כָּבִיר (ke.vir)
ke.vir
quilt
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun kâbîr refers to a netted object, most likely a quilt or a fly net used while sleeping. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears only twice, both times in the first book of Samuel. Its meaning hinges on its construction: something made of woven mesh rather than solid fabric.
Lexical sources suggest it served a practical purpose for ancient Israelites, either as a padded coverlet or as a protective screen against insects during rest. This dual possibility highlights the resourcefulness of household items in the ancient Near East, where a single term could encompass both comfort and protection depending on the context.
The word’s rarity makes its occurrences significant. In 1 Samuel 19:13, Michal places a kâbîr in David’s bed to deceive Saul’s men, using it as a prop to simulate his presence. Later, in 1 Samuel 19:16, the same object is described as being on the bed when David has fled. These instances show how everyday domestic items played roles in pivotal narrative moments.
Understanding kâbîr as a netted textile helps readers visualize the scene more clearly. It was not merely a blanket but an object with structure and function, reflecting the material culture of the time. Its brief appearance underscores how ordinary objects can carry unexpected weight in biblical storytelling.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kâbîr appears only twice in Scripture, both in the tense narrative of 1 Samuel 19. It describes a netted object, likely a quilt or fly screen, used by Michal to protect David from Saul’s men. This small detail reminds us that God often works through ordinary, everyday items to accomplish His purposes.
When we face difficult seasons, we can take comfort in knowing that God cares about the practical details of our lives. Just as Michal used a simple household object to create a moment of safety and deception for David, God uses the mundane aspects of our existence to weave together His redemptive plan. You do not need grand gestures to be part of His story; your faithful presence in ordinary moments matters deeply.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [the] quilt of1×
- <the> quilt of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּבִ֣יר1×
- וּ/כְבִ֥יר1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 19:13
Michal took the teraphim and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head and covered it with clothes.
This verse shows the kâbîr being used as a prop to simulate David’s presence, highlighting its role in a moment of crisis.
-
I Samuel 19:16
When the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head.
Here the object remains on the bed after David has fled, serving as evidence of the deception and confirming the narrative's progression.