a primitive root; to inter; [idiom] in any wise, bury(-ier).
Transliteration:qâbar
Pronunciation:kaw-bar'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb qâbar (`{{H6912}}`) is a primitive root whose core meaning is "to inter" or "to bury." This foundational definition encompasses the physical act of placing a deceased body into the earth or a tomb. Beyond this literal action, qâbar carries a significant semantic range rooted in ancient Near Eastern cultural practices and biblical theology:
* **Disposal and Reverence:** It signifies the respectful and proper disposal of the dead, contrasting sharply with leaving a body exposed.
* **Finality and Transition:** The act marks the definitive end of earthly life and the transition of the deceased from the realm of the living.
* **Honor and Dignity:** Proper burial was a crucial expression of honor and respect for the deceased and their family. Its absence was a profound disgrace.
* **Preparation:** While primarily the act of interring, the context often implies the preceding preparations for burial, such as shrouding or embalming.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb qâbar appears frequently throughout the Old Testament, underscoring the importance of burial practices in ancient Israelite society.
* **Patriarchal Narratives:** Many early occurrences are found in the patriarchal narratives, emphasizing the significance of family tombs and ancestral land. Abraham's purchase of the cave of Machpelah from the Hittites to bury Sarah is a pivotal example, establishing a permanent burial site for his lineage ([[Genesis 23:4]], [[Genesis 23:19]]). Subsequent burials of Abraham ([[Genesis 25:9]]), Isaac ([[Genesis 35:29]]), Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob ([[Genesis 49:31]]) in this same tomb underscore its importance as a symbol of covenant and inheritance. Jacob's earnest request to be buried with his fathers in Canaan, rather than in Egypt, further highlights this connection to the promised land ([[Genesis 47:30]], [[Genesis 50:5]]).
* **Command and Covenant:** The instruction to "bury" often comes as a direct command or a solemn request, reflecting a deep cultural imperative (e.g., Joseph's dying wish for his bones to be carried out of Egypt, [[Exodus 13:19]]).
* **Judgment and Dishonor:** A significant contextual use of qâbar is in its negative or absent form. To be left unburied, or to be buried "with the burial of a donkey," was a severe curse and a sign of divine judgment or utter disgrace ([[Jeremiah 8:2]], [[Jeremiah 16:4]], [[Jeremiah 22:19]]). This demonstrates that proper burial was considered a fundamental right and a mark of human dignity.
* **Ritual Purity:** While not directly defining ritual purity, the act of qâbar is implicitly connected to the laws of uncleanness associated with dead bodies ([[Numbers 19:16]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning and significance of qâbar are enriched by its relationship to other Hebrew words and theological concepts:
* **qever (קֶבֶר, `{{H6913}}`):** The direct nominal cognate, meaning "grave" or "tomb." qâbar is the act performed *into* the qever.
* **mâweth (מָוֶת, `{{H4194}}`):** "Death," the ultimate reality that necessitates the act of qâbar.
* **'âphâr (עָפָר, `{{H6083}}`):** "Dust" or "earth." The act of burial fulfills the divine decree that humanity returns to the dust from which it came ([[Genesis 3:19]]).
* **Mourning and Lamentation:** qâbar is inextricably linked to the rituals of mourning ('evel אֵבֶל, `{{H68}}` or misped מִסְפֵּד, `{{H4553}}`), which accompany the death and burial of an individual.
* **Land and Inheritance:** For the Israelites, especially the patriarchs, the desire to be qâbar (buried) in the Promised Land was a powerful expression of faith in God's covenant promises concerning their inheritance and future.
* **Sheol (שְׁאוֹל, `{{H7585}}`):** While qâbar refers to the physical act of burial, Sheol is the realm of the dead, the grave or underworld to which the deceased's spirit was thought to descend.
### Theological Significance
The act of qâbar carries profound theological weight in the biblical narrative:
* **Human Mortality and Divine Decree:** qâbar is a stark reminder of human mortality and the divine decree in [[Genesis 3:19]], "for dust you are and to dust you will return." It visualizes humanity's finite nature and dependence on God.
* **Dignity of God's Creation:** The imperative for proper burial underscores the inherent dignity of human life, even in death, as created in the image of God. To deny burial was to profane this divine image and desecrate the deceased.
* **Covenant Faithfulness:** For the patriarchs, being buried in the promised land was an act of faith, demonstrating their belief in God's covenant promises regarding the land and their descendants, even beyond their lifetime.
* **Divine Justice and Judgment:** The presence or absence of proper burial often serves as a visible sign of divine blessing or judgment. A peaceful burial symbolized God's favor or a righteous end, while an unburied corpse was a terrifying sign of divine wrath and utter disgrace, particularly for the wicked or rebellious.
* **Anticipation of Resurrection:** While qâbar marks the finality of earthly life, the Old Testament contains nascent ideas of resurrection ([[Daniel 12:2]]). In the New Testament, Christ's burial and subsequent resurrection transform the grave from a symbol of ultimate finality into a temporary resting place, anticipating new life. Believers are "buried with Christ" in baptism ([[Romans 6:4]]), signifying death to sin and resurrection to new life, thus imbuing the concept of burial with eschatological hope.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb qâbar (`{{H6912}}`) signifies the fundamental act of "to bury" or "to inter." Far from being merely a physical disposal, qâbar is imbued with deep cultural and theological significance throughout the Old Testament. It underscores the sanctity of human life, the reality of mortality as a consequence of the Fall, and the inherent dignity of individuals created in God's image. The practice of burial was a crucial expression of honor, a tangible link to ancestral land and covenant promises for the patriarchs, and often a visible marker of divine blessing or judgment. While signifying the end of earthly existence, the act of qâbar also implicitly points to the broader biblical narrative of God's sovereignty over life and death, laying a foundation for the later revelation of resurrection and hope beyond the grave.
TRV