Word Study for H3525 (כֶּבֶל)

kebel /keh'-bel/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom an unused root meaning to twine or braid together

Meaninga fetter

KJV usagefetter.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kebel — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word kebel, represented by H3525, means fetter. It is derived from an unused root meaning to twine or braid together. Despite appearing only 2 times across 2 unique verses, it carries a specific meaning of a heavy physical restraint used for binding.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H3525 always denotes a severe form of confinement. In Psalms 105:18, it is used to describe an instrument of painful affliction, stating, "Whose feet they hurt with fetters" Psalms 105:18. In another instance, it is a tool for subjugating the powerful, as seen in the call to "bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron" Psalms 149:8. In both contexts, the fetters are associated with iron, emphasizing their strength and harshness.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context of imprisonment and subjugation:

H1270 barzel (iron): This word is used in both occurrences of H3525 to describe the material of the fetters (Psalms 105:18, Psalms 149:8). It signifies strength, severity, and an unbreakable bond.
H631 ʼâçar (to bind): This verb is used directly with H3525 to describe the act of restraining prisoners or conquered leaders Psalms 149:8. It means to fasten or put in bonds.
H6031 ʻânâh (to hurt, afflict, humble): This term describes the direct physical consequence of being bound with fetters, as a person's feet were "hurt" H6031 by them Psalms 105:18.
H2131 zîyqâh (chain, fetter): Used in parallel with H3525, this word also signifies a bond or restraint. The call to bind kings with "chains" H2131 and nobles with "fetters" H3525 shows their similar function Psalms 149:8.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H3525 is centered on themes of judgment, affliction, and control.

Instrument of Judgment: Fetters are used to execute judgment upon the powerful, specifically "kings" H4428 and "nobles" H3513, demonstrating their downfall and subjugation Psalms 149:8.
Source of Affliction: The word is not neutral; it is directly tied to suffering. The purpose of the fetters in Psalms 105:18 is to "hurt" H6031 and "abase" the one who is bound.
Symbol of Unyielding Control: The explicit connection to "iron" H1270 in its scriptural appearances highlights the inescapable and severe nature of this type of restraint, linking it to themes of harsh servitude, like the "iron furnace" of Egypt Jeremiah 11:4.

Summary

In summary, H3525 kebel provides a specific and potent image of physical bondage. Though it appears infrequently, its use paints a clear picture of fetters as instruments of painful affliction and the subjugation of enemies. It serves as a stark reminder of the physical reality of imprisonment and divine judgment in the biblical narrative.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

כַבְלֵי
כֶּבֶל

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Psalms — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.