3518. kabah
Lexical Summary
kabah: To quench, to extinguish

Original Word: כָּבָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kabah
Pronunciation: kah-VAH
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-baw')
KJV: go (put) out, quench
NASB: quenched, extinguish, quench, go, goes, gone, put
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to expire or (causatively) to extinguish (fire, light, anger)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
go put out, quench

A primitive root; to expire or (causatively) to extinguish (fire, light, anger) -- go (put) out, quench.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be quenched or extinguished, to go out
NASB Translation
extinguish (5), go (3), goes (1), gone (1), put (1), quench (4), quenched (8), quenched and extinguished (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[כָּבָה] verb be quenched, extinguished, go out, of fire or lamp (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic כְּבָא id. of light of eyes (rare)) —

Qal Perfect3plural כָּבוּ Isaiah 43:17; Imperfect יִכְבֶּה 1 Samuel 3:3; Proverbs 21:18; 3feminine singular תִּכְבֶּה Leviticus 6:5 10t.; Infinitive construct כְּבוֺתְךָ Ezekiel 32:7 ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 Co (ᵑ0 ׳כַּבּ Pi) — be quenched, extinguished (c. negative except 1 Samuel 3:3; Proverbs 26:20; Isaiah 43:17), of lamp (נֵר אֱלֹהִים) in sanctuary 1 Samuel 3:3; of altar-fire Leviticus 6:5; Leviticus 6:6; of נֵרָהּ Proverbs 31:18; of bodies of renegade Israelites Isaiah 66:24 (compare גֵּיא בֶןהִֿנֹּם); subject אֵשׁ figurative of contention Proverbs 26:20; figurative, subject fire kindled by ׳י Ezekiel 21:3; Ezekiel 21:4; subject wrath (חֵמָה) of ׳י 2 Kings 22:17 2Chronicles 34:25; Jeremiah 7:20; wrath under figure of fire (אֵשׁ) Jeremiah 17:27; so of burning land of Edom Isaiah 34:10; of annihilation of Yahweh's enemies Isaiah 43:17 (כַּמִּשְׁתָּה; "" דָּעַךְ), compare Pharaoh Ezekiel 32:7 (see above)

Pi`el Perfect וְכִבּוּ consecutive 2 Samuel 14:7; Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יְכַבֶּנָּה Isaiah 42:3; 2masculine singular תְּכַבֶּה 2 Samuel 21:17; וַיְכַבּוּ2Chronicles 29:7; Infinitive כַּבּוֺת Songs 8:7; also ᵑ0 כַּבּוֺתְךָ Ezekiel 32:7 (but compare above); Participle מְכַבֶּה Isaiah 1:31 3t.; — quench, extinguish, figurative except 2 Chronicles 29:7 (of extinguishing lamps, נֵרוֺת, in temple); followed by נֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל (figurative for life of David) 2 Samuel 21:17; followed by גַּחַלְתִּי (coal = family-hope) 2 Samuel 14:7 (of killing widow's only son); followed by מִּשְׁתָּה כֵהָה Isaiah 42:3 dimly-burning wick (figurative of spiritually weak); implied object reference to wrath of ׳י Amos 5:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 21:12; to people and idols Isaiah 1:31; followed by love אַהֲבָה Songs 8:7 (subject מַיִם רַבִּים); Ezekiel 32:7 compare above

Topical Lexicon
Root Image and Theological Center

כָּבָה conveys the shutting down of flame, glow, or light. In Scripture the idea of “putting out” is never neutral: fire and light embody God’s presence, purity, guidance, covenant life, and, in judgment texts, His consuming holiness. The verb therefore functions as a spiritual barometer, revealing what is cherished or forfeited in Israel’s relationship with the LORD.

Cultic Continuity: Altar Fire That Must Never Be Quenched

Leviticus 6:12–13 anchors כָּבָה in priestly duty: “The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it must not be extinguished… Fire must be kept burning on the altar continually; it must not be extinguished”. Unbroken flame dramatizes perpetual atonement, an acted-out assurance that fellowship with God endures through the appointed sacrifice. To allow the fire to die would symbolize broken covenant and discontinued access. By New Testament fulfillment, Christ’s once-for-all offering (Hebrews 10:12) sustains the reality that the Levitical flame only pre-figured.

Tabernacle Lamp and the Dawn of Prophetic Calling

In 1 Samuel 3:3 “the lamp of God had not yet gone out,” setting the backdrop for Samuel’s first encounter with the LORD. The nearly extinguished light mirrors spiritual decline under Eli, yet its persistence heralds fresh revelation. God ensures that His communicative light is never totally quenched, even in periods of priestly failure.

Royal Light and National Survival

Threats against David are portrayed as attempts to extinguish Israel’s lamp. The woman of Tekoa pleads lest “they extinguish the one burning coal that is left” (2 Samuel 14:7), and Abishai protects the king “so that you do not extinguish the lamp of Israel” (2 Samuel 21:17). Here כָּבָה signifies dynastic hope tied to covenant promises (2 Samuel 7:12–16). The monarchy’s preservation maintains the redemptive line leading to Messiah.

Wise Households and Domestic Piety

Wisdom literature employs כָּבָה for social and household guidance. “For lack of wood a fire goes out, and without gossip conflict dies down” (Proverbs 26:20) urges intentional peacemaking. The noble wife “does not extinguish her lamp at night” (Proverbs 31:18), an image of vigilance and industrious care that quietly reflects the unextinguished altar fire of Leviticus.

Love’s Inextinguishable Power

Song of Songs 8:7 raises human covenant love to sacred heights: “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away”. The verse borrows the verb to declare that authentic, covenant-shaped love partakes of divine resilience.

Prophetic Oracles: Fire Unquenched in Judgment

Isaiah 1:31; 34:10; 66:24; Jeremiah 4:4; 7:20; 17:27; 21:12; Ezekiel 20:47-48; Amos 5:6 and parallels warn of conflagrations “that will not be extinguished.” The certainty of divine wrath is underscored by the impossibility of quenching. For example, Jeremiah 17:27 speaks of fire in Jerusalem’s gates that “will not be quenched,” depicting irrevocable covenant sanctions. Such imagery legitimizes eternal judgment language later employed by Jesus (Mark 9:48).

Gentle Restoration through the Servant

Isaiah 42:3 balances judgment with mercy: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish”. The Servant’s ministry protects faint spiritual embers until they flame anew, prefiguring Christ’s tenderness toward faltering disciples and anticipating Pentecost’s outpouring.

Historical Fulfillment and Eschatological Echoes

After the exile, passages like 2 Kings 22:17 and 2 Chronicles 34:25 are fulfilled in Babylon’s fires, confirming the unquenched nature of divine sentence. Yet post-exilic hope reemerges when the Second Temple altar is relit (Ezra 3:3). The final canonical vision (Isaiah 66:24) extends כָּבָה into eschatology, depicting the perpetual shame of rebels whose “fire will not be quenched.”

New Covenant Resonance

Though Greek σβέννυμι replaces כָּבָה, the conceptual thread continues: “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Believers are cautioned not to douse the divine flame now indwelling each saint (Acts 2:3-4). The priestly vigilance once limited to Aaron’s sons becomes every Christian’s responsibility.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Worship: Regular, fervent corporate worship reflects the ever-burning altar.
2. Pastoral Care: Isaiah 42:3 models gentleness toward the weak, refusing to “quench” struggling faith.
3. Holiness: Prophetic warnings call churches to repent lest judgment fires break out unquenched.
4. Evangelism: God’s inextinguishable love (Song of Songs 8:7) motivates missions, assuring that no flood of opposition can smother His redemptive purpose.

Summary

כָּבָה gathers Israel’s account around two fires—one that must never go out and one that none can put out. Its narrative arc moves from perpetual worship, through threatened yet preserved covenant light, to judgments no human can quench, and finally to a Servant who safeguards the faintest spark. In Christ, the vocabulary of כָּבָה reaches its consummation: the Cross absorbs unquenchable wrath, the Spirit kindles an unquenchable witness, and eternal destiny turns on whether one’s fire is preserved to glory or, by persistent rebellion, abandoned to everlasting burnings.

Forms and Transliterations
בְכַבּֽוֹתְךָ֙ בכבותך וְכִבּ֗וּ וַיְכַבּוּ֙ ויכבו וכבו יְכַבֶּ֑נָּה יִכְבֶּ֔ה יִכְבֶּ֖ה יכבה יכבנה כָבֽוּ׃ כבו׃ לְכַבּ֣וֹת לכבות מְכַבֶּ֔ה מְכַבֶּ֖ה מְכַבֶּֽה׃ מכבה מכבה׃ תְכַבֶּ֖ה תִּכְבֶּֽה׃ תִּכְבֶּה־ תִכְבֶּ֔ה תִכְבֶּֽה׃ תִכְבֶּה֙ תִכְבֶֽה׃ תכבה תכבה־ תכבה׃ ḇə·ḵab·bō·wṯ·ḵā ḇəḵabbōwṯḵā chaVu ḵā·ḇū ḵāḇū lə·ḵab·bō·wṯ lechabBot ləḵabbōwṯ mə·ḵab·beh mechabBeh məḵabbeh ṯə·ḵab·beh techabBeh ṯəḵabbeh tichBeh tichVeh tiḵ·beh ṯiḵ·beh ṯiḵ·ḇeh tiḵ·beh- tiḵbeh ṯiḵbeh ṯiḵḇeh tiḵbeh- vaychabBu vechabbotCha vechibBu way·ḵab·bū wayḵabbū wə·ḵib·bū wəḵibbū yə·ḵab·ben·nāh yechabBennah yəḵabbennāh yichBeh yiḵ·beh yiḵbeh
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 6:12
HEB: בּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א תִכְבֶּ֔ה וּבִעֵ֨ר עָלֶ֧יהָ
NAS: shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest
KJV: shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest
INT: burning shall not go shall burn out

Leviticus 6:13
HEB: הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לֹ֥א תִכְבֶֽה׃ ס
NAS: on the altar; it is not to go out.
KJV: upon the altar; it shall never go out.
INT: the altar is not to go

1 Samuel 3:3
HEB: אֱלֹהִים֙ טֶ֣רֶם יִכְבֶּ֔ה וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל שֹׁכֵ֑ב
NAS: had not yet gone out, and Samuel
KJV: of God went out in the temple
INT: of God yet gone and Samuel was lying

2 Samuel 14:7
HEB: אֶת־ הַיּוֹרֵ֑שׁ וְכִבּ֗וּ אֶת־ גַּֽחַלְתִּי֙
NAS: also.' Thus they will extinguish my coal
KJV: the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal
INT: again the heir shall quench my coal which

2 Samuel 21:17
HEB: לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א תְכַבֶּ֖ה אֶת־ נֵ֥ר
NAS: so that you do not extinguish the lamp
KJV: no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light
INT: to battle so extinguish the lamp of Israel

2 Kings 22:17
HEB: הַזֶּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה׃
NAS: place, and it shall not be quenched.'
KJV: against this place, and shall not be quenched.
INT: this not and shall not be quenched

2 Chronicles 29:7
HEB: דַּלְת֣וֹת הָאוּלָ֗ם וַיְכַבּוּ֙ אֶת־ הַנֵּר֔וֹת
NAS: of the porch and put out the lamps,
KJV: of the porch, and put out the lamps,
INT: the doors of the porch and put the lamps incense

2 Chronicles 34:25
HEB: הַזֶּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה׃
NAS: place and it shall not be quenched.'
KJV: upon this place, and shall not be quenched.
INT: this not and shall not be quenched

Proverbs 26:20
HEB: בְּאֶ֣פֶס עֵ֭צִים תִּכְבֶּה־ אֵ֑שׁ וּבְאֵ֥ין
NAS: the fire goes out, And where there is no
KJV: is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer,
INT: lack of wood goes the fire there

Proverbs 31:18
HEB: סַחְרָ֑הּ לֹֽא־ יִכְבֶּ֖ה [בַלַּיִל כ]
NAS: Her lamp does not go out at night.
KJV: her candle goeth not out by night.
INT: her gain does not go night her lamp

Songs 8:7
HEB: לֹ֤א יֽוּכְלוּ֙ לְכַבּ֣וֹת אֶת־ הָֽאַהֲבָ֔ה
NAS: waters cannot quench love, Nor
KJV: cannot quench love,
INT: Nor cannot quench love will rivers

Isaiah 1:31
HEB: יַחְדָּ֖ו וְאֵ֥ין מְכַבֶּֽה׃ ס
NAS: And there will be none to quench [them].
KJV: together, and none shall quench [them].
INT: together and there to quench

Isaiah 34:10
HEB: וְיוֹמָם֙ לֹ֣א תִכְבֶּ֔ה לְעוֹלָ֖ם יַעֲלֶ֣ה
NAS: It will not be quenched night or day;
KJV: It shall not be quenched night
INT: day not will not be quenched forever will go

Isaiah 42:3
HEB: כֵהָ֖ה לֹ֣א יְכַבֶּ֑נָּה לֶאֱמֶ֖ת יוֹצִ֥יא
NAS: burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully
KJV: flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth
INT: dimly He will not extinguish will faithfully bring

Isaiah 43:17
HEB: דָּעֲכ֖וּ כַּפִּשְׁתָּ֥ה כָבֽוּ׃
NAS: [and] not rise again; They have been quenched [and] extinguished like a wick):
KJV: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
INT: are extinct tow have been quenched

Isaiah 66:24
HEB: וְאִשָּׁם֙ לֹ֣א תִכְבֶּ֔ה וְהָי֥וּ דֵרָא֖וֹן
NAS: And their fire will not be quenched; And they will be an abhorrence
KJV: neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring
INT: and their fire not will not be quenched become will be an abhorrence

Jeremiah 4:4
HEB: וּבָעֲרָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין מְכַבֶּ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ
NAS: with none to quench it, Because
KJV: and burn that none can quench [it], because
INT: and burn none to quench because of the evil

Jeremiah 7:20
HEB: וּבָעֲרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה׃ ס
NAS: and it will burn and not be quenched.
KJV: and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
INT: will burn not and not be quenched

Jeremiah 17:27
HEB: יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם וְלֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה׃ פ
NAS: of Jerusalem and not be quenched.'
KJV: of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
INT: of Jerusalem and it shall not be quenched

Jeremiah 21:12
HEB: וּבָעֲרָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין מְכַבֶּ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ
NAS: with none to extinguish [it], Because
KJV: and burn that none can quench [it], because
INT: and burn none to extinguish because of the evil

Ezekiel 20:47
HEB: יָבֵ֤שׁ לֹֽא־ תִכְבֶּה֙ לַהֶ֣בֶת שַׁלְהֶ֔בֶת
NAS: the blazing flame will not be quenched and the whole
KJV: flame shall not be quenched, and all faces
INT: dry not will not be quenched the blazing flame

Ezekiel 20:48
HEB: בִּֽעַרְתִּ֑יהָ לֹ֖א תִּכְבֶּֽה׃
NAS: have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.'
KJV: have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
INT: have kindled not shall not be quenched

Ezekiel 32:7
HEB: וְכִסֵּיתִ֤י בְכַבּֽוֹתְךָ֙ שָׁמַ֔יִם וְהִקְדַּרְתִּ֖י
NAS: And when [I] extinguish you, I will cover
KJV: And when I shall put thee out, I will cover
INT: will cover and when extinguish the heavens and darken

Amos 5:6
HEB: וְאָכְלָ֥ה וְאֵין־ מְכַבֶּ֖ה לְבֵֽית־ אֵֽל׃
NAS: with none to quench [it] for Bethel,
KJV: and devour [it], and [there be] none to quench [it] in Bethel.
INT: will consume none to quench Bethel

24 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3518
24 Occurrences


ḵā·ḇū — 1 Occ.
lə·ḵab·bō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
mə·ḵab·beh — 4 Occ.
ṯə·ḵab·beh — 1 Occ.
ṯiḵ·beh — 10 Occ.
ṯiḵ·ḇeh — 1 Occ.
way·ḵab·bū — 1 Occ.
ḇə·ḵab·bō·wṯ·ḵā — 1 Occ.
wə·ḵib·bū — 1 Occ.
yə·ḵab·ben·nāh — 1 Occ.
yiḵ·beh — 2 Occ.

3517
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