כָּבַשׁ (ka.vash)
ka.vash
to subdue
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb kavash carries a forceful meaning: to bring something under control, often through physical pressure or domination. It describes the act of subduing land, people, or forces that resist authority. In Genesis 1:28, God commands humanity to "subdue" the earth, using this word to describe a mandate of stewardship and order over creation.
Its usage frequently involves power dynamics. In Nehemiah 5:5, it describes how foreign powers had forced people into bondage, highlighting its association with oppression when used by enemies. Conversely, in Jeremiah 50:45, it portrays God’s decisive action to subdue Babylon, emphasizing divine sovereignty over rebellious nations.
The root concept involves bringing chaos or resistance into submission. It is not merely about ruling but about establishing order through strength. This word appears in contexts ranging from agricultural management to military conquest, always implying a shift from disorder to controlled authority under a higher power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kavash describes bringing something into order, often by applying pressure or establishing authority. In Genesis 1:28, God uses it to give humanity a role in caring for the earth. This is not a command to exploit creation, but to bring chaos into a state where life can flourish under God’s design. It suggests that stewardship requires active effort and responsibility.
However, the Bible also shows this word used in darker contexts. When people use power to oppress others, as seen in Nehemiah 5:5 or Jeremiah 34:16, it becomes a tool of injustice. The text warns against using strength to dominate fellow humans. True authority, when aligned with God, seeks to establish peace and justice rather than fear.
For your faith, this word invites reflection on how you exercise influence. Whether in work, family, or community, ask if your actions bring order that helps others thrive. God’s ultimate victory over evil, described in Micah 7:19, shows that He will one day tread down sin and restore all things. This hope encourages us to act with integrity today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ it will be subdued2×
- to/ violate1×
- to/ subjugate1×
- it was subdued1×
- he will subdue1×
- he had subdued1×
- being brought into bondage1×
- and/ you subjugated1×
- and/ they will subdue1×
- and/ they subjugated/ them1×
- and/ subdue/ it1×
- and/ it has been subdued1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/נִכְבְּשָׁ֥ה2×
- נִכְבָּשׁוֹת֙1×
- נִכְבְּשָׁ֖ה1×
- לִ/כְבֹּ֛שׁ1×
- לִ/כְבּ֧וֹשׁ1×
- כִּבֵּֽשׁ\׃1×
- כֹ֠בְשִׁים1×
- יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ1×
- וַֽ/יִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּ/ם1×
- וַ/תִּכְבְּשׁ֣וּ1×
- וְ/נִכְבְּשָׁ֨ה1×
- וְ/כָֽבְשׁוּ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
This verse establishes the original mandate for humanity to bring order and stewardship over creation, setting a positive baseline for the word's use.
-
Nehemiah 5:5
Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring our sons and our daughters into bondage to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. It is also not in our power to help it, because other men have our fields and our vineyards.”
Here the word highlights the pain of oppression, showing how those in power can force others into bondage, serving as a warning against unjust domination.
-
Jeremiah 34:16
but you turned and profaned my name, and every man caused his servant and every man his handmaid, whom you had let go free at their pleasure, to return. You brought them into subjection, to be to you for servants and for handmaids.’”
The prophet condemns Israel for reversing their freedom and subduing their freed servants again, linking the act to profaning God's name.
-
Micah 7:19
He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
This poetic image of God treading iniquities underfoot uses the root concept to depict divine victory over sin and moral chaos.