Lexical Summary kisbah: Ewe lamb Original Word: כִּשְׂבָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lamb Feminine of keseb; a young ewe -- lamb. see HEBREW keseb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of keseb Definition a ewe lamb NASB Translation lamb (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs כִּשְׂבָּה noun feminine ewe-lamb Leviticus 5:6 (P). Topical Lexicon Definition and Context כִּשְׂבָּה appears once in the Hebrew Scriptures, in Leviticus 5:6. The term denotes a female lamb, specifically one presented for a sin offering when an Israelite has sinned unintentionally and becomes aware of personal guilt. Its placement in a chapter devoted to trespass and sin offerings highlights the importance of accessible atonement for all members of the covenant community. Place in the Levitical Sacrificial System Leviticus distinguishes several offerings—the burnt, grain, peace, sin, and guilt offerings—each teaching Israel a facet of holiness. The female lamb of Leviticus 5:6 serves within the sin offering (Hebrew ḥaṭṭāʾt). Unlike the burnt offering, which required a male without blemish (Leviticus 1:3), the sin offering for common Israelites could be either “a female lamb or goat” (Leviticus 5:6). The option of a כִּשְׂבָּה underscores two pastoral truths: 1. Accessibility: A female lamb was less costly than many male animals, ensuring that even poorer worshipers could obey the Lord’s statutes. Symbolic and Theological Significance 1. Innocence and Purity: Lambs, by nature gentle and unblemished, portray sinlessness—necessary for an acceptable sacrifice (compare Exodus 12:5). Historical Background In Ancient Near Eastern culture, lambs were staples of pastoral life. A female lamb, valuable for breeding, represented a meaningful cost without being prohibitive. The Mosaic Law’s graduated sacrifices (Leviticus 5:7–13) move from a female lamb to two turtledoves or pigeons, and finally to a grain offering for the very poor, portraying divine compassion in economic diversity while maintaining the necessity of blood atonement whenever possible (Hebrews 9:22). Prophetic Trajectory and New Testament Fulfillment While Leviticus 5 uses a feminine noun, the broader “lamb” typology finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Isaiah foresaw Messiah “like a lamb led to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7), language appropriated by Peter: “You were redeemed… with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18–19). The solitary כִּשְׂבָּה incident therefore participates in a prophetic mosaic culminating at Calvary. Practical Ministry Application 1. Assurance of Forgiveness: The once-for-all atonement in Christ grants believers confidence that every confessed sin is covered (1 John 1:9). Related Biblical Themes and Passages • Exodus 12:5 – Passover lamb requirements. Summary The single occurrence of כִּשְׂבָּה enriches the theology of sacrifice by highlighting God’s provision of an affordable, yet still spotless, substitute for sin. It prefigures the ultimate, sufficient Lamb whose death secures eternal redemption and informs Christian worship marked by gratitude, humility, and obedience. Forms and Transliterations כִּשְׂבָּ֛ה כשבה kiś·bāh kisBah kiśbāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 5:6 HEB: מִן־ הַצֹּ֥אן כִּשְׂבָּ֛ה אֽוֹ־ שְׂעִירַ֥ת NAS: from the flock, a lamb or KJV: from the flock, a lamb or a kid INT: from the flock A lamb or A kid 1 Occurrence |
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