← H3522 H3524 →

כְּבִיר

𐤊𐤁𐤉𐤓

kᵉbîyr

H3523 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כבר to plait, to intertwine, to braid

Definition

A thick woven or plaited layer used as padding or support, typically referring to a mattress, cushion, or pillow made from intertwined plant materials or textiles. Used particularly as bedding or as a soft resting place.

Semantic Range

mattress, thick bedding, woven cushion, pillow, a plaited or intertwined pad for sleeping or resting

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology: Root is כבר (K-B-R), which at root level means 'to plait, intertwine, braid.' כְּבִיר (kᵉbîyr) derives from this root and denotes an object made by weaving or braiding materials together, i.e., a mattress or cushion.

Historical & Contextual Notes

כְּבִיר occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in 1 Samuel 19:13 and 1 Samuel 19:16, where it refers to an item used as a substitute for Saul in his bed—a thick mattress or cushion made of woven materials. The term highlights the use of plaited plant fibers, textiles, or other materials for bedding—a common practice in the ancient Near East, contrasting with modern concepts of mattresses that involve springs or foam. Though often translated as 'pillow' or 'mattress,' כְּבִיר may refer to a substantial bedding component, not just a headrest, but the entire layer of woven materials placed on a bed frame or directly on the ground. This term is distinct from other words for bedding in Biblical Hebrew, such as מִטָּה (mittāh, 'bed') or כֶּסֶת (keset, 'cushion'), emphasizing the method of manufacture (interwoven or braided). Standard English translations may render the word as 'pillow' or 'mattress,' but both are approximations: ancient bedding often lacked the distinct divisions found in modern bedding terminology.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from כָּבַר in the original sense of plaiting; a matrass (of intertwined materials); pillow.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

כבר (k-b-r) — to plait, to intertwine, to braid

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1247 בַּר Kebar Canal
H3524 כַּבִּיר mighty
H3527 כָּבַר he causes to multiply
H3528 כְּבָר in that already
H3529 כְּבָר Kebar Canal

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3523-02 וּ/כְבִ֥יר ukhevir HC/Ncmsc and the quilt and plaited mattress of 1
H3523-01 כְּבִ֣יר kevir HNcmsc quilt plaited bedding 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3523-01 1 Samuel 19:13 כְּבִ֣יר kevir HNcmsc quilt plaited bedding
H3523-02 1 Samuel 19:16 וּ/כְבִ֥יר ukhevir HC/Ncmsc and the quilt and plaited mattress of
← H3522 Hebrew Lexicon H3524 →