כּוּב
𐤊𐤅𐤁
Kuv
H3552 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A geographical name referring to a people or land, mentioned once in the Hebrew Bible (Ezekiel 30:5), likely designating a nation situated near Egypt. The precise location is uncertain, but it most likely refers to a region or tribal group bordering Egypt or Libya. The term does not denote an ethnic or religious identity but functions as a toponym (place name) for a non-Israelite population.
Semantic Range
proper place name, people group or territory near Egypt, possibly in North Africa or Libya
Root / Etymology
Of foreign derivation; the term כּוּב does not derive from a known Hebrew root and is considered a loanword or a transliteration from an as-yet unidentified Northwest African or Egyptian source.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The only biblical occurrence of כּוּב is in Ezekiel 30:5, where it occurs in a list of nations threatened with destruction alongside Egypt. Its foreign derivation and the context strongly suggest it refers to a neighbor or ally of Egypt, most often associated with North Africa or Libya. Some scholars have proposed an identification with the ancient people or land called Kufa, or even with Qob, although clear evidence is lacking. The Septuagint renders the term as "Kub", and later traditions sometimes associate it with African territories. English translations frequently keep the name in transliteration (Kub or Chub), reflecting the uncertain identification. There is no evidence the term refers to an ethnic Israelite, Judahite, or later Judean group. Its occurrence is limited to a geopolitical, not religious or ethnic, context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of foreign derivation; Kub, a country near Egypt; Chub.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כוב (k-w-b) — unknown; foreign place name
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3552-01 |
וְ/כ֔וּב | vekhuv | HC/Np |
and Cub | and Kub | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3552-01 |
Ezekiel 30:5 | וְ/כ֔וּב | vekhuv | HC/Np |
and Cub | and Kub |