קֶבֶר
𐤒𐤁𐤓
qeber
H6913 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Physical place where a human body is interred after death; specifically, a grave, burial place, or tomb. In biblical contexts, denotes a marked or unmarked location—often a pit, cave, or constructed chamber—serving as the final resting place for the deceased, either individually or as a family unit. The term's semantic range includes usage for simple individual graves, family burial caves, and at times more monumental tombs, though rarely denoting lavish built mausolea.
Semantic Range
grave, burial place, sepulchre, tomb, site of interment, family tomb, burial cave
Root / Etymology
Root: קבר (q-b-r), meaning 'to bury.' Qeber is a nominal formation from the root verb, carrying the sense of the place associated with the burial act. The core meaning of the root is 'to bury,' whereas qeber specifically denotes the location resulting from the burial process—the grave.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Appears across the Hebrew Bible in prose and poetic passages. In patriarchal and monarchic narratives (e.g., Genesis, Kings, Chronicles), qeber typically refers to family burial sites such as caves or plots; collective burial practices are implied in several passages (e.g., 'buried with their ancestors'). The term may indicate a degree of permanence and respect, but does not inherently imply monumental construction (as opposed to more elaborate Near Eastern tombs of other cultures). Compared to the related noun קִבְרָה (qibrah, fem.), qeber is more frequent and is the standard word for a grave. Unlike שְׁאוֹל (she'ol), which refers to the realm of the dead in more metaphysical terms, qeber always refers to the physical place of burial. English 'grave' generally matches the biblical meaning, but 'sepulchre,' used in older translations, captures the sense of a place set apart for burial but can suggest greater monumentality than is often warranted by the ancient context. No evidence suggests exclusive use for Israelites, and the term is used of graves for both Israelites and non-Israelites throughout the biblical text.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (feminine) קִבְרָה; from קָבַר; a sepulchre; burying place, grave, sepulchre.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קבר (q-b-r) — to bury, inter
Word Forms
33 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6913-19 |
קֶ֨בֶר֙ | qever | HNcmsa |
grave | burial-place | 9 |
H6913-16 |
קָֽבֶר | qaver | HNcmsa |
of a burial place | burial place | 7 |
H6913-03 |
בְּ/קֶ֨בֶר֙ | beqever | HR/Ncmsc |
in the tomb | in a grave | 6 |
H6913-21 |
קִבְרֵ֖י | qiverey | HNcmpc |
graves | graves of | 3 |
H6913-06 |
בְּ/קִבְר֥וֹת | beqiverot | HR/Ncmpc |
in the tombs | in graves of | 3 |
H6913-23 |
קִבְר֛/וֹ | qivero | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his grave | his burial-place | 3 |
H6913-07 |
הַ/קְּבָרִ֤ים | haqevarim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the tombs | the graves | 3 |
H6913-28 |
קִבְרֹתֶי/ךָ֮ | qiveroteykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your graves | your burial-places | 2 |
H6913-15 |
מִ/קִּבְרוֹתֵי/כֶ֖ם | miqiveroteykhem | HR/Ncmpc/Sp2mp |
from your graves | from your burial-places | 2 |
H6913-24 |
קִבְר֤וֹת | qiverot | HNcmpc |
graves | burial places | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
67 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6913-19 |
Genesis 23:4 | קֶ֨בֶר֙ | qever | HNcmsa |
of a burying place | burial-place |
H6913-17 |
Genesis 23:6 | קְבָרֵ֔י/נוּ | qevareynu | HNcmpc/Sp1cp |
of our graves | our burial-places |
H6913-23 |
Genesis 23:6 | קִבְר֛/וֹ | qivero | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his grave | his burial-place |
H6913-16 |
Genesis 23:9 | קָֽבֶר | qaver | HNcmsa |
of a burial place | burial place |
H6913-16 |
Genesis 23:20 | קָ֑בֶר | qaver | HNcmsa |
of a burial place | burial place |
H6913-16 |
Genesis 49:30 | קָֽבֶר | qaver | HNcmsa |
of a burial place | burial place |
H6913-04 |
Genesis 50:5 | בְּ/קִבְרִ֗/י | beqiveri | HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
in my grave | in my burial-place |
H6913-19 |
Genesis 50:13 | קֶ֗בֶר | qever | HNcmsa |
of a burying place | burial-place |
H6913-18 |
Exodus 14:11 | קְבָרִים֙ | qevarim | HNcmpa |
graves | burial places |
H6913-31 |
Numbers 19:16 | בְ/קָ֑בֶר | veqaver | HR/Ncmsa |
a grave | in a burial-place |