3544. keheh
Lexical Summary
keheh: Dim, faint, dull

Original Word: כֵּהֶה
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: keheh
Pronunciation: keh-heh
Phonetic Spelling: (kay-heh')
KJV: somewhat dark, darkish, wax dim, heaviness, smoking
NASB: dim, faded, dimly, faint, fainting
Word Origin: [from H3543 (כָּהָה - To grow dim)]

1. feeble, obscure

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
somewhat dark, darkish, wax dim, heaviness, smoking

From kahah; feeble, obscure -- somewhat dark, darkish, wax dim, heaviness, smoking.

see HEBREW kahah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from kahah
Definition
dim, dull, faint
NASB Translation
dim (3), dimly (1), faded (3), faint (1), fainting (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[כֵּהֶה] adjective dim, dull, faint; only feminine כֵּהָה Leviticus 13:6 6t.; plural כֵּהוֺת Leviticus 13:39; 1 Samuel 3:2; — dim, of eyes 1 Samuel 3:2; of burning wick (׳כִּשְׁתָּה כ) Isaiah 42:3; dull (in colour, of plague-spots) Leviticus 13:6,21,26,39,56; figurative = faint ׳רוּחַ כ Isaiah 61:3 (opposed to מַעֲטֵה תְהִלָּה).

Topical Lexicon
Root Idea

The adjective conveys dullness, faintness, dimness, or weakness, whether of color, light, eyesight, or spirit. Scripture uses this nuance to contrast what is fading with what is vivid, what is fragile with what endures.

Levitical Diagnosis of Skin Disease

Six of the nine occurrences appear in Leviticus 13 (verses 6, 21, 26, 28, 39, 56). Here the priest must decide between contagious tsaraath and harmless discoloration. A “dull” (כֵּהֶה) spot, mark, or hair signals that the affliction is subsiding or is non-infectious, and the person may be declared clean. This meticulous discernment guarded Israel’s worship and social health, illustrating that holiness involves careful attention even to seemingly minor details (compare Numbers 5:2-3).

Historical and Theological Significance

1. Public health: Long before germ theory, the Law provided a practical quarantine system balanced by mercy; kêhéh identified conditions that did not require isolation.
2. Spiritual analogy: As slight discolorations needed examination, so hidden sins require honest self-scrutiny (Psalm 139:23–24). What looks minor may still need priestly—now Christly—oversight.

Narrative Illustration: Eli’s Failing Vision

1 Samuel 3:2 describes aged Eli whose “eyesight had grown dim”. Physical dimness mirrors the spiritual dullness of a priesthood tolerating corruption (1 Samuel 2:12–17, 22–25). The word subtly prepares readers for the fresh prophetic light dawning through Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1, 21).

Prophetic Imagery

Isaiah employs kêhéh with rich pastoral overtones.

Isaiah 42:3: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish.” The “smoldering” wick pictures a lamp barely alight. Messiah nurtures faint faith until it flames, embodying divine gentleness later echoed in Matthew 12:20.

Isaiah 61:3: The Servant comes “to console those who mourn in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” The “spirit of despair” (kêhéh) is a soul sagging under grief. The Gospel replaces dull heaviness with exuberant worship, anticipating Pentecost’s outpouring of joy (Acts 2:4, 46–47).

Ministry Applications

• Discernment: Pastors must notice early signs of spiritual dullness in themselves and others (Hebrews 5:14), restoring gently before the condition deepens (Galatians 6:1).

• Compassion: Christ’s refusal to snuff out the smoldering wick guides counseling—nurture faint hope rather than condemn it.

• Renewal: Believers weighed down by a “spirit of despair” may claim the exchange of Isaiah 61:3, praying for the Spirit’s oil and lifting the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15).

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus unites the priestly and prophetic dimensions of kêhéh. As Priest He examines our blemishes yet pronounces clean all who trust Him (Mark 1:40–42). As Light of the World (John 8:12) He dispels dimness. As the Servant He lovingly fans weak faith into robust flame (2 Timothy 1:6). Thus the term ultimately points to redemption that transforms what is dull, faint, and failing into purity, brightness, and praise.

Forms and Transliterations
כֵּה֣וֹת כֵּהָ֑ה כֵּהָ֣ה כֵה֔וֹת כֵהָ֑ה כֵהָ֔ה כֵהָ֖ה כהה כהות cheHah cheHot kê·hāh ḵê·hāh kê·hō·wṯ ḵê·hō·wṯ keHah kêhāh ḵêhāh keHot kêhōwṯ ḵêhōwṯ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 13:6
HEB: שֵׁנִית֒ וְהִנֵּה֙ כֵּהָ֣ה הַנֶּ֔גַע וְלֹא־
NAS: the infection has faded and the mark
KJV: and, behold, [if] the plague [be] somewhat dark, [and] the plague
INT: again and if has faded the infection has not

Leviticus 13:21
HEB: הָע֖וֹר וְהִ֣יא כֵהָ֑ה וְהִסְגִּיר֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן
NAS: the skin and is faded, then the priest
KJV: than the skin, but [be] somewhat dark; then the priest
INT: the skin and is faded shall isolate the priest

Leviticus 13:26
HEB: הָע֖וֹר וְהִ֣וא כֵהָ֑ה וְהִסְגִּיר֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן
NAS: the skin, but is dim, then the priest
KJV: than the [other] skin, but [be] somewhat dark; then the priest
INT: the skin he is dim shall isolate the priest

Leviticus 13:28
HEB: בָעוֹר֙ וְהִ֣וא כֵהָ֔ה שְׂאֵ֥ת הַמִּכְוָ֖ה
NAS: in the skin, but is dim, it is the swelling
KJV: not in the skin, but it [be] somewhat dark; it [is] a rising
INT: the skin he is dim is the swelling the burn

Leviticus 13:39
HEB: בְּשָׂרָ֛ם בֶּהָרֹ֖ת כֵּה֣וֹת לְבָנֹ֑ת בֹּ֥הַק
NAS: of their bodies are a faint white,
KJV: of their flesh [be] darkish white;
INT: of their bodies the bright faint white is eczema

Leviticus 13:56
HEB: הַכֹּהֵן֒ וְהִנֵּה֙ כֵּהָ֣ה הַנֶּ֔גַע אַחֲרֵ֖י
NAS: the mark has faded after
KJV: and, behold, the plague [be] somewhat dark after
INT: the priest and if has faded the mark after

1 Samuel 3:2
HEB: ק) הֵחֵ֣לּוּ כֵה֔וֹת לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל
NAS: had begun to grow dim [and] he could
KJV: began to wax dim, [that] he could
INT: affliction had begun dim he could

Isaiah 42:3
HEB: יִשְׁבּ֔וֹר וּפִשְׁתָּ֥ה כֵהָ֖ה לֹ֣א יְכַבֶּ֑נָּה
NAS: He will not break And a dimly burning wick
KJV: shall he not break, and the smoking flax
INT: break wick dimly He will not extinguish

Isaiah 61:3
HEB: תַּ֖חַת ר֣וּחַ כֵּהָ֑ה וְקֹרָ֤א לָהֶם֙
NAS: of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called
KJV: for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called
INT: instead of a spirit of fainting will be called oaks

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3544
9 Occurrences


ḵê·hāh — 4 Occ.
ḵê·hō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
kê·hāh — 3 Occ.
kê·hō·wṯ — 1 Occ.

3543b
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