What does כָּבַס (kābas) mean in the Bible?
כָּבַס (kābas): Washing through trampling motion; the physical labor of cleansing merges literal and figurative purification.
Hebrew · H3526
כָּבַס
To trample ; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative
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כָּבַסH3526
Pronunciationkābas
What does כָּבַס (kābas) mean in the Bible?
כָּבַס (kābas): Washing through trampling motion; the physical labor of cleansing merges literal and figurative purification.
Full entry for כָּבַס (H3526) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3526?
The BSB source-word alignment has 51 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include must wash (17), He must wash (3), to the Launderer’s (3), wash (3), it has been washed (2).
Where does כָּבַס (kābas) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 49:11. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (31), Numbers (8), Exodus (2), Isaiah (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itmust wash17×Leviticus 11:25, Leviticus 11:28, Leviticus 11:40, Leviticus 14:8
He must wash3×Leviticus 13:34, Leviticus 14:9, Leviticus 15:27
to the Launderer’s3×2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 7:3, Isaiah 36:2
wash3×Leviticus 15:13, Leviticus 17:16, Jeremiah 4:14
it has been washed2×Leviticus 13:55, Leviticus 13:56
must also wash2×Numbers 19:8, Numbers 19:10
-1×Leviticus 14:47
. . .1×Psalms 51:2
[like] a launderer’s1×Malachi 3:2
[that person] must wash1×Leviticus 15:8
[the one being cleansed] must wash1×Numbers 19:19
and they washed1×Exodus 19:14
and wash1×Numbers 8:7
He washes1×Genesis 49:11
must be washed1×Leviticus 15:17
the one who was touched must wash1×Leviticus 15:11
The person must wash1×Leviticus 13:6
themselves and washed1×Numbers 8:21
then it is to be washed1×Leviticus 13:58
They must wash1×Exodus 19:10
to be washed1×Leviticus 13:54
wash me1×Psalms 51:7
washed1×2 Samuel 19:24
washing1×Leviticus 13:58
you are to wash1×Numbers 31:24
you must wash1×Leviticus 6:27
you wash1×Jeremiah 2:22
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:11כִּבֵּ֤סtoHe washesVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 19:10וְכִבְּס֖וּtoThey must washConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralExodus 19:14וַֽיְכַבְּס֖וּtoand they washedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralLeviticus 6:27תְּכַבֵּ֖סtoyou must washVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularLeviticus 11:25יְכַבֵּ֥סtomust washVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 11:28יְכַבֵּ֥סtomust washVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 11:40יְכַבֵּ֥סtomust washVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 11:40יְכַבֵּ֥סtomust washVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 13:6וְכִבֶּ֥סtoThe person must washConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 13:34וְכִבֶּ֥סtoHe must washConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 49:11
Aligned rows51
Books represented10
Genesis1Exodus2Leviticus31Numbers82 Samuel12 Kings1Psalms2Isaiah2Jeremiah2Malachi1
Source forms
יְכַבֵּ֧ס6xyə·ḵab·bêsLeviticus 15:5, Leviticus 15:6, Leviticus 15:7, Leviticus 15:10
וְכִבֶּ֧ס4xwə·ḵib·besLeviticus 15:8, Leviticus 15:11, Leviticus 15:27, Numbers 19:19
יְכַבֵּ֥ס4xyə·ḵab·bêsLeviticus 11:25, Leviticus 11:28, Leviticus 11:40
יְכַבֵּ֣ס3xyə·ḵab·bêsLeviticus 16:26, Leviticus 16:28, Numbers 19:21
כוֹבֵֽס׃3xḵō·w·ḇês2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 7:3, Isaiah 36:2
הֻכַּבֵּ֣ס2xhuk·kab·bêsLeviticus 13:55, Leviticus 13:56
וְכִבֶּ֥ס2xwə·ḵib·besLeviticus 13:6, Leviticus 13:34
וְכִבֶּ֣ס2xwə·ḵib·besLeviticus 14:9, Leviticus 15:13
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular17xLeviticus 11:25, Leviticus 11:28, Leviticus 11:40, Leviticus 14:47
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular12xLeviticus 13:6, Leviticus 13:34, Leviticus 14:8, Leviticus 14:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural3xExodus 19:10, Leviticus 13:54, Numbers 8:7
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular3x2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 7:3, Isaiah 36:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2xExodus 19:14, Numbers 8:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2xLeviticus 13:58, Leviticus 15:17
Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct2xLeviticus 13:55, Leviticus 13:56
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xLeviticus 6:27, Leviticus 13:58
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Washing through trampling motion; the physical labor of cleansing merges literal and figurative purification.
Strong'sH3526
Lexical occurrences51 versesWord forms3 forms29 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkLeviticus 13:53-59Source Gloss
to trample ; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Washing through trampling motion; the physical labor of cleansing merges literal and figurative purification.
to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative BDB: tread Usage: fuller, wash(-ing).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms29
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action24×
ImperfectLev 11:25 · Lev 11:28 · Lev 11:40 · Lev 14:47 · Lev 15:5 · Lev 15:6 · Lev 15:7 · Lev 15:10 · Lev 15:21 · Lev 15:22 · Lev 16:26 · Lev 16:28 · Lev 17:16 · Num 19:8 · Num 19:21 · Lev 6:2020×
Perfect2Sam 19:25 · Gen 49:112×
Sequential imperfectJer 4:141×
Participle activeMal 3:21×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
Participle active2Kgs 18:17 · Isa 7:3 · Isa 36:23×
Hithpolal2×
Infinitive constructLev 13:55 · Lev 13:562×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Literal washing of garments in the fulling process to check for mildew
Ritual washing of the body for purification from uncleanness
Ceremonial washing required for restoration to ritual purity
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 51 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
כָּבַס is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.