H3535 H3535
Ewe-lamb — a young female sheep, used in sacrificial regulations and memorably in Nathan's parable to David.
This feminine noun denotes a ewe-lamb, the young female counterpart of keves (male lamb). It appears in two deeply memorable contexts. In Genesis 21:28-30, Abraham sets apart seven ewe-lambs as witnesses to his covenant with Abimelech at Beersheba — the very name of the place derives from this act. In 2 Samuel 12:3-6, Nathan's parable of the poor man's single ewe-lamb, raised like a daughter, is one of Scripture's most emotionally powerful stories, convicting David of his sin. The word also appears in sacrificial legislation: the purification offering (Lev 14:10) and the Nazirite vow (Num 6:14). French renders it with 'brebis-agneaux' (ewe-lambs), capturing both the feminine and juvenile aspects.
Senses
1. ewe lamb (female sheep) — A young female sheep or ewe-lamb, the feminine form of keves (lamb). Used in covenant-making (Gen 21:28-30, Abraham's seven ewe-lambs at Beersheba), in sacrificial law for purification and Nazirite offerings (Lev 14:10; Num 6:14), and most memorably in Nathan's parable of the poor man's beloved ewe-lamb (2 Sam 12:3-6). Spanish 'corderita' (little lamb, feminine diminutive) and French 'brebis-agneaux' together capture the word's tenderness and specificity. 8×
AR["النَّعجَةَ", "النِّعَاجِ", "نَعجَةٌ", "نَعجَةَ", "نِعَاجٍ", "وَ-نَعْجَةً"]·ben["এবং-মেষশাবক", "মেষশাবক", "মেষশাবকটিকে"]·DE["Lamm-von", "Lämmer", "der-Lamm", "ein-Lamm", "und-ewe-Lamm"]·EN["a-lamb", "and-ewe-lamb", "ewe-lambs", "ewe-lambs-of", "lamb-of", "the-lamb"]·FR["agneau-de", "brebis-agneaux", "brebis-agneaux-de", "et-brebis-agneau", "le-agneau", "un-agneau"]·heb["ה-כבשה", "ו-כבשה", "כבשה", "כבשת"]·HI["और-एक", "और-भेड़ी", "भेड़-बच्चे", "भेड़-बच्चों", "भेड़ी"]·ID["dan-domba-betina", "domba-betina"]·IT["agnello-di", "e-ewe-agnello", "ewe-agnelli", "ewe-agnelli-di", "il-agnello", "un-agnello"]·jav["cempe-èstri", "cèmpitan", "lan-cempé-èstri", "lan-wedhus-gembel-èstri", "sang-cèmpitan"]·KO["그-어린-양을", "그리고-암양", "그리고-암양을", "암양들은", "암양들을", "어린-양", "어린-양을"]·PT["a-cordeirinha", "a-cordeirinha-de", "cordeiras", "cordeiras-de", "cordeirinha", "e-cordeira"]·RU["-овечку", "и-овечку", "и-овцу", "овечек", "овечки", "овечку"]·ES["corderas", "corderas-de", "corderita", "corderita-de", "la-corderita", "y-cordera"]·SW["Ukbshh", "mwana-kondoo", "mwana-kondoo-wa", "na-mwana-kondoo-jike", "wa-kundi"]·TR["dişi-kuzular", "dişi-kuzuları", "kuzu", "kuzusunu", "kuzuyu", "ve-dişi-kuzu", "ve-dişi-kuzuyu"]·urd["اور-برّی", "اور-بھیڑ", "بھیڑ-بکریاں", "بھیڑ-بکریوں", "بھیڑی", "بھیڑی-کی"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† כִּבְשָׂה, כַּבְשָׂה n.f. ewe-lamb; כִּ׳ 2 S 12:3, 6; כַּ׳ Lv 14:10 Nu 6:14; cstr. כִּבְשַׂת 2 S 12:4; pl. כְּבָשׂת Gn 21:29, 30; cstr. כִּבְשׂת v 28;—ewe-lambs (7) set in witness Gn 21:28, 29, 30 (E); used in sacrif. Lv 14:10 (purif.), Nu 6:14 (Nazirite; both P, and both ‖ כֶּבֶשׂ); for food, in Nathan’s parable 2 S 12:3, 4, 6.