from an unused root meaning to dominate; a ram (just old enough to butt); lamb, sheep.
Transliteration:kebes
Pronunciation:keh-bes'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word *kebes* (כֶּבֶשׂ, `{{H3532}}`) refers to a young male sheep, specifically a lamb, often specified as being "a year old." Its etymology is traced to an unused root meaning "to dominate," which suggests a robust, vigorous animal, even if young. While the common English translation is "lamb" or "sheep," *kebes* carries the nuance of a male, often in its prime for sacrifice, distinguishing it from a generic sheep (שֶׂה - `{{H7716}}`) or an older ram (אַיִל - `{{H352}}`). The "dominate" aspect of its root might subtly allude to the animal's inherent strength or its capacity to serve as a worthy offering.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term *kebes* appears extensively throughout the Hebrew Bible, predominantly within the context of the sacrificial system. Its most frequent and significant usage is in relation to burnt offerings (עֹלָה - `{{H5930}}`). For instance, daily burnt offerings often consisted of two *kebes*, one in the morning and one in the evening, as prescribed in [[Exodus 29:38]] and [[Numbers 28:3-4]]. This consistent offering underscored the perpetual need for atonement and fellowship with God.
*Kebes* is also central to specific festivals and ceremonies:
* **Passover:** The Passover lamb, a crucial element of the deliverance from Egypt, was explicitly a *kebes*, "a male without blemish, a year old" ([[Exodus 12:5]]). This particular specification highlights its purity and suitability as a substitutionary sacrifice.
* **Feast of Weeks (Pentecost):** *Kebes* were offered as part of the communal offerings ([[Leviticus 23:18]]).
* **New Moon Sacrifices:** Regular offerings of *kebes* marked the beginning of each month ([[Numbers 28:11]]).
* **Sin and Guilt Offerings:** While less common than for burnt offerings, a *kebes* could also be prescribed for specific sin (חַטָּאת - `{{H2403}}`) or guilt (אָשָׁם - `{{H817}}`) offerings, particularly in cases of purification, such as for a leper ([[Leviticus 14:10]], [[Leviticus 14:21]]).
The consistent requirement for the *kebes* to be "without blemish" (תָמִים - `{{H8549}}`) and "a year old" underscores its perfect condition, symbolizing the purity and value demanded in offerings to a holy God. Beyond sacrificial contexts, *kebes* occasionally refers to young sheep in a general sense within a flock, as seen when Saul spares the best of the sheep ([[1 Samuel 15:9]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
* **אַיִל (ayil - `{{H352}}`):** This term denotes a mature ram, an older male sheep, often distinguished from the younger *kebes* for specific sacrificial or pastoral roles.
* **שֶׂה (seh - `{{H7716}}`):** A more general term for a sheep or goat, often translated as "lamb," but lacking the specific gender and age nuance of *kebes*. While *seh* can refer to a *kebes*, *kebes* is always a male lamb.
* **צֹאן (tso'n - `{{H6629}}`):** A collective noun for flocks, encompassing both sheep and goats.
* **עֹלָה (olah - `{{H5930}}`):** The "burnt offering," where the *kebes* was the most common sacrificial animal, symbolizing complete dedication and atonement.
* **פֶּסַח (pesach - `{{H6453}}`):** The Passover, an annual feast intrinsically linked with the sacrifice of the *kebes*.
* **תָמִים (tamim - `{{H8549}}`):** "Blameless," "perfect," an adjective frequently applied to the *kebes* designated for sacrifice, emphasizing its purity and suitability.
* **ἀμνός (amnos - `{{G282}}`):** The Greek term for "lamb" in the New Testament, notably used to describe Jesus as the "Lamb of God" ([[John 1:29]]), directly echoing the Old Testament sacrificial *kebes* and its theological implications.
### Theological Significance
The *kebes* holds profound theological significance, primarily as a central figure in the Old Testament sacrificial system.
* **Purity and Perfection:** The repeated stipulation that the *kebes* be "without blemish" highlights God's demand for perfection in worship and atonement. It symbolizes the absolute purity and sinlessness required for reconciliation with a holy God.
* **Substitutionary Atonement:** As a sacrificial animal, the *kebes* served as a substitute for the worshiper, bearing the consequences of sin. Its shed blood was integral to the process of propitiation, covering sin and restoring covenant relationship.
* **Covenant Remembrance and Faithfulness:** The daily offering of the *kebes* as a continual burnt offering served as a constant reminder of God's enduring covenant with Israel, their ongoing need for His grace, and His faithful provision for their sin. It fostered a continuous awareness of divine presence and the need for purity.
* **Anticipation of Christ:** Most significantly, the *kebes* functions as a powerful type of Jesus Christ. The New Testament's portrayal of Jesus as the "Lamb of God" ([[John 1:29]]) directly fulfills the imagery and purpose of the Old Testament *kebes*. Just as the Passover *kebes* delivered Israel from death, Christ, the perfect, unblemished Lamb, delivers humanity from the bondage of sin and death through His atoning sacrifice. His willing submission to death, despite the root meaning of "dominate," underscores His unique blend of divine power and humble obedience.
### Summary
The Hebrew word *kebes* (כֶּבֶשׂ, `{{H3532}}`) denotes a young male lamb, typically one year old and often specified as "without blemish." While its root suggests "to dominate," its primary biblical role is as a central figure in the sacrificial system, particularly for daily burnt offerings and the pivotal Passover sacrifice. The consistent requirement for an unblemished *kebes* underscores the divine demand for purity, perfection, and substitutionary atonement. Theologically, the *kebes* profoundly prefigures Jesus Christ, the "Lamb of God," whose perfect life and atoning death fulfill and transcend the Old Testament sacrificial system, providing ultimate deliverance and reconciliation with God. Its pervasive presence in the Torah highlights the centrality of atonement and the ongoing covenant relationship between God and His people.
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