What does כָּהָה (kāhāh) mean in the Bible?
כָּהָה (kāhāh): Weakness moving from physical dimming (light, vision) to emotional despair and divine rebuke of sin
Hebrew · H3543
כָּהָה
To be weak , i.e. (figuratively) to despond (causatively, rebuke ), or (of light, the eye) to grow dull
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כָּהָהH3543
Pronunciationkāhāh
What does כָּהָה (kāhāh) mean in the Bible?
כָּהָה (kāhāh): Weakness moving from physical dimming (light, vision) to emotional despair and divine rebuke of sin
Full entry for כָּהָה (H3543) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3543?
The BSB source-word alignment has 10 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include has faded (2), . . . (1), grow weak (1), have grown dim (1), restrain (1).
Where does כָּהָה (kāhāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 27:1. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (2), Zechariah (2), 1 Samuel (1), Deuteronomy (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithas faded2×Leviticus 13:6, Leviticus 13:56
. . .1×Zechariah 11:17
grow weak1×Isaiah 42:4
have grown dim1×Job 17:7
restrain1×1 Samuel 3:13
utterly blinded1×Zechariah 11:17
weak1×Deuteronomy 34:7
were so weak1×Genesis 27:1
will faint1×Ezekiel 21:7
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 27:1וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָtowere so weakConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine pluralLeviticus 13:6כֵּהָ֣הtohas fadedVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 13:56כֵּהָ֣הtohas fadedVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 34:7כָהֲתָ֥הtoweakVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular1 Samuel 3:13כִהָ֖הtorestrainVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularJob 17:7וַתֵּ֣כַהּtohave grown dimConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularIsaiah 42:4יִכְהֶה֙togrow weakVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularEzekiel 21:7וְכִהֲתָ֣הtowill faintConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularZechariah 11:17כָּהֹ֥הtoutterly blindedVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteZechariah 11:17תִכְהֶֽה׃סto. . .Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 27:1
Aligned rows10
Books represented8
Genesis1Leviticus2Deuteronomy11 Samuel1Job1Isaiah1Ezekiel1Zechariah2
Source forms
כֵּהָ֣ה2xkê·hāhLeviticus 13:6, Leviticus 13:56
וְכִהֲתָ֣ה1xwə·ḵi·hă·ṯāhEzekiel 21:7
וַתֵּ֣כַהּ1xwat·tê·ḵahJob 17:7
וַתִּכְהֶ֥יןָ1xwat·tiḵ·he·nāGenesis 27:1
יִכְהֶה֙1xyiḵ·hehIsaiah 42:4
כִהָ֖ה1xḵi·hāh1 Samuel 3:13
כָּהֹ֥ה1xkā·hōhZechariah 11:17
כָהֲתָ֥ה1xḵā·hă·ṯāhDeuteronomy 34:7
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular3xLeviticus 13:6, Leviticus 13:56, 1 Samuel 3:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular1xEzekiel 21:7
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural1xGenesis 27:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular1xJob 17:7
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular1xZechariah 11:17
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 42:4
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1xZechariah 11:17
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular1xDeuteronomy 34:7
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Weakness moving from physical dimming (light, vision) to emotional despair and divine rebuke of sin
Source Gloss
to be weak , i.e. (figuratively) to despond (causatively, rebuke ), or (of light, the eye) to grow dull
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Weakness moving from physical dimming (light, vision) to emotional despair and divine rebuke of sin
to be weak, i.e. (figuratively) to despond (causatively, rebuke), or (of light, the eye) to grow dull BDB: rebuke Usage: darken, be dim, fail, faint, restrain, × utterly.
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 groups2Aligned forms5
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
Perfect1Sam 3:131×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense4×
ImperfectIsa 42:4 · Zech 11:172×
PerfectDeut 34:71×
Infinitive absoluteZech 11:171×
Word Origins
כָּהָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.