כְּבָרָה (ke.va.rah)
ke.va.rah
sieve
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun kevaṛah refers to a physical sieve or sifter, an implement used to separate fine grain from larger chaff and debris. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears only once, in Amos 9:9, where it serves as a vivid metaphor for divine judgment.
The image describes Israel being sifted through the net-like mesh of the sieve so that not one kernel falls to the ground. This usage highlights the thoroughness and precision of God’s examination. No person escapes notice; every individual is tested against the standard of righteousness, ensuring that the faithful are preserved while the unfaithful are removed.
The rarity of this term makes its single occurrence particularly striking. By choosing a common agricultural tool, the prophet Amos grounds a profound theological truth in everyday life. The metaphor emphasizes that divine judgment is not random but meticulous, separating what is valuable from what is waste with absolute certainty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kevaṛah describes a simple kitchen tool used to separate fine flour from chaff. In Amos 9:9, this everyday object becomes a powerful image of God’s care. The prophet tells us that God will sift the house of Israel among all nations. This is not a random act of destruction but a precise examination.
For your faith, this offers deep comfort. It means you are known intimately. No detail of your life escapes notice. The sieve ensures that what is valuable is preserved while impurities are removed. You are not lost in the crowd; you are carefully held and examined by a God who values every part of you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in <the>/ sieve1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/כְּבָרָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 9:9
“For behold, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not the least kernel will fall on the earth.
This verse uses the sieve metaphor to show that divine judgment is thorough, ensuring no one escapes notice while preserving the faithful.