a primitive root; properly, to intertwine or contract, i.e. (by implication) to shrivel (as with heat); figuratively, to be deeply affected with passion (love or pity); be black, be kindled, yearn.
Transliteration:kâmar
Pronunciation:kaw-mar'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb kâmar (`{{H3648}}`) is a primitive root whose core meaning encompasses a fascinating semantic range, moving from the physical to the intensely emotional. At its most literal, it signifies "to intertwine" or "to contract," leading by implication to "to shrivel" or "to be parched," often as a result of intense heat. This physical sense of contraction or shriveling forms the basis for its more frequent figurative usage.
Figuratively, kâmar describes a powerful internal contraction or intensity of feeling. This manifests as "to be deeply affected with passion," encompassing both profound love and profound pity or compassion. The internal churning or "kindling" of emotions is central to this sense. It can also describe a deep "yearning" or a visceral, overwhelming emotional response. In one instance, it denotes a physical "blackening," likely related to the "shriveling" aspect, suggesting a darkening due to extreme conditions or intense heat. Thus, kâmar captures a range from physical desiccation to the most profound and often painful internal emotional states.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of kâmar (`{{H3648}}`) in the Hebrew Bible vividly illustrate its semantic breadth:
* **Emotional Yearning/Compassion (Visceral):**
* In [[Genesis 43:30]], Joseph's "bowels yearned" (וַיִּכְמְרוּ רַחֲמָיו) for his brother Benjamin. This describes an overwhelming, deeply felt compassion that compels him to seek a private place to weep. The phrase "bowels yearned" (often linked to racham, `{{H7356}}`, meaning "womb" or "compassion") signifies a visceral, uncontainable surge of affection and pity.
* Similarly, in [[1 Kings 3:26]], the true mother's "bowels yearned" (כָּמְרוּ רַחֲמֶיהָ) for her living child, leading her to surrender her claim rather than see him divided. This is a powerful depiction of maternal love and compassion, a deep, instinctual bond.
* **Deep Distress/Anguish:**
* In [[Lamentations 1:20]], the prophet laments, "My bowels are troubled" (כָּמְרוּ מֵעַי). Here, kâmar conveys an internal churning, a profound agitation and distress due to suffering.
* [[Lamentations 2:11]] reiterates this, "My bowels are poured out, my liver is poured upon the earth," where kâmar (though not explicitly present in the verb, the context is one of extreme internal anguish and grief) describes the physical manifestation of overwhelming sorrow. The imagery of internal organs being "poured out" is a hyperbolic expression of utter devastation.
* **Divine Compassion/Relenting:**
* Perhaps one of the most profound uses is in [[Hosea 11:8]], where God declares, "My heart is turned within Me; My compassions are kindled together" (נֶהְפַּךְ עָלַי לִבִּי יַחַד נִכְמְרוּ נִחוּמָי). Here, kâmar describes God's intense, internal struggle between justice and mercy. His "compassions" (נִחוּמִים, related to niḥam, `{{H5162}}`, "to comfort," "relent") are "kindled" or "stirred" to such a degree that they overcome His inclination to destroy Israel. This passage reveals a God who is deeply affected by His covenant people, whose love and pity are so profound they prevent full judgment.
* **Physical Blackening/Shriveling:**
* In [[Lamentations 5:10]], the people describe their dire state during the famine: "Our skin was black like an oven because of the fervent famine" (עוֹרֵנוּ נִכְמַר כַּתַּנּוּר מִפְּנֵי זַלְעֲפוֹת רָעָב). Here, kâmar takes on its more literal sense of shriveling and darkening, indicating the severe physical toll of starvation, where skin becomes dark and parched like something baked in an oven.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of kâmar (`{{H3648}}`) is often illuminated by its close association with other Hebrew terms and concepts:
* **racham (רַחַם, `{{H7355}}`, `{{H7356}}`):** This noun refers to the "womb" and, by extension, "compassion" or "mercy." The phrase "bowels yearned" (כָּמְרוּ רַחֲמָיו/רַחֲמֶיהָ) directly links kâmar to the seat of deep, often maternal, compassion. The "bowels" were considered the locus of profound emotion in ancient Hebrew thought.
* **neḥam (נָחַם, `{{H5162}}`):** Meaning "to comfort," "to repent," or "to relent." In [[Hosea 11:8]], God's "compassions" (נִחוּמִים, derived from neḥam) are "kindled" (kâmar), showing a divine relenting from judgment driven by profound mercy.
* **ḥamal (חָמַל, `{{H2550}}`):** "To pity," "to spare," "to have compassion." While not directly paired with kâmar, ḥamal occupies a similar semantic field of showing mercy and compassion, often preventing harm.
* **me'im (מֵעִים, `{{H4578}}`):** "Bowels," "inner parts." This term frequently appears with kâmar (e.g., [[Lamentations 1:20]]) to emphasize the deep, internal, visceral nature of the emotion, whether it be anguish or compassion.
* **Concepts of Visceral Emotion:** The use of kâmar highlights the ancient Hebrew understanding of emotions as deeply physical and internal, not merely intellectual. Feelings of love, pity, and distress are felt in the "bowels" or "heart," demonstrating a holistic view of human experience.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of kâmar (`{{H3648}}`) is profound, particularly in its application to God's character and human experience:
* **Divine Pathos and Compassion:** The use of kâmar in [[Hosea 11:8]] is a cornerstone of understanding God's emotional depth. It reveals a God who is not an impassive, distant deity, but one whose "heart is turned" and whose "compassions are kindled" by the plight of His people. This portrays Yahweh as a God of profound pathos, deeply affected by His covenant relationship, choosing mercy over strict justice. It underscores His unwavering love and His desire for reconciliation.
* **The Depth of Human Emotion:** When applied to humans, kâmar emphasizes the intensity and visceral nature of genuine human emotion. Joseph's yearning for Benjamin and the true mother's compassion for her child are presented as powerful, instinctual forces. This highlights the capacity for profound love, empathy, and self-sacrifice within the human heart, reflecting the image of a compassionate God.
* **Suffering and Lament:** In Lamentations, kâmar powerfully conveys the depth of national anguish and physical suffering. The "troubled bowels" and "blackened skin" are not mere poetic devices but expressions of extreme physical and emotional desolation, giving voice to the raw pain of a people devastated by judgment.
* **Holistic Anthropology:** The consistent linking of kâmar with "bowels" (רַחֲמִים, מֵעִים) reinforces a biblical anthropology that sees the human being as an integrated whole, where emotions are not abstract but are felt deeply within the physical self. The body is not merely a container for the soul but is intrinsically involved in the experience of profound feeling.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb kâmar (`{{H3648}}`) is a rich and evocative term. Originating from a physical sense of "to contract" or "to shrivel," it expands powerfully to describe intense internal emotional states. Its primary biblical applications include the profound, visceral "yearning" or "kindling" of compassion, whether in human relationships (Joseph, the true mother) or, most significantly, in the divine character of Yahweh (Hosea 11:8). It also conveys deep internal anguish and, in its physical sense, the severe darkening and shriveling of the body due to extreme suffering. kâmar thus illuminates the depth of biblical emotions, portraying both human and divine experience as intensely felt, often within the very "bowels" or "inner parts," underscoring a holistic understanding of being.
TRV