Lexical Summary qaba: To rob, to seize, to take away Original Word: קָבַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance rob, spoil A primitive root; to cover, i.e. (figuratively) defraud -- rob, spoil. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition perhaps to rob NASB Translation rob (2), robbed (1), robbing (2), take (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קָבַע verb dubious, perhaps rob (synonym גזל, so Rabb (rare), see DePr 22, 23); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular consecutive וְקָכַע Proverbs 22:23, subject ׳י, with accusative of person + thing; with accusative pers alone 1 plural כַּמֶּה קְבַעֲנוּךָ Malachi 3:8 (object ׳י); Imperfect3masculine singular הֲיִקְבַּע אָדָם אֱלֹהִים Malachi 3:8; Participle active אַתֶּם קֹבְעִים אֹתִי Malachi 3:8; Malachi 3:9; suffix קֹבְעֵיהֶם Proverbs 22:23 those robbing them. — In Malachi ᵐ5 We עָקַב circumvent. Topical Lexicon Biblical Portrait of a Violent, God-Opposing Theft The verb קָבַע always depicts a forceful seizure that violates covenantal order. In Proverbs 22:23 the Lord pledges to “plunder those who rob them”, thereby presenting Himself as the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer who turns the weapon of the oppressor back upon the oppressor. In Malachi 3 the same verb exposes a national offense: withholding tithes and offerings is branded as robbery against God Himself. The six uses therefore cluster around two settings—personal oppression of the poor and corporate neglect of divine dues—making קָבַע a term reserved for theft that strikes at the very heart of God’s justice and worship. Occurrences and Literary Settings • Proverbs 22:23 – Wisdom literature warns the powerful not to seize from the weak. Taken together, the occurrences move from horizontal injustice (human against human) to vertical sacrilege (human against God), revealing that the two are inseparable in the divine courtroom. Social and Historical Backdrop In late Persian-period Judah, economic strain, heavy taxation, and the breakdown of temple support systems tempted many to retain what was due to God and the needy. Malachi’s audience likely rationalized their actions by hardship, yet the prophet labels it robbery. Likewise, the sages who compiled Proverbs witnessed exploitative lending and land-grabbing that endangered society’s most vulnerable. קָבַע exposes both phenomena as breaches of covenant fidelity rather than mere economic misdemeanors. Ethical and Theological Trajectories 1. Divine Ownership: Everything ultimately belongs to the Lord; withholding it is tantamount to pillage. Contrast with Other Hebrew Terms for Theft While גָּנַב denotes stealthy stealing, קָבַע conveys brazen, violent seizure or the cynical, systematic withholding of what is due. The choice of קָבַע in Malachi magnifies the audacity of treating the Almighty as if He were powerless to reclaim His own. Ministry Applications • Stewardship Preaching: Malachi 3 authorizes forthright calls to honor God with tithes and offerings, linking generosity to covenant blessing (Malachi 3:10–12). Christological and New Testament Resonance The Gospel intensifies the theme: those who withhold from the needy are judged as withholding from Christ Himself (Matthew 25:45). Conversely, Zacchaeus’ restoration fourfold echoes Proverbs 22:23’s reversal ethic. The cross, where the sinless One was “numbered with the transgressors,” includes bearing the guilt of every קָבַע so that repentant thieves may become cheerful givers (Ephesians 4:28). Homiletical Notes A sermon can trace the word from the marketplace (Proverbs) to the temple treasury (Malachi) to the human heart, concluding with the offer of grace that transforms robbers into stewards. Practical illustrations—unpaid wages, tax evasion, withholding church support—bridge ancient text and modern life. Summary קָבַע unmasks theft that is bold, self-justified, and covenantally treacherous. Scripture weds God’s defense of the weak to His demand for wholehearted worship; to violate either realm is to rob Him. Yet in prophetic mercy He invites the guilty to return, “and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven” (Malachi 3:10). Integrity toward both God and neighbor remains the non-negotiable fruit of authentic faith. Forms and Transliterations הֲיִקְבַּ֨ע היקבע וְקָבַ֖ע וקבע קְבַעֲנ֑וּךָ קֹבְעִ֑ים קֹבְעִ֣ים קֹבְעֵיהֶ֣ם קבעיהם קבעים קבענוך hă·yiq·ba‘ hayikBa hăyiqba‘ kevaaNucha koeeiHem koeIm qə·ḇa·‘ă·nū·ḵā qəḇa‘ănūḵā qō·ḇə·‘ê·hem qō·ḇə·‘îm qōḇə‘êhem qōḇə‘îm vekaVa wə·qā·ḇa‘ wəqāḇa‘Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 22:23 HEB: יָרִ֣יב רִיבָ֑ם וְקָבַ֖ע אֶת־ קֹבְעֵיהֶ֣ם NAS: their case And take the life KJV: their cause, and spoil the soul INT: will plead their case and take rob the life Proverbs 22:23 Malachi 3:8 Malachi 3:8 Malachi 3:8 Malachi 3:9 6 Occurrences |
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