a primitive root; to store away, i.e. (figuratively) in the memory; lay up in store.
Transliteration:kâmaç
Pronunciation:kaw-mas'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H3647}}` (כָּמַס, kâmaç) is identified as a primitive root, indicating its fundamental nature within the Hebrew lexicon. Its core meaning is "to store away" or "to lay up in store." This primary sense denotes an action of careful preservation, accumulation, or safekeeping of something. Crucially, the definition explicitly extends its semantic range to include a figurative application: "in the memory." This highlights the word's capacity to describe not only the physical act of hoarding or reserving but also the intellectual or spiritual act of retaining, cherishing, or concealing knowledge or wisdom. The semantic scope of `{{H3647}}` therefore encompasses both tangible storage and the deliberate act of setting something aside for future contemplation, revelation, or consequence.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb `{{H3647}}` (כָּמַס) appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, making each instance particularly weighty in its contribution to the word's understanding.
* **Job 11:6**: "And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth." Here, the noun form derived from `{{H3647}}` (כָּמוּס, kâmûs) is used, often translated as "secrets" or "hidden things." Zophar speaks of the "stored-up" or "concealed" wisdom of God, which is unfathomable. This usage aligns perfectly with the figurative sense of something laid up in memory or hidden from immediate view, emphasizing the profundity and inscrutability of divine knowledge.
* **Job 21:19**: "God layeth up for his children his iniquity; he repayeth him, and he shall know it." In this context, `{{H3647}}` is translated "layeth up." It describes the act of God reserving or storing away the iniquity (and its consequences) for the children of the wicked. This is a more concrete application of "storing away," though it pertains to moral consequences rather than physical objects. It conveys the idea of deferred judgment or a reckoning held in reserve.
* **Proverbs 10:14**: "Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction." Here, `{{H3647}}` is translated "lay up." This verse directly illustrates the figurative meaning: wise individuals actively accumulate, retain, and safeguard knowledge within their minds and hearts. This contrasts sharply with the foolish, whose impulsive speech leads to ruin. The act of "laying up" knowledge implies a disciplined, deliberate acquisition and preservation of truth.
* **Proverbs 13:16**: "Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly." While some translations, like the KJV, render `{{H3647}}` as "layeth open," this is an interpretive nuance. The more consistent understanding of `{{H3647}}` is "to store away" or "to conceal." Therefore, a prudent person "deals with knowledge" by carefully storing it or by acting with the knowledge they have accumulated, rather than foolishly exposing their inner thoughts or lack of wisdom. This aligns with the wisdom tradition that values discretion and carefulness in speech and action.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of `{{H3647}}` connects it to several important biblical concepts:
* **Storage and Accumulation:** It shares conceptual space with verbs like `{{H6869}}` (צָפַן, tsaphan, "to hide, store up") and `{{H6845}}` (צָבַר, tsabar, "to heap up, amass"). While similar in the act of gathering, `{{H3647}}` often carries the added nuance of mental or concealed storage.
* **Memory and Retention:** The figurative use of `{{H3647}}` directly relates to the concept of remembering, distinct from the more general `{{H2142}}` (זָכַר, zakar, "to remember, recall"). `{{H3647}}` emphasizes the deliberate act of depositing something into memory for preservation.
* **Secrets and Hiddenness:** As seen in Job 11:6, `{{H3647}}` is intrinsically linked to the idea of mysteries or things kept secret, akin to `{{H5643}}` (סֵתֶר, seter, "hiding place, secret"). This highlights a dimension of divine or human knowledge that is not readily accessible.
* **Wisdom and Prudence:** The Proverbs passages underscore `{{H3647}}` as a characteristic of the wise, who "store up" knowledge, contrasting with the foolish. This connects it to foundational concepts like `{{H2451}}` (חָכְמָה, chokmah, "wisdom") and `{{H7919}}` (שָׂכַל, sakal, "to be prudent, wise").
### Theological Significance
The theological implications of `{{H3647}}` are multi-faceted:
* **Divine Inscrutability and Sovereignty:** In Job 11:6, the "stored away" wisdom of God points to His infinite knowledge and His sovereign right to reveal or conceal truth. This evokes a sense of awe and humility, acknowledging that human understanding is finite before the vastness of divine counsel. God's wisdom is not fully plumbed by humanity; it is "laid up" in an inexhaustible store.
* **Divine Justice and Retribution:** Job 21:19's depiction of God "laying up" iniquity for the wicked's children speaks to the certainty of divine justice, even if deferred. It suggests a meticulous divine accounting where consequences are not forgotten but held in reserve, to be dispensed at God's appointed time. This underscores God's perfect memory and His ultimate control over recompense.
* **Human Responsibility in Wisdom and Discretion:** The Proverbs passages elevate the act of "laying up" knowledge as a hallmark of wisdom and prudence. For humanity, this signifies a moral and spiritual discipline: the active acquisition, retention, and judicious application of truth. It is a proactive cultivation of discernment, contrasting with the impulsive and destructive nature of folly. This emphasizes the importance of internalizing and safeguarding principles for righteous living, rather than carelessly exposing oneself or one's thoughts. The "storing away" of knowledge becomes a metaphor for building a life founded on discernment and integrity.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb `{{H3647}}` (כָּמַס, kâmaç) fundamentally means "to store away" or "to lay up in store." Its biblical usage extends beyond literal physical storage to encompass the figurative act of holding something in memory or concealing it. It illuminates the vast, "stored away" wisdom of God, which remains largely inscrutable to humanity ([[Job 11:6]]). It also speaks to the divine principle of "laying up" consequences for sin, signifying a certain, though sometimes deferred, judgment ([[Job 21:19]]). Crucially, `{{H3647}}` characterizes the wise individual who diligently "lays up" knowledge and exercises prudence ([[Proverbs 10:14]], [[Proverbs 13:16]]), contrasting sharply with the foolish. Thus, `{{H3647}}` encapsulates profound theological concepts related to divine mystery, the certainty of judgment, and the human discipline of accumulating and safeguarding wisdom, underscoring the enduring significance of what is preserved—whether by God or by humanity—for future revelation or application.
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