Word Study for H3527 (כָּבַר)

kâbar /kaw-bar'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningproperly, to plait together, i.e. (figuratively) to augment (especially in number or quantity, to accumulate)

KJV usagein abundance, multiply.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kâbar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word kâbar, represented by H3527, is a primitive root that means to multiply or augment. Its core idea is to plait together, figuratively suggesting an accumulation in number or quantity. It appears only 1 time in the Bible, in a single verse, giving its meaning a highly specific application.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The singular use of H3527 is found in the book of Job, where Elihu critiques Job's speeches. The verse states that Job "doth open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge" Job 35:16. In this context, the word is used to describe an abundance of speech that is ultimately empty because it lacks a foundation in true understanding. It portrays the act of accumulating many words as a futile exercise when disconnected from wisdom.

Related Words & Concepts

Several words from its sole context in Job 35:16 illuminate its meaning:

H347 ʼÎyôwb (Job): The patriarch being described, whose name means hated or persecuted. The critique is leveled against him after his long discourses on suffering Job 35:16.
H4405 millâh (a word; collectively, a discourse): This refers to what Job is multiplying. The term can mean a single word, a discourse, or a topic of speech Job 35:16.
H1847 daʻath (knowledge): This is what Job's multiplied words are said to be "without." The absence of knowledge renders the abundance of words meaningless Job 35:16.
H1892 hebel (emptiness or vanity): This term describes the nature of Job's speech, emphasizing that his multiplied words are transitory and unsatisfactory Job 35:16.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3527 is tied directly to its specific and critical usage.

Empty Rhetoric: The word's only appearance serves as a biblical caution against speaking in abundance without substance. It frames the multiplication of words as vanity when knowledge is absent Job 35:16.
The Value of Knowledge: By linking abundant words with a lack of knowledge, the passage underscores that the measure of righteous speech is not quantity but truth. The dossier shows that a lack of knowledge leads to destruction Hosea 4:6, while the fear of the Lord is the beginning of it Proverbs 1:7.
Critique of Human Wisdom: In the narrative of Job, the use of kâbar highlights the folly of attempting to justify oneself or explain divine mysteries through a sheer volume of words. It points toward a posture of humble listening rather than verbose defense.

Summary

In summary, H3527 is a narrowly focused term whose meaning is entirely shaped by its single appearance. While it literally means to multiply or accumulate, its biblical context in Job 35:16 applies it specifically to the act of compounding words that are vain and without knowledge. It serves as a powerful reminder that in matters of divine wisdom, the quality and truth of one's words are infinitely more important than their quantity.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יַכְבִּר
מַכְבִּיר

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Job — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.