Lexical Summary
kabad or kabed: To be heavy, to be honored, to be glorified, to be burdensome
Original Word:כָּבַד
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:kabad
Pronunciation:kah-VAHD or kah-VAYD
Phonetic Spelling:(kaw-bad')
KJV: abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, X be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, X more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop
NASB:honored, honor, glorify, hardened, heavy, honors, glorified
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable
2. causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, be dim
Or kabed {kaw-bade'}; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. In a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses) -- abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, X be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, X more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto be heavy, weighty, or burdensome
NASB Translationabounding (1), achieve honor (1), became fierce (1), became heavy (1), boasting (1), burdensome (1), dim (1), distinguished (3), dull (2), enjoy your glory (1), glorified (4), glorify (7), glorious (2), glorious things (1), grave (1), grew strong (1), harden (1), hardened (6), heavier (2), heavy (6), held in honor (1), honor (17), honor you greatly (1), honorable (4), honored (19), honoring (2), honors (5), indeed honor (1), laid burdens (1), made my heavy (1), made our heavy (2), made your heavy (3), make (1), make it glorious (1), makes himself rich (1), multiply (2), nobles (1), respected (1), stopped (1), weigh (1), weigh heavily (1), went heavily (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Late Hebrew Pi`el
honour, and derivatives,
weight; Phoenician proper name, feminine =
honoured one, and in compound proper name; Ethiopic
be heavy, etc.; Assyrian
kabâdu or
kabâtu,
grow or
be heavy, Dl
HWB; compare Arabic
difficulty, distress;
III.
struggle with difficulties, etc.; Zinjirli
honour, DHM
Sendsch. 58; Sabean
gifts of honour, = Hebrew
freewill offering DHM
ZMG 1883, 341 f. —
PerfectIsaiah 24:20; 3feminine singularGenesis 18:20 4t.;Judges 20:34; 3masculine pluralGenesis 48:10;ImperfectExodus 9:7;Isaiah 66:5;Job 6:3;Job 33:7 10t. Imperfect (Genesis 12:10 + is given as 3 masculine Perfect by some; but it is probably taken better as adjective SS makePsalm 38:5 infinitive absolute; < Thes adjective ). —
be heavy, in weight, of misfortune, heavier than sandJob 6:3; of God's hand in punishment1 Samuel 5:11, with1 Samuel 5:6;Psalm 32:4; of man's hand in warJudges 1:35;my hand is heavy upon my groaningJob 23:2 is explained by Hrz Schlottm ashand smiting me; but read rather with Ew De Reu Di of God's hand; of pressureJob 33:7 ( ); =vehement, sore, of battleJudges 20:34; with1 Samuel 31:3 =1 Chronicles 10:3;burdensome, grievous;lest we be burdensome unto thee2 Samuel 13:23; of work laid upon one, bondage, withExodus 5:9 (JE)Nehemiah 5:18; of sin conceived as a burdenGenesis 18:20 (J), iniquitiesPsalm 38:5; transgressions, withIsaiah 24:20.
heavy, insensible, dull,of the eyes, so as to be unable to seeGenesis 48:10 (JE); of the earsIsaiah 59:1; of the ,hard, insensibleExodus 9:7 (J; P and E's synonym is , q. v.)
be honoured (compare ) of a manJob 14:21 (opposed to : compare Hiph`il
), of TyreEzekiel 27:25, of YahwehIsaiah 66:5.
Perfect2 Samuel 6:20,2 Samuel 23:19,23;1 Chronicles 11:21;Isaiah 43:4; 2t. Perfect;ImperfectLeviticus 10:3;Isaiah 49:5;Exodus 14:4,17;2 Samuel 6:22;Haggai 1:8;Imperative2 Kings 14:10;InfinitiveExodus 14:18;Ezekiel 39:13;ParticipleGenesis 34:19 6t.; pluralNumbers 22:15; constructIsaiah 23:8,9;Proverbs 8:24;Nahum 3:10;Psalm 149:8;Plural femininePsalm 87:3 — passive
be made heavy from abundance,fountains abounding in waterProverbs 8:24.
be honoured, enjoy honour, of man1 Samuel 9:6;1 Samuel 22:14;2 Samuel 6:20,22;2 Samuel 23:19 =1 Chronicles 11:21;2 Samuel 23:23;2 Kings 14:10;Isaiah 43:4;Isaiah 49:5;1 Chronicles 4:9 ,1 Chronicles 11:25 (altered from2 Samuel 23:23); but more frequent inparticiple as substantivehonourable, honoured, distinguished manGenesis 34:19;Numbers 22:15 (JE)Isaiah 3:5;Isaiah 23:8,9;Nahum 3:10;Psalm 149:8;Psalm 87:3glorious things;Deuteronomy 28:58the glorious and awe-inspiring name (of Yahweh).
medial,get oneself glory (or honour), of GodIsaiah 26:15;Ezekiel 28:22;Ezekiel 39:13;Haggai 1:8; within orby any oneExodus 14:4,17,18 (P);Leviticus 10:3 (P).
Perfect2masculine suffixIsaiah 43:23; 3masculine plural1 Samuel 6:6; 3t. Perfect;ImperfectMalachi 1:6 3t.; suffixPsalm 50:23; 3feminine singular suffixIsaiah 43:20;Psalm 86:12; 12t. Imperfect;ImperativeExodus 20:12 2t.; + 3 t. Imperative;Infinitive absoluteNumbers 22:17; 2t. Infinitive;Participle2 Samuel 10:3; 4t. Participle; —
make heavy, insensible (compare ) the1 Samuel 6:6 (twice in verse).
make honourable, honour, glorify, usually with human subject:
human object, parentsExodus 20:12 =Deuteronomy 5:16 Dec.),Malachi 1:6; BalaamNumbers 22:17 (twice in verse);Numbers 22:37;Numbers 24:11 (twice in verse)(JE); sons of Eli1 Samuel 2:29; Saul1 Samuel 15:30; Nahash2 Samuel 10:3 =1 Chronicles 19:3; JerusalemLamentations 1:8; more GenerallyPsalm 15:4; subject God1 Samuel 2:30bPsalm 91:15, compareProverbs 4:8.
object things, sacred placeIsaiah 60:13 (God subject); the SabbathIsaiah 58:13.
God object1 Samuel 2:30 aIsaiah 24:15;Isaiah 25:3;Isaiah 43:20;Psalm 22:24;Psalm 50:15;Psalm 50:23;Proverbs 14:31; + accusative of thingIsaiah 43:23; + instrumental (lips)Isaiah 29:13; +Proverbs 3:9; object the name of , with accusativePsalm 86:12; withPsalm 86:9; object theJudges 13:17.
subject indefinite (si vera lectio), object God and manJudges 9:9 (of olive; on text, especially for , see GFM).
object a heathen godDaniel 11:38 (twice in verse).
be made honourable, honoured.ImperfectProverbs 13:18;Proverbs 27:18;ParticipleIsaiah 58:13.
PerfectLamentations 3:7 5t.; 2 feminineIsaiah 47:6 4t. Perfect;ImperfectExodus 8:28;Exodus 9:34;ImperativeIsaiah 6:10;Infin. absoluteExodus 8:11; construct 2Chronicles 25:19;ParticipleHabakkuk 2:6. —
make heavy, a yoke1 Kings 12:10,14 2Chronicles 10:10,14;Isaiah 47:6 elliptical withNehemiah 5:15; a chainLamentations 3:7; pledges, withHabakkuk 2:6.
make heavy, dull, unresponsive, the earsIsaiah 6:10;Zechariah 7:11; theExodus 8:11;Exodus 8:28;Exodus 9:34;Exodus 10:1(J).
cause to be honoured, of depopulated districts of northeast Israel,Isaiah 8:23, of restored nationJeremiah 30:19 ("" );shew ordisplay honour, 2 Chronicles 25:19 (in ""2 Kings 14:10 ).
ImperativeNahum 3:15;f.Nahum 3:15;ParticipleProverbs 12:9; —
make oneself heavy, dense, numerous (compare
)Nahum 3:15 (twice in verse).
honour oneselfProverbs 12:9.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Root ConceptThe verb כָּבַד (kabed) pictures “weight” that can be either burdensome or splendid. It moves from literal heaviness to ideas of respect, importance, honor, glory, and, when twisted, obstinate hardness. About 115 times it colors narratives, law, poetry, and prophecy with both blessing and warning.
Spectrum of Meaning
• To honor or glorify (grant weight).
• To be honored or glorified (receive weight).
• To treat as weighty or burdensome (harden, dull).
• To be physically heavy, grievous, oppressive.
Occurrences in the Pentateuch
• Deliverance narrative: Pharaoh’s “heavy” heart (Exodus 7:14; 8:15, 32; 9:7, 34; 10:1) contrasts with the LORD’s plan to “gain glory for Myself through Pharaoh” (Exodus 14:4).
• Covenant ethics: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12;Deuteronomy 5:16).
• Priestly failure: Eli and his sons dishonor God; Eli himself “was old and heavy” (1 Samuel 4:18), an embodied warning.
Historical Narrative Usage
• David vows to become “even more contemptible” if only the LORD will be honored (2 Samuel 6:22).
• Solomon’s prayer: the temple exists that God’s name might be “honored” (1 Kings 8:11).
• Rehoboam threatens to make the yoke “heavier” (1 Kings 12:10), turning glory into oppression.
• The Chronicler stresses both bestowed honor (2 Chronicles 1:12) and heavy rebellion (2 Chronicles 10:11).
Prophetic Usage
• Isaiah promises restored glory: “The LORD will be glorified” (Isaiah 44:23).
• Hearts made “dull” (heavy) herald judgment (Isaiah 6:10).
• Jeremiah foresees a people God will “glorify” (Jeremiah 30:19).
•Ezekiel 39:21: God shows His glory to the nations.
Wisdom Literature
• “Honor the LORD with your wealth” (Proverbs 3:9).
• Honor to a fool is like “snow in summer” (Proverbs 26:1).
•Psalm 8:5 celebrates humanity crowned with “glory and honor.”
Positive Ethical Imperatives
1. Honor God in worship (Psalm 22:23;Isaiah 24:15).
2. Honor parents (Exodus 20:12).
3. Honor leaders who honor God (1 Samuel 2:30).
4. Honor the covenant Sabbath (Isaiah 58:13).
Negative Connotations
• Hardened hearts: Pharaoh (Exodus 7–10); Israel (Isaiah 6:10).
• Heavy sin and judgment:Lamentations 2:17.
• Oppressive rule: heavier yoke under Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:11).
Divine Glory and Presence
God’s “weight” manifests in redemption, judgment, and indwelling glory: Red Sea (Exodus 14:4), Carmel (1 Kings 18:36-39), future kingdom (Ezekiel 39:21).
Human Glory and Honor
Kings, priests, and saints receive honor as they reflect God: Solomon (2 Chronicles 1:12), the virtuous woman clothed in dignity (Proverbs 31:25).
Hardness of Heart
Weighty resistance exposes unbelief; preaching must confront dullness (Zechariah 7:12) and call to humble receptivity.
Corporate and Cultic Applications
• Sabbath honored (Isaiah 58:13).
• Offerings treated as weighty (Malachi 1:6-13).
• Israel chosen that God might be glorified (Isaiah 49:3).
Christological Foreshadowing
Isaiah 49:5 foretells the Servant “glorified” in God; New Testament fulfillment (John 13:31-32) shows the ultimate weight of divine glory resting on Christ.
Ministry Implications
• Preach God’s weight vs. idol lightness (Jeremiah 2:5).
• Shape worship that honors God’s presence (Isaiah 29:13).
• Build families on honoring parents (Ephesians 6:1-3).
• Model servant leadership, not oppressive heaviness (Matthew 20:26).
Key Passages for Study and Meditation
Exodus 14:4;Exodus 20:12;1 Samuel 2:30;1 Kings 12:11;Proverbs 3:9;Isaiah 6:10;Isaiah 58:13;Ezekiel 39:21;Malachi 1:6.
Selected Theological Reflections
• Glory is God’s essence; human honor is derivative.
• Withholding honor hardens the heart and invites judgment.
• Redemption’s aim is doxological—God gains glory in saving sinners.
• Giving proper weight to God and others forms a holy, healthy community.
Forms and Transliterations
אֲכַבֵּ֖ד אֲכַבֵּֽד׃ אֲכַבֶּדְךָ֔ אֲכַבֶּדְךָ֙ אִכָּבֵֽדָה׃ אֶכָּבֵ֑ד אַכְבִּיד֙ אכבד אכבד׃ אכבדה׃ אכבדך אכביד בְּהִכָּבְדִ֣י בַּנִּכְבָּֽד׃ בהכבדי בנכבד׃ הִֽתְכַּבְּדִ֖י הִכְבִּ֑יד הִכְבִּ֣יד הִכְבִּ֣ידוּ הִכְבִּ֥יד הִכְבִּ֥ידוּ הִכְבַּ֤דְתִּי הִכְבַּ֥דְתְּ הִכָּ֣בְדִ֔י הִכָּבֵד֙ הִתְכַּבֵּ֣ד הַֽמְכַבֵּ֨ד הַכְבֵּ֖ד הַנִּכְבָּ֤ד הכבד הכבדי הכבדת הכבדתי הכביד הכבידו המכבד הנכבד התכבד התכבדי וְ֝נִכְבְּדֵיהֶ֗ם וְאִכָּבְדָ֤ה וְאֶכָּבֵד֙ וְאֶכָּבְדָ֖ה וְהִכְבַּדְתִּ֖ים וְהַכְבֵּד֙ וְכִבַּדְנֽוּךָ׃ וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ֙ וְכָבַ֤ד וְנִכְבַּדְתִּ֖י וְנִכְבָּ֥ד וְנִכְבָּדִ֖ים וִֽיכַבְּד֣וּ וַֽאֲכַבְּדֵֽהוּ׃ וַֽתִּכְבְּדִ֛י וַאֲכַבְּדָ֖ה וַיִּכְבַּד֙ וַיַּכְבֵּ֤ד וַיַּכְבֵּ֥ד וַתְּכַבֵּ֤ד וַתִּכְבַּ֤ד וַתִּכְבַּ֧ד וַתִּכְבַּד֙ וּ֝מְכַבְּד֗וֹ וּֽתְכַבְּדֵֽנִי׃ וּמַכְבִּ֥יד ואכבד ואכבדה ואכבדהו׃ והכבד והכבדתים ויכבד ויכבדו וכבד וכבדנוך׃ וכבדתו ומכבדו ומכביד ונכבד ונכבדיהם ונכבדים ונכבדתי ותכבד ותכבדי ותכבדני׃ יְֽכַ֫בְּדָ֥נְנִי יְכַבְּד֣וּךָ יְכַבְּד֥וּ יְכַבֵּ֑ד יְכַבֵּ֛ד יְכַבֵּ֥ד יְכֻבָּֽד׃ יִכְבְּד֣וּ יִכְבְּד֥וּ יִכְבַּ֣ד יִכְבָּ֑ד יִכְבָּֽד׃ יכבד יכבד׃ יכבדו יכבדוך יכבדנני כִּבְּד֔וּנִי כִּבְּד֛וּ כִבַּדְתָּ֑נִי כַּבְּד֑וּהוּ כַּבְּד֣וּ כַּבְּדֵ֥נִי כַּבְּדֶֽךָ׃ כַּבֵּ֣ד כַּבֵּ֤ד כַּבֵּ֥ד כַבֵּ֤ד כָּבְד֣וּ כָּבְדָ֥ה כָּבֵ֑דָה כָּבֵ֣ד כָֽבְדָ֥ה כָבְדָ֖ה כָבְדָ֥ה כָבֵ֥ד כבד כבדה כבדו כבדוהו כבדוני כבדך׃ כבדני כבדתני לְהַכְבִּ֑יד להכביד מְכַבְּדֶ֤יהָ מְכַבְּדַ֥י מְכֻבָּ֔ד מִ֝מְּתַכַּבֵּ֗ד מכבד מכבדי מכבדיה ממתכבד נִ֭כְבָּדוֹת נִּכְבַּ֨ד נִכְבַּ֖ד נִכְבַּ֖דְתָּ נִכְבַּדֵּי־ נִכְבַּדֶּ֙יהָ֙ נִכְבָּ֑דְתָּ נִכְבָּ֔ד נִכְבָּ֖ד נִכְבָּד֙ נכבד נכבדות נכבדי־ נכבדיה נכבדת תְּ֝כַבֵּ֗דְךָ תְּכַבְּדֵ֙נִי֙ תְכַבְּדוּ֙ תִּכְבַּ֥ד תִּכְבַּ֧ד תכבד תכבדו תכבדך תכבדני ’ă·ḵab·bêḏ ’ă·ḵab·beḏ·ḵā ’aḵ·bîḏ ’ăḵabbêḏ ’ăḵabbeḏḵā ’aḵbîḏ ’ek·kā·ḇêḏ ’ekkāḇêḏ ’ik·kā·ḇê·ḏāh ’ikkāḇêḏāh achabBed achabbedCha achBid ban·niḵ·bāḏ bannichBad banniḵbāḏ bə·hik·kā·ḇə·ḏî bəhikkāḇəḏî behikkaveDi chabBed chaVed chaveDah chibbadTani ekkaVed hachBed haḵ·bêḏ haḵbêḏ ham·ḵab·bêḏ hamchabBed hamḵabbêḏ han·niḵ·bāḏ hannichBad hanniḵbāḏ hichBadt hichBadti hichBid hichBidu hiḵ·baḏ·tî hiḵ·baḏt hiḵ·bî·ḏū hiḵ·bîḏ hik·kā·ḇə·ḏî hik·kā·ḇêḏ hiḵbaḏt hiḵbaḏtî hiḵbîḏ hiḵbîḏū hikkāḇêḏ hikkāḇəḏî hikkaVed hikKaveDi hiṯ·kab·bə·ḏî hiṯ·kab·bêḏ hitkabBed hiṯkabbêḏ hitkabbeDi hiṯkabbəḏî ikkaVedah kā·ḇê·ḏāh kā·ḇə·ḏāh ḵā·ḇə·ḏāh kā·ḇə·ḏū kā·ḇêḏ ḵā·ḇêḏ kab·bə·ḏe·ḵā kab·bə·ḏê·nî kab·bə·ḏū kab·bə·ḏū·hū kab·bêḏ ḵab·bêḏ kabBed kabbêḏ ḵabbêḏ kabbeDecha kabbəḏeḵā kabbeDeni kabbəḏênî kabbeDu kabbəḏū kabbeDuhu kabbəḏūhū kāḇêḏ ḵāḇêḏ kāḇêḏāh kāḇəḏāh ḵāḇəḏāh kāḇəḏū kaVed kaVedah kaveDu ḵib·baḏ·tā·nî kib·bə·ḏū kib·bə·ḏū·nî ḵibbaḏtānî kibbeDu kibbəḏū kibbeDuni kibbəḏūnî lə·haḵ·bîḏ lehachBid ləhaḵbîḏ mə·ḵab·bə·ḏay mə·ḵab·bə·ḏe·hā mə·ḵub·bāḏ mechabbeDai mechabbeDeiha mechubBad məḵabbəḏay məḵabbəḏehā məḵubbāḏ mim·mə·ṯak·kab·bêḏ mimetakkabBed mimməṯakkabbêḏ nichBad nichbaddei nichbadDeiha nichBadeta Nichbadot nichBadta niḵ·bā·ḏə·tā niḵ·bā·ḏō·wṯ niḵ·baḏ niḵ·bāḏ niḵ·bad·dê- niḵ·bad·de·hā niḵ·baḏ·tā niḵbaḏ niḵbāḏ niḵbaddê- niḵbaddehā niḵbāḏətā niḵbāḏōwṯ niḵbaḏtā tə·ḵab·bê·ḏə·ḵā tə·ḵab·bə·ḏê·nî ṯə·ḵab·bə·ḏū techabBedecha techabbeDeni techabbeDu təḵabbêḏəḵā təḵabbəḏênî ṯəḵabbəḏū tichBad tiḵ·baḏ tiḵbaḏ ū·maḵ·bîḏ ū·mə·ḵab·bə·ḏōw ū·ṯə·ḵab·bə·ḏê·nî umachBid ūmaḵbîḏ umechabbeDo ūməḵabbəḏōw UtechabbeDeni ūṯəḵabbəḏênî vaachabbeDah VaachabbeDehu vaiyachBed vaiyichBad vattechabBed vattichBad vattichbeDi vechaVad vechibbadNucha vechibbadTo veekkaVed veekkaveDah vehachBed vehichbadTim veikkaveDah venichBad venichbaDim venichbadTi venichbedeiHem vichabbeDu wa’ăḵabbəḏāh wa’ăḵabbəḏêhū wa·’ă·ḵab·bə·ḏāh wa·’ă·ḵab·bə·ḏê·hū wat·tə·ḵab·bêḏ wat·tiḵ·baḏ wat·tiḵ·bə·ḏî wattəḵabbêḏ wattiḵbaḏ wattiḵbəḏî way·yaḵ·bêḏ way·yiḵ·baḏ wayyaḵbêḏ wayyiḵbaḏ wə’ekkāḇêḏ wə’ekkāḇəḏāh wə’ikkāḇəḏāh wə·’ek·kā·ḇə·ḏāh wə·’ek·kā·ḇêḏ wə·’ik·kā·ḇə·ḏāh wə·haḵ·bêḏ wə·hiḵ·baḏ·tîm wə·ḵā·ḇaḏ wə·ḵib·baḏ·nū·ḵā wə·ḵib·baḏ·tōw wə·niḵ·bā·ḏîm wə·niḵ·bāḏ wə·niḵ·baḏ·tî wə·niḵ·bə·ḏê·hem wəhaḵbêḏ wəhiḵbaḏtîm wəḵāḇaḏ wəḵibbaḏnūḵā wəḵibbaḏtōw wəniḵbāḏ wəniḵbāḏîm wəniḵbaḏtî wəniḵbəḏêhem wî·ḵab·bə·ḏū wîḵabbəḏū yə·ḵab·bə·ḏā·nə·nî yə·ḵab·bə·ḏū yə·ḵab·bə·ḏū·ḵā yə·ḵab·bêḏ yə·ḵub·bāḏ yechabBed yeChabbeDaneni yechabbeDu yechabbeDucha yechubBad yəḵabbêḏ yəḵabbəḏānənî yəḵabbəḏū yəḵabbəḏūḵā yəḵubbāḏ yichBad yichbeDu yiḵ·baḏ yiḵ·bāḏ yiḵ·bə·ḏū yiḵbaḏ yiḵbāḏ yiḵbəḏū
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