6895. qabab

Lexicon

qabab: To curse, to invoke harm

Original Word: קָבַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qabab
Pronunciation: kah-BAB
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-bab')
Definition: To curse, to invoke harm
Meaning: to scoop out, to malign, execrate

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

curse

A primitive root; to scoop out, i.e. (figuratively) to malign or execrate (i.e. Stab with words) -- X at all, curse.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to utter a curse against, curse
NASB Translation
blasphemed (1), curse (10), curse them at all (1), cursed (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. [קָבַב] verb utter a curse against, curse (compare [ב] יקו Ecclus 41:7); —

Qal curse, with accusative, usually person: Perfect3masculine singular suffix קַכֹּה (Ges^{§ 58d}) Numbers 23:8; 2masculine singular suffix consecutive וְקַכֹּתוֺ Numbers 23:27; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִּקֹּב (Ges^{§ 67g}) Leviticus 24:11 (with accusative אֶתהַֿשֵּׁם); 2 masculine singular suffix תִּקֳּבֶנּוּ Numbers 23:25 (+ Infinitive absolute); 1 singular אֶקֹּב Numbers 23:8 (object omitted); וָאֶקּוֺב נָוֵהוּ Job 5:3 (probably corrupt; ᵐ5 Du read וַיִּדְקַב, compare Me Bi Siegf Beer; וַיִּמָּקֵד Bu; וַיוּקַב Che^{JQ July, 1897, 575}; וַיִּבֹּק Bev^{JPhil, xxvi. 308} (compare Isaiah 24:1,3; Jeremiah 51:2; Nahum 2:3)); 3masculine plural suffix יִקְּבֻהוּ Job 3:8; Proverbs 11:26; Proverbs 24:24; Imperative masculine singular קָֽבָהלִּֿי (Ges^{§ 67p} Kö^{i. 329 ff.}) Numbers 22:11,17, suffix 3masculine singular וְקָבְנרֹלִי (Ges^{§ 67o}) Numbers 23:13 (all J E; all + לִי as dativus commodi [dative of benefit], so also Numbers 23:27 see Perfect above); Infinitive absolute קֹב Numbers 23:25 (+ Imperfect); Infinitive construct לָקֹב Numbers 23:11; Numbers 24:10.

קבה (√ of following (compare Dl^{Pr 113} Kö^{ii.1, 185}): Arabic echinus, i.e. stomachi pars pelliculata; Syriac is collect, contain, water, cistern; Ethiopic have dropsy; Late Hebrew קֵבָה = Biblical Hebrew)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2671 (κατάρα • katara): This Greek term is used in the New Testament to denote a curse or an imprecation. It reflects a similar concept to קָבַב, where words are used to invoke harm or divine judgment.

• G2672 (καταράομαι • kataraomai): This is the verb form related to G2671, meaning to curse or to call down curses upon someone. It is used in contexts where individuals are actively pronouncing curses.

These Greek terms capture the essence of the Hebrew קָבַב, emphasizing the power and significance of spoken words in both blessing and cursing within the biblical narrative.

Usage: The verb קָבַב (qabab) is used in the context of cursing or pronouncing a curse. It appears in the Hebrew Bible in narratives where individuals or groups are subjected to curses or maledictions.

Context: The Hebrew verb קָבַב (qabab) is a primitive root that primarily conveys the act of cursing or execrating. It is used in the context of invoking harm or misfortune upon someone or something through spoken words. The term is often associated with the power of words to bring about negative consequences, reflecting the ancient belief in the efficacy of blessings and curses.

In the Old Testament, קָבַב is notably used in the narrative of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, who is summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Despite Balak's insistence, Balaam is unable to curse the Israelites because God has blessed them. This account highlights the belief that true curses and blessings are ultimately subject to divine will.

Example from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB):
• Numbers 23:8: "How can I curse what God has not cursed? How can I denounce what the LORD has not denounced?"

The use of קָבַב in this context underscores the futility of attempting to curse those whom God has chosen to bless. It also illustrates the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty over human intentions and actions.

Forms and Transliterations

וְקַבֹּ֥תוֹ וְקָבְנוֹ־ וקבנו־ וקבתו לָקֹ֤ב לקב קַבֹּ֖ה קָֽבָה־ קֹ֖ב קב קבה קבה־ kabBoh kavah ko lā·qōḇ laKo lāqōḇ qā·ḇāh- qab·bōh qāḇāh- qabbōh qōḇ vekabBotov vekavenov wə·qā·ḇə·nōw- wə·qab·bō·ṯōw wəqabbōṯōw wəqāḇənōw-

Englishman's Concordance

Numbers 22:11
HEB: עַתָּ֗ה לְכָ֤ה קָֽבָה־ לִּי֙ אֹת֔וֹ
NAS: come, curse them for me; perhaps
KJV: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able
INT: now come curse perhaps may be able

Numbers 22:17
HEB: וּלְכָה־ נָּא֙ קָֽבָה־ לִּ֔י אֵ֖ת
NAS: come then, curse this
KJV: unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
INT: come Please curse people this

Numbers 23:8
HEB: אֶקֹּ֔ב לֹ֥א קַבֹּ֖ה אֵ֑ל וּמָ֣ה
NAS: How shall I curse whom God
KJV: whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy,
INT: curse shall I curse God How

Numbers 23:11
HEB: עָשִׂ֖יתָ לִ֑י לָקֹ֤ב אֹיְבַי֙ לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ
NAS: to me? I took you to curse my enemies,
KJV: unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies,
INT: What done to curse enemies took

Numbers 23:13
HEB: לֹ֣א תִרְאֶ֑ה וְקָבְנוֹ־ לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃
NAS: all of them; and curse them for me from there.
KJV: part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.
INT: and will not see and curse there

Numbers 23:25
HEB: בִּלְעָ֔ם גַּם־ קֹ֖ב לֹ֣א תִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּ
NAS: to Balaam, Do not curse them at all nor
KJV: Neither curse them at all, nor bless
INT: Balaam not curse nor curse

Numbers 23:27
HEB: בְּעֵינֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקַבֹּ֥תוֹ לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃
NAS: with God that you curse them for me from there.
KJV: God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.
INT: affliction God you curse there

Numbers 24:10
HEB: אֶל־ בִּלְעָ֗ם לָקֹ֤ב אֹֽיְבַי֙ קְרָאתִ֔יךָ
NAS: I called you to curse my enemies,
KJV: I called thee to curse mine enemies,
INT: against to Balaam to curse enemies called

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6895
8 Occurrences

qab·bōh — 1 Occ.
qā·ḇāh- — 2 Occ.
qōḇ — 1 Occ.
lā·qōḇ — 2 Occ.
wə·qab·bō·ṯōw — 1 Occ.
wə·qā·ḇə·nōw- — 1 Occ.