6896. qebah
Lexical Summary
qebah: stomach, belly

Original Word: קֵבָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: qebah
Pronunciation: keh-BAH
Phonetic Spelling: (kay-baw')
KJV: maw
NASB: body, stomach
Word Origin: [from H6895 (קָבַב - curse)]

1. the paunch (as a cavity) or first stomach of ruminants

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
maw

From qabab; the paunch (as a cavity) or first stomach of ruminants -- maw.

see HEBREW qabab

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
stomach, belly
NASB Translation
body (1), stomach (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
קֵבָה, suffix קֳבָתָהּ (Köl.c. compare Ges§ 10h)

noun feminine stomach, belly; —

1 absolute ׳הַקּ fo sacrificial victim, assigned to priest Deuteronomy 18:3, ᵐ5 τὸ ἔνυστρον, i.e. fourth stomach of ruminants (compare Dr), ᵑ9 ventriculum.

2 suffix of woman, apparently more Generally, belly Numbers 25:8 (P).

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Setting

קֵבָה appears only once, in Deuteronomy 18:3, within the legislation concerning the material support of the Levitical priests. The verse reads, “This shall be the priests’ share from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: They are to give to the priest the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach”. The “stomach”—the inner pouch or maw of a slaughtered animal—completes a three-part gift intended to sustain the priestly household.

Cultic and Priestly Significance

1. Representative Portion.
• Shoulder: strength and labor.
• Cheeks: honor and speech.
• Stomach: inward life and sustenance.

Together they depict a whole offering, reminding both worshiper and priest that ministry requires comprehensive support.

2. Guarantee of Provision.

At the slaughter site the donor could not withhold the stomach; it had to be physically detached and handed to the priest. The regulation therefore functioned as a concrete safeguard ensuring that priests received more than symbolic remuneration (compare Numbers 18:8-11).

3. Contrast with Pagan Practice.

Contemporary Near-Eastern religions often reserved inner organs for divination. Israel’s Torah redirects the organ to priestly maintenance, insisting that sacrificial worship serve fellowship with God rather than occult manipulation (Deuteronomy 18:9-14).

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient culinary texts describe the stomach of sheep or cattle as a delicacy when stuffed or roasted. Because it could be prepared quickly and eaten warm, it provided priests with an immediate meal while other cuts cured or traveled home with the worshiper. The law thereby balanced festal joy for the lay family (Deuteronomy 12:7) with timely nourishment for the ministering Levites.

Theological and Symbolic Insights

• Inward Devotion. The gift of an internal organ underscores that worship must issue from the “inner man” (Psalm 51:6) rather than mere outward compliance.
• Integrity of the Offering. Passing the stomach to the priest ensured that no hidden part of the sacrifice was withheld, modeling undivided surrender to God (Romans 12:1).
• Anticipation of the Final Priest. Hebrews 7:27 portrays Jesus Christ giving His entire self; the handing over of an animal’s innermost part adumbrates the Messiah who “offered Himself unblemished to God” (Hebrews 9:14).

Connections to Broader Biblical Themes

– Priestly Rights and Congregational Duty: Deuteronomy 18:3 aligns with 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, where Paul appeals to the temple pattern to affirm the right of gospel laborers to live from the gospel.

– Whole-hearted Giving: The inner-organ motif resonates with Proverbs 3:9: “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest.”

– Purity of the Inner Parts: While קֵבָה is rare, Scripture frequently speaks of kidneys (כְּלָיוֹת) and bowels (מֵעֶה) to symbolize hidden motives (Psalm 26:2; Jeremiah 17:10). Together they call for purity both in worship and in daily conduct.

Practical and Ministry Applications

1. Faithful Support of Servants of God. The unique offering of the stomach exhorts congregations to provide materially and promptly for those who serve the Word (Galatians 6:6).
2. Integrity in Giving. Because the part given was invisible until the animal was opened, the statute challenges believers to ensure that generosity springs from the unseen depths of the heart.
3. Spiritual Nutrition. Just as the priest’s body was strengthened by the stomach of the animal, so the church is nourished when it receives the inward, wholehearted service of Christ-centered leaders (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Related Concepts

– Fellowship Offerings: Shared meals between priests and laity (Leviticus 7:28-34).

– Portion for the Lord: The fat and certain organs burned on the altar (Leviticus 3:3-5) foreshadow the total devotion required of all believers.

– Tithes and Firstfruits: Wider economic structures that, like the gift of קֵבָה, uphold the principle of honoring God by sustaining His ministers (Nehemiah 12:44-47).

Summary

Though קֵבָה surfaces only once, its placement within Deuteronomy 18:3 richly illuminates Israel’s sacrificial system, the rights of the priesthood, and the call to wholehearted devotion. The humble “stomach” becomes a vivid reminder that authentic worship involves the very core of one’s resources and affections, prefiguring the complete self-offering of the Great High Priest and challenging the church to generous, inwardly sincere ministry today.

Forms and Transliterations
וְהַקֵּבָֽה׃ והקבה׃ vehakkeVah wə·haq·qê·ḇāh wəhaqqêḇāh
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Deuteronomy 18:3
HEB: הַזְּרֹ֥עַ וְהַלְּחָיַ֖יִם וְהַקֵּבָֽה׃
NAS: and the two cheeks and the stomach.
KJV: and the two cheeks, and the maw.
INT: the shoulder and the two and the stomach

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 6896
1 Occurrence


wə·haq·qê·ḇāh — 1 Occ.

6895
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