כָּחַד (ka.chad)
ka.chad
to hide
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 27 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb kachad centers on the act of hiding or concealing, but its meaning shifts depending on the grammatical form used. In its most common forms, it describes covering something up, whether by physical means or by withholding information. This dual nature allows the word to bridge the gap between simple secrecy and total erasure.
Context determines whether the action is protective or destructive. When used in the Hiphil stem, kachad often carries a sense of annihilation, such as when God promises to cut off nations or when Job describes the wicked being destroyed from the earth (Job 22:20; Exodus 9:15). Conversely, in narrative passages like Joshua 7:19, it refers to keeping a specific sin hidden from public view.
The word’s theological weight appears in Psalms and Prophets, where human attempts to conceal wrongdoing meet divine visibility. Psalm 139:15 notes that even in the womb, nothing is hidden from God, while Isaiah 3:9 declares that sin is openly displayed rather than concealed. This contrast highlights a key biblical theme: human secrecy cannot match divine omniscience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kachad describes the act of hiding or concealing, whether by covering something physically or withholding information. In many biblical narratives, this action is linked to secrecy that invites judgment. When people try to keep their sins out of sight, they often find that divine visibility remains absolute. This contrast reminds us that transparency before God brings peace, while concealment only deepens the distance between us and Him.
Yet there is a protective side to this concept as well. In places like Psalm 78:4, the word appears in the context of preserving truth for future generations. Here, hiding is not about shame but about safeguarding what matters most. The biblical tension lies in knowing when to protect sacred things and when to lay them bare in honesty.
For your faith life, this word invites a simple question: What are you trying to keep hidden? Whether it is fear, failure, or even precious memories, bringing these into the light allows God to work where secrecy once held power. You do not need to carry everything alone.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 27 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you hide [it]4×
- you hide2×
- we will hide2×
- it is hidden2×
- you will hide1×
- were they destroyed1×
- those/ [which] are being destroyed1×
- they have hidden [it]1×
- they have hidden1×
- let it be destroyed1×
- it was hidden1×
- he hides/ it1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּכַחֵ֥ד2×
- נִכְחַ֣ד2×
- תִּכָּחֵ֔ד1×
- תְּכַחֵ֤ד1×
- תְּכַחֵ֖ד1×
- תְּכַחֵ֑דוּ1×
- תְכַחֵ֖ד1×
- תְכַחֲדִ֤י1×
- נִכְחָד֗וֹת1×
- נִכְחָֽדוּ\׃1×
- נִכְחַ֥ד1×
- נְכַחֵ֨ד\׀1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 7:19
Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done! Don’t hide it from me!”
Joshua commands Achan to stop hiding his sin, showing that concealment only delays necessary confession and restoration.
-
Psalms 139:15
My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
This verse emphasizes that even the most secret stages of human development are fully known to God, removing any need for hidden shame.
-
Exodus 9:15
For now I would have stretched out my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth;
The Hiphil stem here conveys total removal or annihilation, illustrating how divine judgment can erase what is persistently opposed to God's will.
-
Job 20:12
“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
This image of wickedness hidden under the tongue captures the internal struggle of suppressing guilt while outwardly maintaining a facade.
-
Psalms 78:4
We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
The negative form here shows that hiding truth from children is forbidden, highlighting the duty to preserve and pass on spiritual heritage.