### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma כִּי (kîy), designated as `{{H3587}}`, is overwhelmingly recognized and attested in biblical Hebrew as a highly versatile particle or conjunction. Its common meanings include "for, because, that, indeed, surely, when, if, but, rather, except, only." However, the specific entry data provided for this study presents a distinct and exceedingly rare or theoretical nominal meaning: "from כָּוָה; a brand or scar; burning." This definition suggests a direct etymological link to the verbal root כָּוָה (kāvāh), `{{H3554}}`, which signifies "to burn, to scorch, to cauterize." If this nominal form of כִּי were present in the biblical text, its semantic range would encompass the tangible outcome of a burn, such as a lasting mark on the flesh (a brand or scar), or the very act or result of intense heat and fire. It would denote a physical and often indelible consequence of thermal action.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
It is imperative to state that despite the provided definition for `{{H3587}}` as "a brand or scar; burning," an exhaustive review of the Hebrew Bible reveals no clear instances where the lemma כִּי (kîy) functions as a noun with this specific meaning. The pervasive usage of `{{H3587}}` throughout the Old Testament is consistently as a grammatical particle, serving a wide array of syntactical functions. The concepts of a "brand," "scar," or "burning" are indeed vital and present within the biblical narrative, but they are conveyed through other, distinct Hebrew terms. Primarily, these concepts are expressed by words directly derived from the root כָּוָה (kāvāh), `{{H3554}}`, such as the noun כְּוִיָּה (k'viyah), `{{H3556}}`, which explicitly means "a burning wound" or "a scar from a burn" (e.g., [[Exodus 21:25]], [[Leviticus 13:24]]). Therefore, while the semantic concept is undoubtedly biblical, its direct manifestation through the lemma כִּי (kîy) as `{{H3587}}` with this noun meaning is not attested in the extant Hebrew scriptures. This suggests that the provided definition might represent a highly obscure etymological possibility, a homograph not found in biblical usage, or an entry based on a theoretical derivation rather than attested usage.
### Related Words & Concepts
The conceptual field of "branding, scarring, and burning" is robustly represented in biblical Hebrew through a family of words directly related to the root כָּוָה (kāvāh), `{{H3554}}`, "to burn, to scorch." These terms articulate the various facets of heat, fire, and their enduring marks.
* **כָּוָה (kāvāh) `{{H3554}}`**: The foundational verbal root itself, denoting the action of burning, scorching, or cauterizing. It appears in contexts describing physical injury or, metaphorically, divine judgment.
* **כְּוִיָּה (k'viyah) `{{H3556}}`**: This noun, directly derived from כָּוָה, explicitly refers to "a burning," "a burning wound," or "a scar caused by a burn." It is used to describe physical lesions resulting from fire or intense heat, such as in [[Leviticus 13:24]] concerning a skin affliction.
* **אֵשׁ (esh) `{{H784}}`**: The fundamental Hebrew word for "fire," which is the primary agent of burning and the cause of brands or scars. Fire is a powerful symbol throughout scripture.
* **צֶרֶב (tserav) `{{H6867}}`**: A less common term, also related to scorching or burning, often implying a superficial or intense heat.
These related terms collectively convey the physical and symbolic aspects of burning and its lasting marks, which, if the provided definition for `{{H3587}}` were attested, would fall within its semantic domain.
### Theological Significance
Although the specific noun meaning of כִּי (kîy) as "brand or scar; burning" is not found in the biblical text for `{{H3587}}`, the *concepts* of burning, branding, and scarring carry profound theological significance throughout scripture.
1. **Divine Judgment and Purification**: Fire is a pervasive biblical motif for God's holy judgment and transformative purification. It consumes what is impure, rebellious, or corrupt, leaving behind only what is refined, or, conversely, a desolate and marked landscape. The "burning" symbolizes God's consuming wrath against sin ([[Deuteronomy 4:24]], [[Hebrews 12:29]]). It also represents the refining process through which believers are purified ([[Zechariah 13:9]], [[1 Peter 1:7]]).
2. **Mark of Ownership or Identification**: A "brand" historically signified ownership, particularly of livestock or slaves. Theologically, this concept resonates with God's marking of His chosen people, whether for protection ([[Ezekiel 9:4]], [[Revelation 7:3]]) or as a sign of covenant relationship. Conversely, those who align with evil may bear a mark of rebellion or allegiance to false powers ([[Revelation 13:16-17]]).
3. **Consequences of Sin and Suffering**: A "scar" represents the lasting physical consequence of injury, trauma, or sin. Spiritually, sin leaves indelible marks on the soul, relationships, and the created order. The enduring mark of a "burning" can symbolize the irreversible damage caused by disobedience or the indelible memory of suffering. Yet, scars can also be testimonies to endurance, healing, and God's redemptive power, as seen in the resurrected Christ bearing the marks of His crucifixion ([[John 20:20]]).
4. **Transformation and New Creation**: While painful, the process of burning can lead to transformation. Just as dross is removed from metal by fire, so too does God use trials to refine His people. Scars, though reminders of past pain, can become symbols of resilience and the beauty of God's restorative work, where old wounds are healed and new life emerges.
If כִּי (kîy) as `{{H3587}}` *were* to convey "brand or scar," it would undoubtedly contribute to these rich theological themes, emphasizing the tangible and often painful, yet sometimes redemptive, consequences or marks left by divine action or human experience.
### Summary
The Hebrew lemma כִּי (kîy), `{{H3587}}`, is fundamentally a particle or conjunction in the biblical text, serving a wide array of grammatical functions. However, the specific entry data provided for this study defines it as a rare or theoretical noun meaning "a brand or scar; burning," derived from the root כָּוָה (kāvāh), `{{H3554}}`. It is crucial to acknowledge that, despite this definition, no direct biblical occurrences of `{{H3587}}` functioning as a noun with this specific meaning are attested in the extant Hebrew scriptures. The concepts of burning, branding, and scarring are indeed biblical and are robustly conveyed through the root כָּוָה and its attested derivatives, such as כְּוִיָּה (k'viyah), `{{H3556}}`. Theologically, these concepts bear profound significance, illustrating divine judgment, purification, the indelible marks of sin and suffering, and the transformative power of God's refining work. While כִּי (kîy) as a conjunction is indispensable to Hebrew grammar, its proposed nominal meaning as "brand or scar" remains an unattested, yet conceptually rich, theoretical possibility within the broader semantic field of fire and its lasting effects in the biblical worldview.
TRV