קֶ֫בֶר (qe.ver)
qe.ver
grave
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 50 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun qeber refers to a grave, tomb, or burial place. It appears fifty times in the Hebrew Bible, featuring prominently in historical books like Genesis and Chronicles. The word describes the physical location where a body is interred, serving as a concrete marker of death and finality.
Its meaning extends beyond mere geography to include the state of being dead. In Job 17:13, Job speaks of going down to the qeber, using the term to describe the realm of the dead itself rather than just a specific plot of land. This usage highlights how the physical grave became a metaphor for the shadowy existence after life.
The etymology links qeber to the verb qabar, meaning "to bury." This connection emphasizes the action that creates the place. The sources note its frequent appearance in narratives about patriarchs and kings, such as Abraham securing a cave for Sarah or Josiah desecrating altars near tombs. These instances show how the word anchors biblical history in real, tangible spaces of mourning and memory.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qeber points to a physical resting place for the dead, yet its presence in Scripture reveals more than just geography. When Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah, he was securing a tangible legacy in a land that was not yet fully his own (Genesis 23:4). This act shows how burial grounds serve as anchors for memory and faith across generations.
For believers today, this word reminds us that our lives leave a mark on the world. Whether we are remembered in tombs or in the hearts of those we loved, our stories matter to God. The physical reality of death is met with the hope of resurrection, giving weight to how we live and love while we are here.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 50 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ [the] tomb of6×
- a burial site5×
- the/ graves3×
- in/ [the] graves of3×
- [the] tombs of3×
- grave<s>/ your2×
- [the] graves of2×
- [the] grave of2×
- [the] grave2×
- tomb/ his1×
- to/ [the] graves of1×
- to/ [the] grave<s>1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָ֑בֶר4×
- קָֽבֶר\׃3×
- קִבְרֹתֶי/ךָ֮2×
- קִבְרֵ֣י2×
- קִבְר֔/וֹ2×
- הַ/קְּבָרִ֔ים2×
- בְּ/קֶ֣בֶר2×
- בְּ/קֶ֙בֶר֙2×
- בְּ/קִבְר֥וֹת2×
- קֶ֥בֶר1×
- קֶ֣בֶר1×
- קֶ֙בֶר֙1×
Key Verses
-
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 dead out of my sight.”
Abraham uses this term when negotiating for a permanent burial site, highlighting the value of leaving a lasting legacy in the promised land.
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II Samuel 3:32
They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave; and all the people wept.
King David weeps at Abner’s grave, showing how these places become sites of public mourning and political reconciliation.
-
II Kings 13:21
As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a band of raiders; and they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. As soon as the man touched Elisha’s bones, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
A dead man revived upon touching Elisha’s bones in the tomb, demonstrating that God’s power can transcend even the finality of death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word qeber mean?
Why is Genesis 23 important for understanding this word?
Does this word only mean a physical hole in the ground?
Every Occurrence (50 verses across 12 books)
Genesis 7 verses
“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 23:9that he may sell me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him…
Genesis 23:20The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial…
Genesis 49:30in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with…
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 50:13for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham…