כַּ֫עַס (ka.as)
ka.as
vexation
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ka.as refers to a state of anger, vexation, or deep frustration. It appears twenty-one times in the Old Testament, with a significant concentration in wisdom literature such as Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and Job. The word captures the emotional turbulence that arises from conflict, injustice, or the limitations of human existence.
Lexical sources indicate that ka.as can describe the anger of both people and God. When applied to humans, it often reflects the irritation or grief caused by difficult circumstances or interpersonal strife. In the context of divine anger, it signifies God’s righteous response to evil or covenant violation, though the term itself focuses on the emotional state rather than the moral justification for it.
A notable feature of this word is its frequent pairing with concepts of grief and frustration, particularly in Ecclesiastes. Here, ka.as helps describe the futility and weariness that characterize life under the sun. Translators typically render it as "anger" or "vexation," choosing words that convey a sense of being troubled or provoked rather than merely furious.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ka.as describes a heavy feeling of vexation or deep frustration. It is not just fleeting irritation but a state of being troubled by circumstances that feel unjust or exhausting. In wisdom literature, this word often appears alongside grief and sorrow, highlighting how difficult relationships or persistent struggles can weigh on the heart.
When we encounter this emotion in Scripture, it is presented as a shared human experience rather than a moral failure. Even the wisest writers acknowledge that life under the sun brings moments of profound weariness. Recognizing this feeling allows us to bring our honest struggles to God without hiding them behind a facade of perfect peace.
This word reminds us that we are not alone in our frustrations. The biblical authors did not shy away from describing their own inner turmoil. By naming these feelings, we find space to process them within the context of faith, trusting that God sees our burdens and offers comfort in the midst of life's heavy seasons.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- vexation3×
- vexation/ your1×
- the/ provocations1×
- the/ provocation1×
- provocation1×
- grief/ my1×
- frustration1×
- from/ grief1×
- from/ [the] provocation of1×
- by/ provocation/ his1×
- anger/ his1×
- anger1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/כַּ֥עַס1×
- מִ/כַּ֣עַשׂ1×
- כָּ֑עַשׂ1×
- כָּ֑עַס1×
- כַּעְשִׂ֑/י1×
- כַּעְס֑/וֹ1×
- כַּֽ֭עַשְׂ/ךָ1×
- כַּ֤עַס1×
- כַּ֣עַס1×
- כַּ֙עַס֙1×
- כַּ֖עַס1×
- כַּ֔עַס1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
This verse illustrates the overwhelming weight of a fool's provocation, comparing it to physical burdens like stones and sand.
-
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
Here the word is linked to hasty anger, warning that such vexation typically resides in the bosom of fools.
-
I Samuel 1:16
Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman; for I have been speaking out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation.”
Hannah uses this term to explain her tears, showing how deep personal distress can manifest as visible provocation.
-
Job 5:2
For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.
This passage connects resentment and jealousy with the destruction of the foolish, highlighting the destructive power of unchecked vexation.