כַּבִּיר
𐤊𐤁𐤉𐤓
kabbîyr
H3524 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
An adjective denoting one who is great in might, strength, or power; also, by extension, prominent or important. In various contexts, applies to individuals, deities, or (poetically) abstract forces (e.g., death). May describe notable persons (rulers, leaders) or the quality of being superior in strength or influence. Occasionally connotes being greater in age (venerable) or abundance, though physical might is primary.
Semantic Range
mighty, powerful, strong, prominent, important, vast in extent, abundant, great in age (venerable)
Root / Etymology
From the root כ-ב-ר, meaning 'to be great or abundant.' The semantic development proceeds from the idea of physical or figurative greatness or largeness, with כַּבִּיר ('great, mighty, powerful') reflecting an adjectival form that describes entities of marked strength, influence, or size.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Predominantly poetic in usage (notably in Job, Psalms, and Isaiah). In the Hebrew Bible, כַּבִּיר is applied both to human leaders (e.g., mighty ones in battle or ruling figures) and to divine or supernatural power (often, but not exclusively, attributed to Israel's deity). Its use for non-human or abstract forces (e.g., the 'might' of death in Job 34:20) suggests an extension of the concept from personal might to more impersonal force. The KJV often translates כַּבִּיר as 'mighty,' 'valiant,' or 'strong,' but some renderings (like 'aged' or 'feeble') are context-specific and do not reflect the word's primary sense. Later Hebrew tends not to use the term frequently, and its root is distinct from כָּבֵד (heavy) despite visual similarity. Related terms: גִּבּוֹר (gibbôr, 'mighty man, warrior') more commonly refers to warriors or heroes, while כַּבִּיר is more often poetic, rarer, and not inherently martial.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּבַר; vast, whether in extent (figuratively, of power, mighty; of time, aged), or in number, many; [phrase] feeble, mighty, most, much, strong, valiant.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כבר (k-b-r) — to be great, abundant, increase
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1247 | בַּר | Kebar Canal |
| H3523 | כְּבִיר | plaited bedding |
| H3527 | כָּבַר | he causes to multiply |
| H3528 | כְּבָר | in that already |
| H3529 | כְּבָר | Kebar Canal |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3524-01 |
כַּ֝בִּיר | kabir | HAamsa |
mighty | mighty | 5 |
H3524-02 |
כַּבִּירִ֖ים | kabirim | HAampa |
mighty | mighty ones | 3 |
H3524-03 |
כַבִּֽיר | khabir | HAamsa |
mighty | mighty | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3524-03 |
Isaiah 16:14 | כַבִּֽיר | khabir | HAamsa |
mighty | mighty |
H3524-02 |
Isaiah 17:12 | כַּבִּירִ֖ים | kabirim | HAampa |
mighty | mighty ones |
H3524-02 |
Isaiah 28:2 | כַּבִּירִ֥ים | kabirim | HAampa |
mighty | mighty ones |
H3524-01 |
Job 8:2 | כַּ֝בִּיר | kabir | HAamsa |
mighty | mighty |
H3524-01 |
Job 15:10 | כַּבִּ֖יר | kabir | HAamsa |
greater | mighty |
H3524-03 |
Job 31:25 | כַ֝בִּ֗יר | khabir | HAamsa |
powerful | mighty |
H3524-01 |
Job 34:17 | כַּבִּ֣יר | kabir | HAamsa |
mighty | mighty |
H3524-02 |
Job 34:24 | כַּבִּירִ֣ים | kabirim | HAampa |
mighty men | mighty ones |
H3524-01 |
Job 36:5 | כַּ֭בִּיר | kabir | HAamsa |
is mighty | mighty |
H3524-01 |
Job 36:5 | כַּ֝בִּ֗יר | kabir-2 | HAamsa |
mighty | mighty |