Original Word: קָבָל
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: qabal
Pronunciation: kah-BAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-bawl')
KJV: before
Word Origin: [from H6901 (קָבַל - accept) in the sense of opposite (see H6904 (קוֹבֶל - battering rams))]

1. the presence, i.e. (adverbially) in front of

before

From qabal in the sense of opposite (see qobel); the presence, i.e. (adverbially) in front of -- before.

see HEBREW qabal

see HEBREW qobel

Word Origin
the same as qebol, q.v.

Overview

קָבָל (Strong’s Hebrew 6905) lies within the broader קבל word-group that conveys the idea of “being opposite,” “corresponding to,” or “standing in exchange for.” Though the specific form numbered 6905 never appears in the Hebrew or Aramaic text of the Old Testament, cognate forms of the root do occur, especially in the Aramaic portions of Daniel and Ezra, where they function as prepositions meaning “before,” “in front of,” or “because of.” The absence of 6905 in the canonical text therefore does not empty it of value; rather, it invites deeper reflection on the biblical notion of correspondence—things placed face-to-face, persons responding to one another, and ultimately God’s gracious acceptance of His people.

Semantic Range within the קבל Family

1. Spatial correspondence: standing opposite or face-to-face (compare Ezra 6:13).
2. Causal correspondence: “because of” or “in exchange for” (compare Daniel 6:4).
3. Relational correspondence: receiving or accepting something offered (parallel to the Hebrew verb קָבַל in Esther 9:23).

These shades of meaning revolve around response. Whether spatial, causal, or relational, the word-family underscores that one party acts in deliberate answer to another.

Intertextual Echoes

• The preposition “before” in Daniel (“Then King Darius fell face-down before Daniel,” Daniel 2:46) illustrates physical correspondence: one person positions himself in direct relationship to another.
• The causal sense, “because of,” in Ezra (“Because our fathers angered the God of heaven,” Ezra 5:12) highlights moral correspondence: human sin receives a measured divine answer.

Though these verses employ a kindred form rather than 6905 itself, they set the theological backdrop for the term: God’s dealings with humanity are never random; they correspond perfectly to human conduct and to His own covenant promises.

Historical Development Beyond the Old Testament

Post-biblical Hebrew kept the root alive in the sense of “receiving” and “accepting.” Rabbinic literature frequently speaks of “accepting upon oneself” (qibbel ‘alav) the yoke of the commandments, underscoring voluntary, face-to-face acknowledgment of God’s authority. Moving into later Aramaic dialects and Syriac, the root preserved both the spatial and relational ideas. Thus, even without a direct Old Testament occurrence, Strong’s 6905 sits within a living linguistic stream that flows from biblical times through successive Jewish and Christian centuries.

Theological Significance

1. Divine-Human Reciprocity. Scripture depicts God as One who “rewards every man according to his way” (Jeremiah 17:10). The קבל concept reminds readers that divine justice and grace stand directly opposite human action—never arbitrary, always corresponding.
2. Substitution and Exchange. The root’s “in exchange for” nuance anticipates the redemptive exchange at the cross: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
3. Acceptance in Worship. Israel’s sacrifices sought to be “accepted” before the Lord (Leviticus 1:4). The k-b-l theme underscores that true worship is more than ritual; it is God’s willing reception of a devoted heart.

Christological Trajectory

In Jesus Christ all correspondence reaches its climax. He stands “opposite” the sinner not as an adversary but as a Mediator, offering Himself “in exchange for many” (Mark 10:45). The gospel reveals perfect reciprocity: human guilt answered by divine grace, human faith met by divine acceptance.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Counseling: Emphasize God’s consistent, face-to-face engagement with His people; nothing escapes His responsive care.
• Preaching: Use the idea of redemptive exchange to clarify substitutionary atonement.
• Worship: Encourage conscious offering of life and praise, trusting God to “receive” (k-b-l) what is brought in Christ.

Related Terms for Further Study

קָבַל (6901) “to receive”; קֳבֵל (6925) “before, in front of”; נֶגֶד (5048) “opposite, in the presence of”; פָּנִים (6440) “face, presence.”

Summary

Though Strong’s 6905 itself never surfaces in Scripture’s Hebrew text, its family of meanings—opposition, correspondence, reception, and exchange—threads throughout the biblical narrative. Recognizing this enriches understanding of divine justice and mercy, highlights the relational nature of covenant, and deepens appreciation for the redemptive exchange accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts