כֶּ֫בֶשׂ

From the study of Exodus 29:38

Range of meaning

A young male sheep, from a lamb up to a young ram. The feminine form is kibśâ, a ewe lamb. There is also a variant spelling, keśeb, with the consonants swapped. It is the standard small-herd animal for burnt offerings, peace offerings and the Passover-related offerings in the priestly laws.

Against the English

'Lamb' is accurate. The word does not carry the tender, baby-animal feeling that 'lamb' often has in modern English. It names a young, full-value male animal from the flock.

Used elsewhere in the period

It appears in Leviticus 9:3; 12:6; 14:10; 23:12, 18–20; Numbers 28–29, where lambs make up most of the festival offerings; and Ezekiel 46:13, where the prophet's daily offering is one lamb in its first year. The Septuagint usually translates it amnos, 'lamb'.

From the study of Leviticus 14:10

Range of meaning

A young male sheep (lamb, young ram), usually under a year old. The feminine form means ewe-lamb.

Against the English

'He lambs' (KJV), 'male lambs' (BSB, WEB), and YLT's plain 'lambs' (which loses that they are male). 'Ewe lamb' is consistent across versions.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 29:38–42 (the daily offering of two yearling male lambs). Lev 4:32 (a female lamb as a commoner's purification offering). Num 6:14 (a Nazirite's offerings: a male yearling as burnt offering, a female yearling as purification offering, a ram as fellowship offering). 2 Sam 12:3 (the poor man's single ewe-lamb in Nathan's parable).

From the study of Leviticus 14:12

Range of meaning

A young male sheep, typically in its first year (v. 10 specifies yearlings without blemish). It is distinct from ʾayil, a mature ram.

Against the English

KJV 'he lamb', BSB/WEB 'male lamb', YLT 'he-lamb' all keep the gender. Plain 'lamb' loses it.

Used elsewhere in the period

The standard animal for the daily burnt offering (Exod 29:38–42; Num 28). As an asham animal it appears only here and for the Nazirite (Num 6:12).