קָבַר (qa.var)
qa.var
to bury
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 114 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qābar means to bury, describing the physical act of interring a body in the ground. It appears frequently in the Old Testament, particularly in Genesis and the books of Kings, where it records the final resting places of patriarchs, judges, and kings. The word carries no inherent spiritual judgment; it simply denotes the respectful placement of the dead in a tomb or grave.
Its etymology suggests the primary image is that of heaping up earth to form a mound over the deceased. This concrete action distinguishes it from abstract terms for death. For example, Genesis 25:9 notes that Abraham was buried by his sons, while 1 Kings 2:10 records Solomon burying David in the City of David. The verb adapts to different grammatical forms, allowing speakers to describe someone being buried or, in the intensive stem, burying many people at once.
Translators typically render qābar as "bury" or "buried," capturing the straightforward nature of the action. Its usage often marks significant transitions in biblical narratives, signaling the end of a life and the inheritance of promises by the next generation. The word grounds the text in physical reality, reminding readers that death is a tangible event handled with care.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qābar describes the physical act of placing a body in the ground. It appears often in Genesis when patriarchs like Abraham or Sarah are laid to rest. This simple action grounds the biblical narrative in reality. Death is not an abstract concept but a tangible event handled with care and respect.
For your faith, this word reminds us that our lives have weight and history. When Joseph asks to bury his father in Canaan, it shows how deeply family ties and promises endure beyond death. The earth receives the dead, yet the story continues through those who remain.
You can find comfort in knowing that God remembers every life. Whether you are grieving or preparing for your own end, this word affirms that your time on earth matters. It points to a hope where even the grave is not the final word.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 114 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he was buried26×
- and/ they buried10×
- and/ people buried/ him9×
- and/ people buried9×
- to/ bury5×
- they will be buried5×
- and/ they buried/ him5×
- bury4×
- they buried3×
- and/ she was buried3×
- you will be buried2×
- so/ let me bury2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּקָּבֵ֖ר9×
- וַ/יִּקְבְּר֥וּ9×
- וַ/יִּקָּבֵ֥ר7×
- וַ/יִּקְבְּר֣וּ5×
- וַ/יִּקְבְּר֨וּ4×
- יִקָּבֵ֔רוּ3×
- וַֽ/יִּקְבְּרֻ֙/הוּ֙3×
- וַֽ/יִּקְבְּרֻ֖/הוּ3×
- וַ/יִּקָּבֵר֙3×
- וַ/יִּקָּבֵ֤ר3×
- וַ/יִּקְבְּרֻ֥/הוּ3×
- וְ/אֶקְבְּרָ֥ה3×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 23:19
After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan.
This verse records Abraham burying Sarah, marking the first time the word describes a patriarch securing land for burial in Canaan.
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Genesis 50:13
for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, as a possession for a burial site, from Ephron the Hittite, near Mamre.
Here Joseph fulfills his oath by burying Jacob, showing how the act of burial honors family promises across generations.
-
Genesis 25:9
Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre,
Isaac and Ishmael bury Abraham together, highlighting that even with family tensions, the duty of burial remains a shared responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does qābar mean in the Bible?
Is qābar used for spiritual burial?
Why is burial important in Genesis?
Every Occurrence (114 verses across 17 books)
Genesis 23 verses
but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age.
Genesis 23:4“I am a stranger and a foreigner living with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my…
Genesis 23:6“Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold…
Genesis 23:8He talked with them, saying, “If you agree that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to…
Genesis 23:11“No, my lord, hear me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the children of…
Genesis 23:13He spoke to Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, “But if you will, please hear me. I will give the…
Genesis 23:15“My lord, listen to me. What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between me and you? Therefore bury…
Genesis 23:19After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the…
Genesis 25:9Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite,…
Genesis 25:10the field which Abraham purchased from the children of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah, his wife.
Genesis 35:8Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.
Genesis 35:19Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).
Genesis 35:29Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons,…
Genesis 47:29The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in…
Genesis 47:30but when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.” Joseph said, “I…
Genesis 48:7As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some…
Genesis 49:29He instructed them, and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in…
Genesis 49:31There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:
Genesis 50:5‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of…
Genesis 50:6Pharaoh said, “Go up, and bury your father, just like he made you swear.”
Genesis 50:7Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, all the…
Genesis 50:13for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham…
Genesis 50:14Joseph returned into Egypt—he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried…