical organ to the shock of unexpected loss.