כְּוִיָּה (ke.viy.yah)
ke.viy.yah
burning
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun kviyyah refers to a burn or the resulting brand mark on the skin. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Exodus 21:25, within the famous law of retaliation that states "eye for eye, tooth for tooth." In this specific context, it stands alongside injuries like broken bones and cuts, representing a wound caused by fire.
Its presence here highlights the severity of physical harm in ancient legal codes. The word does not describe a minor scald but a lasting mark of injury. By listing it with other bodily damages, the text treats burns as serious violations requiring proportional restitution, emphasizing that every part of the body deserves equal protection under the law.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kviyyah appears only once in Scripture, nestled within the legal code of Exodus 21:25. It refers to a burn or the resulting brand mark on the skin. This single occurrence sits alongside broken bones and cuts, forming part of the ancient law of retaliation. The text treats this injury with serious gravity, demanding proportional restitution for every part of the body.
For your faith, this rare word highlights the value God places on physical wholeness. It reminds us that harm to our bodies is not trivial but a significant violation requiring justice. In a world where pain is often ignored, this verse affirms that every wound matters to God. We can find comfort in knowing that He sees the details of our suffering and desires fairness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- burning2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּוִיָּה֙1×
- כְּוִיָּ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 21:25
burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.
This is the only biblical occurrence of the word, where it specifies a burn as a compensable injury alongside wounds and bruises.