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.
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.
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.
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.
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