כָּבוֹד
Kavod
Glory, honor, weight
When Moses made the boldest prayer in the Bible — 'Show me your glory!' (Exodus 33:18) — the Hebrew word he used was kavod (כָּבוֹד). And here's what makes this word extraordinary: kavod literally means 'weight, heaviness.' God's glory is not a glow or a shimmer — it's the overwhelming, tangible, heavy presence of the divine that fills a room and makes everything else feel weightless by comparison. When kavod filled Solomon's Temple, the priests couldn't stand (1 Kings 8:11). When kavod appeared on Mount Sinai, the mountain shook. Understanding kavod will change how you think about worship, because glory is not something you see — it's something you feel pressing down on you.
“Moses said, 'Please show me your glory (kavod).'”
Etymology & Root Letters
Kavod comes from the root כ-ב-ד (kaf-bet-dalet), meaning 'to be heavy, weighty.' God's glory is His 'weight' — His substantial, undeniable, overwhelming presence that cannot be ignored.
How Kavod Is Used in Scripture
Kavod appears 199 times in the Hebrew Bible. It describes the visible manifestation of God's presence — the cloud that filled the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34), the fire on Mount Sinai, and the light that shone around the shepherds at Jesus' birth.
Cultural & Modern Context
The Hebrew concept of kavod (honor/weight) extends to human relationships. 'Kibbud av va'em' (honoring father and mother) uses the same root — to honor parents is to give them 'weight' and significance in your life.
How to Use Kavod in Prayer
Like Moses, pray 'Show me your kavod!' Ask God to make His presence tangible and weighty in your life. When God's glory fills a place, everything changes — fear leaves, faith rises, and worship flows.
People Also Ask About Kavod
Why does glory mean 'weight' in Hebrew?
In the ancient world, a person's 'weight' (kavod) was their significance, importance, and substance. A 'weighty' person was someone who mattered. God's glory (kavod) is His ultimate significance — the full weight of His being made manifest. When God's kavod fills a space, everything else becomes light and insignificant by comparison. It's why the priests fell down — the weight of God's presence was overwhelming.
How does kavod relate to honoring parents?
The fifth commandment — 'Honor (kabed) your father and mother' — uses the same root as kavod. To honor your parents is to give them 'weight' in your life, to treat them as significant and substantial. This linguistic connection reveals that honor, glory, and weight are all facets of the same Hebrew concept: recognizing true significance.
More Spiritual Concepts Words
Explore other Hebrew words in the Spiritual Concepts category
Related Hebrew Words
Learn a New Hebrew Word Every Day
Join 12,000+ Christians discovering the depth of Scripture through Biblical Hebrew.
Subscribe Free