כֶּ֫שֶׂב (ke.sev)
ke.sev
sheep
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kecev, meaning sheep, appears throughout the Hebrew Scriptures to describe a familiar part of daily life in ancient Israel. Sheep were essential for food, clothing, and the religious rituals that kept the community connected to God. When you read about these animals in Genesis or Leviticus, you are seeing how ordinary people lived out their faith through tangible acts of care and obedience.
For your own walk, this word reminds us that God values the simple and the humble. The sheep was not a wild beast but a domesticated animal that relied on its shepherd for protection and provision. This imagery helps explain why so many passages use shepherding as a metaphor for God’s care. It invites you to rest in the idea that you, too, are known and provided for by a faithful guide.
Whether you are looking at the laws of sacrifice or the stories of Jacob’s flocks, the sheep represents a life lived in dependence on God’s order. You can find comfort in knowing that this same God who watched over ancient herds is attentive to your needs today. Let these familiar images ground your trust in His steady presence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- among the/ lambs3×
- a young ram3×
- the/ young rams1×
- the/ young ram1×
- sheep<s>1×
- and/ the/ lambs1×
- and/ a young ram1×
- among the/ young rams1×
- a sheep1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/כְּשָׂבִ֔ים2×
- כֶּ֥שֶׂב1×
- כֶּ֜שֶׂב1×
- כֶ֤שֶׂב1×
- כֶ֛שֶׂב1×
- כְשָׂבִ֖ים1×
- וְ/כֶ֛שֶׂב1×
- וְ/הַ/כְּשָׂבִים֮1×
- הַ/כֶּשֶׂב֮1×
- הַ/כְּשָׂבִ֛ים1×
- בַּ/כְּשָׂבִ֖ים1×
- בַּ/כְּשָׂבִ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 1:10
“‘If his offering is from the flock, from the sheep or from the goats, for a burnt offering, he shall offer a male without defect.
This verse specifies that a sheep must be without defect for a burnt offering, highlighting the requirement of purity in approaching God.
-
Genesis 30:32
I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. This will be my hire.
Here the word appears in a narrative about Jacob’s labor, showing how sheep were central to economic agreements and family dynamics.
-
Leviticus 4:35
He shall remove all its fat, like the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall burn them on the altar, on the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned, and he will be forgiven.
The removal of fat from the sheep sacrifice points to the specific ritual actions required for atonement in the Mosaic law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word kecev mean?
How is kecev different from other words for sheep?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (13 verses across 4 books)
Genesis 4 verses
I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among…
Genesis 30:33So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Every one that…
Genesis 30:35That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and…
Genesis 30:40Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the black in Laban’s flock. He…