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Hebrew noun (masculine) · H3556

כּוֹכָב

kokabko-kawb'

star

37 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: kôwkâb

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H3556is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 18 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 28
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H3556

a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince

The King James renders it: star(-gazer).

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

kokab is rendered "star". It stands 37 times in the Hebrew text, across eighteen books.

  • Five of the uses stand in Genesis, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 1:16God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.
  • The Greek text spells it twenty-eight different ways.

The first use

God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.

Genesis 1:16הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

The word stands in eighteen of the 39 Old Testament books.

The other 21 Old Testament books never use the word.

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • like stars of8
  • and stars6
  • the stars6
  • stars4
  • stars of4
  • a star1
  • and the stars1
  • like the stars1
  • more than stars of1
  • of the stars1
  • on the stars1
  • star of1

and 2 more, 37 uses in all

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

כּוֹסkoscupUses34
כּוֹבַעkobahelmetUses6
כּוֹשָׁרָהkosharahprosperityUses1

The words it stands beside

All 37, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

28 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • כְּכוֹכְבֵ֥י4
  • וְכוֹכָבִ֖ים3
  • הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃2
  • וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗ים2
  • כּוֹכָבִ֣ים2
  • כְּכוֹכְבֵ֣י2
  • בַּכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים1
  • הַכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים1
  • הַכּֽוֹכָבִ֗ים1
  • הַכּֽוֹכָבִים֙1
  • הַכּוֹכָבִ֖ים1
  • וְהַכּוֹכָבִ֑ים1

and 16 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • preposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)10HR/Ncmpc
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine plural6HC/Ncmpa
  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine plural6HTd/Ncmpa
  • noun · masculine plural4HNcmpa
  • noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)4HNcmpc
  • preposition with the article + noun · masculine plural3HRd/Ncmpa
  • conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine plural1HC/Td/Ncmpa
  • noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine plural1HNcmpc/Sp3mp
  • noun · masculine singular1HNcmsa
  • noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)1HNcmsc

Genesis

five uses
  • God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.

    Genesis 1:16

    • הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃hakokhavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the stars
  • And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”

    Genesis 15:5

    • הַכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔יםhakokhavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the stars
  • I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.

    Genesis 22:17

    • כְּכוֹכְבֵ֣יkechokhveipreposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: like stars of
  • I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,

    Genesis 26:4

    • כְּכוֹכְבֵ֣יkechokhveipreposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: like stars of
  • Then Joseph had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

    Genesis 37:9

    • כּֽוֹכָבִ֔יםkokhavimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: stars

Exodus

one use
  • Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’”

    Exodus 32:13

    • כְּכוֹכְבֵ֖יkechokhveipreposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: like stars of

Numbers

one use
  • I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

    Numbers 24:17

    • כּוֹכָ֜בkokhavnoun · masculine singulartagged: a star

Deuteronomy

four uses
  • The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.

    Deuteronomy 1:10

    • כְּכוֹכְבֵ֥יkechokhveipreposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: like stars of
  • When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

    Deuteronomy 4:19

    • הַכּֽוֹכָבִ֗יםhakokhavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the stars
  • Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

    Deuteronomy 10:22

    • כְּכוֹכְבֵ֥יkechokhveipreposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: like stars of
  • You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left few in number, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.

    Deuteronomy 28:62

    • כְּכוֹכְבֵ֥יkechokhveipreposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: like stars of

Judges

one use
  • From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.

    Judges 5:20

    • הַכּֽוֹכָבִים֙hakokhavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the stars

1 Chronicles

one use
  • David did not count the men aged twenty or under, because the LORD had said that He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky.

    1 Chronicles 27:23

    • כְּכוֹכְבֵ֥יkechokhveipreposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: like stars of

Nehemiah

two uses
  • So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.

    Nehemiah 4:21

    • הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃hakokhavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the stars
  • You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess.

    Nehemiah 9:23

    • כְּכֹכְבֵ֖יkechokheveipreposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: like stars of

Job

five uses
  • May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

    Job 3:9

    • כּוֹכְבֵ֪יkokhveinoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: stars of
  • He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.

    Job 9:7

    • כּוֹכָבִ֣יםkokhavimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: stars
  • Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!

    Job 22:12

    • כּוֹכָבִ֣יםkokhavimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: stars
  • If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight,

    Job 25:5

    • וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗יםvekhokhavimconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and stars
  • while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

    Job 38:7

    • כּ֣וֹכְבֵיkokhveinoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: stars of

Psalms

four uses
  • When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place—

    Psalms 8:3

    • וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗יםvekhokhavimconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and stars
  • the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever.

    Psalms 136:9

    • וְ֭כוֹכָבִיםvekhokhavimconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and stars
  • He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name.

    Psalms 147:4

    • לַכּוֹכָבִ֑יםlakokhavimpreposition with the article + noun · masculine pluraltagged: of the stars
  • Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.

    Psalms 148:3

    • כּ֥וֹכְבֵיkokhveinoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: stars of

Ecclesiastes

one use
  • before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

    Ecclesiastes 12:2

    • וְהַכּוֹכָבִ֑יםvehakokhavimconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and the stars

Isaiah

three uses
  • For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.

    Isaiah 13:10

    • כוֹכְבֵ֤יkhokhveinoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: stars of
  • You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north.

    Isaiah 14:13

    • לְכֽוֹכְבֵי־lekhokhvei-preposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: to stars of
  • You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.

    Isaiah 47:13

    • בַּכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔יםbakokhavimpreposition with the article + noun · masculine pluraltagged: on the stars

Jeremiah

one use
  • Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:

    Jeremiah 31:35

    • וְכוֹכָבִ֖יםvekhokhavimconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and stars

Ezekiel

one use
  • When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light.

    Ezekiel 32:7

    • כֹּֽכְבֵיהֶ֑םkokheveihemnoun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: stars their

Daniel

two uses
  • It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth, and trampled them.

    Daniel 8:10

    • הַכּוֹכָבִ֖יםhakokhavimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the stars
  • Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

    Daniel 12:3

    • כַּכּוֹכָבִ֖יםkakokhavimpreposition with the article + noun · masculine pluraltagged: like the stars

Joel

two uses
  • Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.

    Joel 2:10

    • וְכוֹכָבִ֖יםvekhokhavimconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and stars
  • The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine.

    Joel 3:15

    • וְכוֹכָבִ֖יםvekhokhavimconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and stars

Amos

one use
  • You have taken along Sakkuth your king and Kaiwan your star god, the idols you made for yourselves.

    Amos 5:26

    • כּוֹכַב֙kokhavnoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: star of

Obadiah

one use
  • Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.

    Obadiah 1:4

    • כּֽוֹכָבִ֖יםkokhavimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: stars

Nahum

one use
  • You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of the sky. The young locust strips the land and flies away.

    Nahum 3:16

    • מִכּוֹכְבֵ֖יmikokhveipreposition + noun · masculine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: more than stars of

The letters

Where it leads

Studies that open this word1

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →