כֶּ֫בֶל (ke.vel)
ke.vel
fetter
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun kevel refers to a physical restraint, specifically a fetter or bond used to bind someone’s limbs. It denotes an object designed to restrict movement, functioning as a tangible symbol of captivity or enforced stillness. In the biblical text, this word appears only twice, both within the Psalms, where it serves to illustrate the condition of those held under duress.
Its usage is concrete and literal, describing the metal links or chains that secure prisoners. The sources do not suggest a metaphorical extension for this specific term in these verses; instead, they highlight its role in depicting the physical reality of bondage. By using kevel, the Psalmist grounds the experience of oppression in a visible, harsh image.
Translators typically render kevel as "fetter" or "bond," preserving the sense of heavy, restrictive equipment. This choice distinguishes it from more general words for ties or ropes, emphasizing the severity and permanence of the restraint. The word’s rarity underscores the gravity of the situations described, where freedom is physically denied.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kevel describes a heavy iron restraint, a tangible reality of captivity that leaves no room for movement or escape. In the biblical narrative, these bonds represent the deepest levels of human suffering and oppression. When we encounter this imagery, we are reminded of the physical weight of injustice and the vulnerability of those who have been silenced by power.
Yet, the presence of such harsh imagery in Scripture points to a God who sees the oppressed. The Psalms remember how God intervened for Joseph, breaking his chains, and look forward to a time when nations will be brought under His righteous rule. This word invites us to trust that no bond is too strong for God’s deliverance. It assures us that even in our darkest moments of restriction, He remains aware and active.
We find comfort in knowing that the One who remembers the broken chains also holds our future. While we may face various forms of limitation in life, the promise of liberation stands firm. This ancient word connects our struggles to a long history of faith, reminding us that freedom is ultimately found in God’s faithful care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ shackles of1×
- with <the>/ shackle[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/כַבְלֵ֥י1×
- בַ/כֶּ֣בֶל1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 105:18
They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons,
This verse highlights the personal suffering of Joseph, showing how kevel was used to inflict pain and humiliation even before his eventual rise to power.
-
Psalms 149:8
to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
Here the fetters symbolize the ultimate subjugation of earthly powers, pointing to God’s final judgment and the establishment of His righteous kingdom.