Original Word: כָּבַשׁ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kabash
Pronunciation: kah-VASH
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-bash')
KJV: bring into bondage, force, keep under, subdue, bring into subjection
NASB: subdued, brought them into subjection, assault, forced into bondage, forcing, subdue, subjugate
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to tread down
2. (hence) negatively, to disregard
3. positively, to conquer, subjugate, violate

bring into bondage, force, keep under, subdue, bring into subjection

A primitive root; to tread down; hence, negatively, to disregard; positively, to conquer, subjugate, violate -- bring into bondage, force, keep under, subdue, bring into subjection.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to subdue, bring into bondage
NASB Translation
assault (1), brought them into subjection (2), forced into bondage (1), forcing (1), subdue (1), subdued (5), subjugate (1), trample (1), tread our under foot (1), under foot (1).

[כָּבַשׁ] verb subdue, bring into bondage (Late Hebrew id., press, oppress; Aramaic כְּבַשׁ, tread down, beat or make a path, subdue; Arabic press, squeeze, knead (body or limb, as in the bath, message), also attack, assault) —

Qal Perfect3plural וְכָֽבְשׁוּ consecutive Zechariah 9:15; Imperfect יִכְבּוֺשׁ Micah 7:19; וַיִּכְבְּשׁוּם Jeremiah 34:11 Qr (Kt Hiph), etc.; Imperative plural suffix כִּבְשֻׁהָ Genesis 1:28; Infinitive כְּבוֺשׁ2Chronicles 28:10; Esther 7:8; Participle כֹּבְשִׁים Nehemiah 5:5; —

1 bring into bondage, followed by accusative + לַעֲבָדִים Jeremiah 34:11,16; 2Chronicles 28:10; Nehemiah 5:5.

2 (late) subdue, force, a woman Esther 7:8 (= earlier עִנָּה).

3 subdue, dominate, the earth Genesis 1:28 (P), Zechariah 9:15 (of conquest); tread down, followed by אַבְנֵיקֶֿלַע; figurative subdue, followed by עֲוֺנֹתֵינוּ Micah 7:19.

Niph`al Perfect3feminine singular נִכְבְּשָׁה Joshua 18:1 3t.; Participle feminine plural נִכְבָּשׁוֺת Nehemiah 5:5; — passive of Qal 1, subject בְּנוֺתֵינוּ Nehemiah 5:5; of Qal 3, subject הָאָרֶץ (of conquest) Numbers 32:22,29; Joshua 18:1 (all P), 1 Chronicles 22:18.

Pi`el Perfect כִּבֵּשׁ 2 Samuel 8:11, object גּוֺיִם (of conquest).

Hiph`il Imperfect bring into bondage, followed by accusative + לַעֲבָדִים Jeremiah 34:11 Kt (Qr Qal).

Conceptual Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 3533 כָּבַשׁ portrays the act of bringing something or someone under control. In Scripture it ranges from God-given dominion over creation, to Israel’s military victories, to the darker reality of human oppression, and finally to the triumphant subjugation of sin and hostile nations by the Lord Himself. The word therefore travels a theological arc that begins with stewardship in Eden, passes through conquest and captivity in Israel’s history, and climaxes in redemptive hope.

Foundation in Creation: Stewardship, Not Exploitation

Genesis 1:28 introduces the term in the original mandate to humankind: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.’” Dominion here is a delegated authority—an echo of the Creator’s benevolent rule. Subduing the earth involves cultivation, order, and stewardship, never cruelty. Every later use of the verb is measured against this first mention.

Conquest and Settlement: Faith-Driven Warfare

1. Numbers 32:22, 29 records Moses linking possession of Transjordan to the land being “subdued before the LORD.”
2. Joshua 18:1 notes that “the land was subdued before them” once the Tent of Meeting stood at Shiloh.
3. During David’s reign, “the nations he had subdued” (2 Samuel 8:11) supplied precious metals dedicated to the LORD.
4. Solomon could build the temple because “the land is subdued before the LORD and His people” (1 Chronicles 22:18).

These passages show כָּבַשׁ as divinely sanctioned victory. The verb describes Israel’s warfare as participation in God’s larger purpose: securing a place where His name would dwell. Victory is never for naked expansion; it is for covenant fulfillment and worship.

Warnings Against Unrighteous Bondage

The same verb condemns ungodly domination:

• 2 Chronicles 28:10 rebukes the Northern Kingdom’s intent “to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves.”
• Nehemiah 5:5 laments, “we have had to subject our sons and daughters to slavery,” exposing social injustice inside the restored community.
• Jeremiah 34:11, 16 condemns Judah for re-enslaving freed servants: “you have forced them to become your slaves again.”
• Esther 7:8 uses the verb for Haman’s attempted assault upon Queen Esther, portraying personal violence.

In each case, Scripture unmasks coercion that violates covenant brotherhood. The same word that described holy conquest now indicts oppression, proving that subjugation is righteous only when aligned with God’s revealed will.

Divine Compassion: Sin Subdued

Micah 7:19 projects the verb onto the moral plane: “He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities.” Human rebellion, not merely hostile nations, must be crushed. God Himself takes on the task, promising both forgiveness and victory over sin’s power—anticipating the cross where Christ “disarmed the powers and authorities” (Colossians 2:15).

Eschatological Triumph

Zechariah 9:15 combines military imagery with liturgical joy: “The LORD of Hosts will shield them. They will consume and conquer with slingstones… like the corners of the altar.” Post-exilic Israel is assured that future foes will be subdued, securing worship’s restoration and foreshadowing the Messiah’s final reign when every enemy is placed under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:25-27).

Key Themes

• Delegated dominion: humans manage, not own, creation.
• Holy war: victory depends on obedience and is dedicated to God.
• Social justice: covenant people must not “subdue” one another.
• Redemption: the Lord alone conquers sin and secures everlasting peace.

Ministry Implications

1. Stewardship: Christian vocation includes wise, responsible engagement with the physical world.
2. Spiritual warfare: believers trust Christ’s finished work to subdue personal and cosmic evil.
3. Justice and mercy: churches oppose exploitation, labor trafficking, and economic oppression, embodying the Jubilee ethic Judah ignored.
4. Hope: history moves toward the day when Jesus, the greater David, will fully subdue all opposition and “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD” (Habakkuk 2:14).

Summary

כָּבַשׁ traces a line from Edenic stewardship through Israel’s victories and failures to the ultimate conquest of sin and the establishment of God’s righteous kingdom. In every season it calls God’s people to exercise authority under His authority, rejecting tyranny, pursuing justice, and resting in the certainty that the Lord Himself will subdue all things to His glory.

וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ וְכָֽבְשׁוּ֙ וְנִכְבְּשָׁ֥ה וְנִכְבְּשָׁ֨ה וַֽיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּם וַתִּכְבְּשׁ֣וּ ויכבשום וכבשה וכבשו ונכבשה ותכבשו יִכְבֹּ֖שׁ יכבש כִּבֵּֽשׁ׃ כֹ֠בְשִׁים כבש׃ כבשים לִכְבֹּ֛שׁ לִכְבּ֧וֹשׁ לכבוש לכבש נִכְבְּשָׁ֖ה נִכְבָּשׁוֹת֙ נכבשה נכבשות Choeshim kib·bêš kibbêš kibBesh ḵō·ḇə·šîm ḵōḇəšîm lichBoosh lichBosh liḵ·bō·wōš liḵ·bōš liḵbōš liḵbōwōš nichbashOt nichbeShah niḵ·bā·šō·wṯ niḵ·bə·šāh niḵbāšōwṯ niḵbəšāh vaiyichbeShum vattichbeShu vechaveShu vechivShuha venichbeShah wat·tiḵ·bə·šū wattiḵbəšū way·yiḵ·bə·šūm wayyiḵbəšūm wə·ḵā·ḇə·šū wə·ḵiḇ·šu·hā wə·niḵ·bə·šāh wəḵāḇəšū wəḵiḇšuhā wəniḵbəšāh yichBosh yiḵ·bōš yiḵbōšInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts