The Hebrew word kâbêd, represented by H3516, refers to the liver. Its base definition identifies it as the heaviest of the viscera. It appears 14 times across 14 unique verses, primarily in contexts related to sacrificial law but also in figurative language describing emotion and divination.
In biblical usage, H3516 is most frequently found within the detailed instructions for animal sacrifices in Exodus and Leviticus. It is a specific organ that, along with the fat, kidneys, and the attached caul, was to be removed and burned upon the altar as part of the offering (Exodus 29:13, Leviticus 3:4). Beyond its role in worship, the liver is used metaphorically to express profound grief, as in Lamentations 2:11, where the speaker's "liver is poured upon the earth." It is also identified as a target for a fatal wound in Proverbs 7:23 and as an object of pagan divination by the king of Babylon Ezekiel 21:21.
Several related words provide anatomical and thematic context for the liver's role in scripture:
- H2459 cheleb (fat... richest or choice part): This term for fat is consistently mentioned alongside the liver and kidneys as the choice portion of an animal designated for the altar in sacrifices Leviticus 9:10.
- H3508 yôthereth (the lobe or flap of the liver... caul): This word is almost always found with H3516, describing the "caul that is above the liver," a specific part of the entrails required for offerings (Exodus 29:22, Leviticus 8:16).
- H3629 kilyâh (a kidney... figuratively, the mind): The kidneys are listed with the liver as key organs in sacrificial instructions Leviticus 4:9. Figuratively, the term refers to the innermost self, which God tests and understands Jeremiah 17:10.
- H7130 qereb (the nearest part... bowels, inward parts): This word denotes the "inwards" or inner organs of a sacrificial animal, which included the liver and kidneys Exodus 29:13. It is also used figuratively for the inner being, where God promises to place His law Jeremiah 31:33.
The significance of H3516 is seen in its varied applications, moving from the literal to the deeply figurative.
- Ritualistic Obedience: Its consistent inclusion in the laws for sin offerings and peace offerings highlights the precision and completeness demanded in worship according to the Law of Moses Leviticus 9:10.
- Metaphor for Anguish: The visceral image of a liver being "poured upon the earth" in Lamentations 2:11 powerfully conveys a state of emotional and physical collapse brought on by overwhelming sorrow.
- Focal Point of Divination: The liver was viewed in ancient pagan cultures as a means of foretelling the future. The specific mention of the king of Babylon "looking in the liver" shows its role in non-Israelite spiritual practices Ezekiel 21:21.
- Symbol of Mortality: In Proverbs 7:23, a dart striking the liver signifies a fatal wound, using the organ to represent the deadly and irreversible consequences of succumbing to temptation.
In summary, H3516 is a term with a specific anatomical meaning that carries significant weight in both ritual and figurative contexts. As a key component of sacrificial offerings, it represents an act of prescribed worship. As a metaphor, it illustrates the depths of human grief and the finality of death, demonstrating how a physical organ was understood to be connected to the core of a person's life and emotional state.
TRV