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
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
כָּבַס H3526
Pronunciation kābas
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 It must wash 17× Leviticus 11:25, Leviticus 11:28, Leviticus 11:40, Leviticus 14:8
He must wash 3× Leviticus 13:34, Leviticus 14:9, Leviticus 15:27
to the Launderer’s 3× 2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 7:3, Isaiah 36:2
wash 3× Leviticus 15:13, Leviticus 17:16, Jeremiah 4:14
it has been washed 2× Leviticus 13:55, Leviticus 13:56
must also wash 2× Numbers 19:8, Numbers 19:10
- 1× Leviticus 14:47
. . . 1× Psalms 51:2
[like] a launderer’s 1× Malachi 3:2
[that person] must wash 1× Leviticus 15:8
[the one being cleansed] must wash 1× Numbers 19:19
and they washed 1× Exodus 19:14
and wash 1× Numbers 8:7
He washes 1× Genesis 49:11
must be washed 1× Leviticus 15:17
the one who was touched must wash 1× Leviticus 15:11
The person must wash 1× Leviticus 13:6
themselves and washed 1× Numbers 8:21
then it is to be washed 1× Leviticus 13:58
They must wash 1× Exodus 19:10
to be washed 1× Leviticus 13:54
wash me 1× Psalms 51:7
washed 1× 2 Samuel 19:24
washing 1× Leviticus 13:58
you are to wash 1× Numbers 31:24
you must wash 1× Leviticus 6:27
you wash 1× Jeremiah 2:22
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:11 כִּבֵּ֤ס to He washes Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 19:10 וְכִבְּס֖וּ to They must wash Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Exodus 19:14 וַֽיְכַבְּס֖וּ to and they washed Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Leviticus 6:27 תְּכַבֵּ֖ס to you must wash Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Leviticus 11:25 יְכַבֵּ֥ס to must wash Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 11:28 יְכַבֵּ֥ס to must wash Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 11:40 יְכַבֵּ֥ס to must wash Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 11:40 יְכַבֵּ֥ס to must wash Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 13:6 וְכִבֶּ֥ס to The person must wash Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Leviticus 13:34 וְכִבֶּ֥ס to He must wash Conjunctive 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 row Genesis 49:11
Aligned rows 51
Books represented 10
Genesis 1 Exodus 2 Leviticus 31 Numbers 8 2 Samuel 1 2 Kings 1 Psalms 2 Isaiah 2 Jeremiah 2 Malachi 1
Source forms
יְכַבֵּ֧ס 6x yə·ḵab·bês Leviticus 15:5, Leviticus 15:6, Leviticus 15:7, Leviticus 15:10
וְכִבֶּ֧ס 4x wə·ḵib·bes Leviticus 15:8, Leviticus 15:11, Leviticus 15:27, Numbers 19:19
יְכַבֵּ֥ס 4x yə·ḵab·bês Leviticus 11:25, Leviticus 11:28, Leviticus 11:40
יְכַבֵּ֣ס 3x yə·ḵab·bês Leviticus 16:26, Leviticus 16:28, Numbers 19:21
כוֹבֵֽס׃ 3x ḵō·w·ḇês 2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 7:3, Isaiah 36:2
הֻכַּבֵּ֣ס 2x huk·kab·bês Leviticus 13:55, Leviticus 13:56
וְכִבֶּ֥ס 2x wə·ḵib·bes Leviticus 13:6, Leviticus 13:34
וְכִבֶּ֣ס 2x wə·ḵib·bes Leviticus 14:9, Leviticus 15:13
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 17x Leviticus 11:25, Leviticus 11:28, Leviticus 11:40, Leviticus 14:47
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 12x Leviticus 13:6, Leviticus 13:34, Leviticus 14:8, Leviticus 14:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural 3x Exodus 19:10, Leviticus 13:54, Numbers 8:7
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 3x 2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 7:3, Isaiah 36:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x Exodus 19:14, Numbers 8:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 2x Leviticus 13:58, Leviticus 15:17
Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct 2x Leviticus 13:55, Leviticus 13:56
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 2x Leviticus 6:27, Leviticus 13:58
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Washing through trampling motion; the physical labor of cleansing merges literal and figurative purification.
Strong's H3526
Lexical occurrences 51 verses Word forms 3 forms 29 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Leviticus 13:53-59 Source Gloss
to trample ; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative
Extended definition Source: 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 groups 3 Aligned forms 29
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 24×
Imperfect Lev 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 6:20 20×
Perfect 2Sam 19:25 · Gen 49:11 2×
Sequential imperfect Jer 4:14 1×
Participle active Mal 3:2 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 3×
Participle active 2Kgs 18:17 · Isa 7:3 · Isa 36:2 3×
Hithpolal 2×
Infinitive construct Lev 13:55 · Lev 13:56 2×
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain