### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **kᵉbêduth**, represented by `{{H3517}}`, denotes **difficulty** or, idiomatically, **heavily**. It is a rare term, appearing only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible. Its sole appearance captures a moment of divine intervention causing immense struggle for the enemies of Israel.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H3517}}` is found in the dramatic narrative of the Exodus. As the Egyptian army pursued Israel through the parted sea, God "took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them **heavily**" [[Exodus 14:25]]. This divine act created such difficulty and chaos that the Egyptians recognized the LORD was fighting for Israel and sought to flee.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in the verse provide a vivid picture of the scene:
* `{{H5493}}` **çûwr** (to turn off (literal or figurative)): This primitive root describes the action of God "taking off" or removing the chariot wheels, initiating the difficulty [[Exodus 14:25]].
* `{{H4818}}` **merkâbâh** (a chariot): This word refers to the Egyptian war chariots, which were powerful military assets rendered useless in this context [[Exodus 14:25]].
* `{{H212}}` **ʼôwphân** (a wheel): The target of the divine intervention, the removal of the **wheel** caused the chariots to become difficult to move [[Exodus 14:25]].
* `{{H5090}}` **nâhag** (to drive forth... lead, carry away): This word, translated as "drave," describes the Egyptians' struggle to impel their now-hindered chariots forward [[Exodus 14:25]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3517}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful appearance.
* **Divine Intervention:** The word illustrates the tangible result of God's direct intervention in human conflict. The "heaviness" was not a natural occurrence but a supernatural act to impede Israel's enemies [[Exodus 14:25]].
* **Hindrance of the Enemy:** The concept of **heavily** demonstrates God's power to turn the strengths of an enemy, such as swift chariots, into a crippling weakness.
* **Acknowledgment of God's Power:** The difficulty described by **kᵉbêduth** directly led the Egyptians to exclaim that "the LORD fighteth for them," underscoring how God's actions reveal his power even to those who oppose him [[Exodus 14:25]].
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H3517}}` **kᵉbêduth** appears only once, its impact is significant. It does not merely mean "slowly" but describes a divinely imposed **difficulty** that brought the formidable Egyptian army to a halt. The word captures the precise moment when a physical struggle revealed a spiritual reality: that God was fighting for Israel, turning the instruments of war into an impossible burden for their enemies [[Exodus 14:25]].
TRV