כְּמוֹ (ke.mo)
ke.mo
like
H:ConjQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 110 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Conj
Word Overview
The Hebrew word kemô means "like" or "as," serving as a versatile tool for drawing comparisons in both everyday speech and poetry. While it functions primarily as a preposition to link similar things, such as the sinking bodies in Exodus 15:5 that went down "like a stone," it also operates as an adverb meaning "thus" or "so." This dual nature allows it to describe physical resemblance while simultaneously indicating manner or degree.
A distinctive feature of kemô is its use in parallel structures, particularly in the poetic books of Job and Psalms. It often appears in paired constructions where one clause mirrors another, reinforcing the comparison through repetition. For instance, Judges 8:18 uses this pattern to show that the enemies were "such as" Zebah and Zalmunna, just as the king was. This structural echo gives the word a rhythmic weight that plain prose comparisons lack.
The term frequently appears in contexts of contrast or surprise, highlighting how something defies expectation by being exactly like something else. In Psalm 73:15, the psalmist considers saying "thus" as the wicked do, using kemô to frame a specific mode of speech. Its presence in Job suggests it is favored by poets who need precise language to capture the nuances of human experience and divine action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word kemô serves as a bridge between the familiar and the new, allowing us to understand complex truths through simple comparisons. When Scripture says something is 'like' another thing, it is not merely noting a superficial resemblance but inviting us into a deeper pattern of meaning. This linguistic tool helps readers grasp abstract spiritual realities by anchoring them in concrete experiences we already know.
In daily life, this word reminds us that God often speaks through the ordinary. Just as a stone sinks steadily into water, our struggles can have a profound and undeniable weight. Yet, the same word also lifts our eyes upward, asking who is like the Lord among the powers of this world? It invites us to see the unique character of God in the midst of everyday chaos.
Using kemô allows faith to remain grounded while reaching for the divine. We do not need to invent new metaphors because Scripture has already provided them. By paying attention to these comparisons, we find that our human experiences of love, justice, and awe are reflections of a greater reality. This connection brings comfort, knowing that our lives are woven into a story that makes sense.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 110 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like37×
- like/ you13×
- like/ it11×
- [is] like/ you11×
- [is] like/ me8×
- like/ me5×
- like/ him5×
- like/ us4×
- as/ you4×
- like/ yourself3×
- like/ them3×
- as/ me3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּמוֹ\־20×
- כְמוֹ\־8×
- כְּמ֣וֹ5×
- כָּמֽוֹ/ךָ\׃3×
- כָּמֹֽ/הוּ\׃3×
- כָּמֹ֙/הוּ֙3×
- כָּמֹ֑/הוּ3×
- כָּמ֣וֹ/ךָ3×
- כָּמֽוֹ/נִי\׃2×
- כָּמֹ֗/הוּ2×
- כָּמֹ֔/הוּ2×
- כָּמ֧וֹ/נִי2×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 15:11
Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
This verse uses the word to pose a rhetorical question that highlights God's unique holiness and power compared to any other supposed deity.
-
Exodus 15:5
The deeps cover them. They went down into the depths like a stone.
Here the term describes the physical manner of the enemies sinking, using a stone as a vivid image of their sudden and heavy defeat.
-
Leviticus 19:18
“‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
The word establishes the ethical standard for loving one's neighbor, linking the care for others directly to how we value ourselves.
-
Deuteronomy 18:15
Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him.
This promise compares a future prophet to Moses, setting an expectation for a leader who will speak with similar divine authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word kemô mean?
How is kemô different from other words for 'like' in Hebrew?
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Why is this word important for understanding Scripture?
Every Occurrence (110 verses across 26 books)
Genesis 5 verses
When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are…
Genesis 34:15Only on this condition will we consent to you. If you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised,
Genesis 41:39Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you.
Genesis 44:15Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Don’t you know that such a man as I can indeed do…
Genesis 44:18Then Judah came near to him, and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and don’t…