Lexical Summary keeb: Stomach, belly Original Word: כְּאֵב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance grief, pain, sorrow From ka'ab; suffering (physical or mental), adversity -- grief, pain, sorrow. see HEBREW ka'ab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kaab Definition a pain NASB Translation heavy (1), pain (4), sorrow (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs כְּאֵב noun masculineJob 2:13 pain; — ׳כ absolute Job 2:13; Isaiah 17:11; construct Isaiah 65:14; suffix כְּאֵבִי Job 16:6 2t.; — pain, mental and physical Job 2:13; Job 16:6 perhaps also Psalm 39:3; אָנוּשׁ ׳כּ (in disappointment and disaster) Isaiah 17:11 ("" נַחֲלָה from חָלָה); mental, לֵֿב׳כּ Isaiah 65:14 ("" שֵׁבֶר רוּחַ) so Jeremiah 15:18 ("" מַכָּה figurative) Topical Lexicon Concept Overview The term describes acute inner or outer distress—physical agony, emotional torment, and spiritual anguish—that arises from the rupture of life as God intended it. Scripture uses the word to voice the cry of individuals and nations who encounter suffering, and to expose the cost of rebellion against the Lord, the weight of life in a fallen world, and the yearning for ultimate healing. Distribution in Scripture • Personal affliction: Job 2:13; Job 16:6 Together these six texts span Wisdom, Poetry, Prophecy, and Lamentation, demonstrating that pain is neither random nor ignored by God but woven into the larger redemptive story. Individual Anguish in Job Job’s silent companions “saw that his suffering was very intense” (Job 2:13). Their wordless presence highlights the ministry of shared lament. Later, Job confesses, “If I speak, my pain is not relieved” (Job 16:6), underscoring the limits of human discourse and the necessity of divine intervention. The book invites believers to bring unfiltered agony before God while refusing to sever faith from honest complaint. Suppressed Sorrow in Psalm 39 “I was speechless and silent… and my sorrow was stirred” (Psalm 39:2). David’s attempt to muzzle his grief only inflames it. The verse warns against stoic suppression and commends prayerful disclosure. Worship embraces lament; pain voiced before the Lord becomes part of covenant dialogue rather than faithless murmuring. National Judgment in Isaiah 17 Agricultural imagery depicts a bustling planting season that ends in “incurable pain” (Isaiah 17:11). The prophecy applies the vocabulary of personal anguish to collective disaster. When a people trust human strength and foreign alliances, the harvest of self-reliance is grief. The text speaks to communities today that elevate prosperity over covenant fidelity. Eschatological Contrast in Isaiah 65 The coming new heavens and earth divide humanity: “You will cry out with sorrow of heart” (Isaiah 65:14), while God’s servants rejoice. Pain is not the final word for the faithful; it is the inheritance of those who refuse the Lord’s gracious call. The verse anticipates Revelation 21:4, where God wipes away every tear, affirming the consistency of the biblical hope. Prophetic Lament in Jeremiah 15 “Why is my pain unending and my wound incurable?” (Jeremiah 15:18). Jeremiah’s personal grief merges with the nation’s impending judgment. The prophet models vulnerability in ministry; faithful service does not exempt God’s messenger from deep wounds. His lament receives God’s corrective yet compassionate reply (15:19-21), showing that divine calling includes both suffering and sustaining grace. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern texts often interpret pain as random or dictated by capricious deities. In Israel’s Scripture, however, anguish is relational: it may be disciplinary (Isaiah), empathetic (Job’s friends), or developmental (Psalmist), but always under God’s sovereign oversight. This worldview dignifies sufferers with meaning and invites them into covenant dialogue rather than fatalistic resignation. Theological Themes 1. The Fall and its ripple effects: Pain signals the world’s disorder post-Eden. Ministry Implications • Lament is a legitimate act of faith; churches should give space for honest grief. Related Biblical Motifs Sickness (Isaiah 1:5-6), groaning (Romans 8:22-23), wounds (Psalm 147:3), tears (Psalm 56:8; Revelation 21:4). Eschatological Hope While pain is pervasive, it is not permanent. The arc from Job’s ashes to Isaiah’s new creation and Jeremiah’s promised restoration culminates in the Messiah who “bore our griefs” (Isaiah 53:4). The word’s sparse but strategic appearances sketch the silhouette of a Redeemer who transforms ke’ev into everlasting joy. Forms and Transliterations הַכְּאֵ֖ב הכאב וּכְאֵ֥ב וּכְאֵבִ֥י וכאב וכאבי כְּאֵבִ֑י כְאֵבִי֙ כאבי מִכְּאֵ֣ב מכאב cheeVi hak·kə·’êḇ hakkə’êḇ hakkeEv kə’êḇî ḵə’êḇî kə·’ê·ḇî ḵə·’ê·ḇî keeVi mik·kə·’êḇ mikkə’êḇ mikkeEv ū·ḵə·’ê·ḇî ū·ḵə·’êḇ ucheEv ucheeVi ūḵə’êḇ ūḵə’êḇîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 2:13 HEB: כִּֽי־ גָדַ֥ל הַכְּאֵ֖ב מְאֹֽד׃ NAS: to him, for they saw that [his] pain was very KJV: unto him: for they saw that [his] grief was very INT: for great that pain was very Job 16:6 Psalm 39:2 Isaiah 17:11 Isaiah 65:14 Jeremiah 15:18 6 Occurrences |
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