What does כַּעַס (kaʿas) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew verb kaas describes causing or experiencing vexation, grief, indignation, or anger. Its contexts identify more than a passing feeling.
Hebrew · H3707
כַּעַס
To trouble ; by implication, to grieve , rage , be indignant
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כַּעַסH3707
Pronunciationkaʿas
What does כַּעַס (kaʿas) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew verb kaas describes causing or experiencing vexation, grief, indignation, or anger. Its contexts identify more than a passing feeling.
Reader summary
Full entry for כַּעַס (H3707) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3707?
The BSB source-word alignment has 53 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include provoking (5), provoke Me to anger (4), provoking Him to anger (4), they enraged Him (2), they might provoke Me to anger (2).
Where does כַּעַס (kaʿas) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 4:25. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (11), 1 Kings (10), 2 Kings (7), Deuteronomy (6).
What This Word Actually Means
The Hebrew verb kaas describes causing or experiencing vexation, grief, indignation, or anger. Its contexts identify more than a passing feeling. Hannah's rival repeatedly provokes her until she weeps and cannot eat; Asa becomes enraged at truthful correction, imprisons the seer, and oppresses others; Ecclesiastes warns against being quickly provoked; and Israel's idolatry is said to provoke the Lord.
The verb can therefore name inflicted distress, inward agitation, abusive retaliation, or covenant offense according to its subject and object. Scripture neither treats every angry feeling as identical nor allows anger to justify cruelty. Responsible teaching asks who is provoking whom, what conduct produced the response, how power is used, and what harm follows.
It protects people targeted by taunting or retaliation, gives grief honest language, and calls those with authority to receive correction without punishing the speaker. It must not be used to shame trauma responses, demand silent endurance of abuse, or portray divine anger as permission for human vengeance.
How the Bible Uses It
Kaas moves across deliberate provocation, suffered grief, rising indignation, and covenant offense. The surrounding narrative shows whether the word exposes persistent taunting, foolish reactivity, oppressive retaliation, idolatry, or the sorrow of seeing evil.
- 1Sam.1.6
Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her.
Hannah's rival deliberately intensifies her grief by viciously taunting her about a deeply painful circumstance.
- 1Sam.1.7
And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat.
The repeated provocation continues year after year until Hannah weeps and cannot eat.
- 2Chr.16.10
Asa was angry with the seer and became so enraged over this matter that he put the man in prison. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.
Asa answers prophetic correction with rage, imprisonment, and oppression of people under his power.
- Eccl.7.9
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
Wisdom warns against rapid inner provocation because settled anger belongs with foolish judgment.
- Jer.7.19
But am I the One they are provoking? declares the Lord. Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?
The Lord exposes idolatrous provocation as conduct that ultimately brings shame upon the offenders themselves.
- Neh.4.1
Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
Sanballat's indignation rises as the wall is rebuilt and issues in ridicule against the Jews.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itprovoking5×1 Kings 14:15, 1 Kings 16:13, 1 Kings 16:26, 1 Kings 22:53
provoke Me to anger4×Jeremiah 7:18, Jeremiah 25:6, Jeremiah 32:30, Ezekiel 8:17
provoking Him to anger4×1 Kings 16:7, 2 Kings 17:17, 2 Kings 21:6, 2 Chronicles 33:6
they enraged Him2×Deuteronomy 32:16, Psalms 78:58
they might provoke Me to anger2×2 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 34:25
to provoke2×1 Kings 14:9, 1 Kings 16:33
to provoke Him to anger2×Deuteronomy 31:29, 2 Kings 23:26
to provoke Me to anger2×Jeremiah 32:32, Ezekiel 16:26
[and] provoking Him to anger1×Deuteronomy 4:25
[her rival] taunted her1×1 Samuel 1:7
[Why are you] provoking Me to anger1×Jeremiah 44:8
and be grieved1×Psalms 112:10
and because he had provoked1×1 Kings 15:30
and filled with indignation1×Nehemiah 4:1
and have provoked Me1×2 Kings 21:15
and provoked1×Judges 2:12
and provoking Him to anger1×Deuteronomy 9:18
and so he provoked1×2 Chronicles 28:25
and to provoke Me to anger1×1 Kings 16:2
anger1×Hosea 12:14
angry1×Ezekiel 16:42
have they provoked Me to anger1×Jeremiah 8:19
I will make them angry1×Deuteronomy 32:21
I will trouble1×Ezekiel 32:9
provoke Me1×Isaiah 65:3
provoked1×Ecclesiastes 7:9
provoked Me to anger1×Jeremiah 32:29
provoking Me to anger1×Jeremiah 11:17
So they provoked [the LORD] to anger1×Psalms 106:29
they are provoking1×Jeremiah 7:19
they have enraged Me1×Deuteronomy 32:21
they have provoked1×Nehemiah 4:5
They provoked Me to anger1×Jeremiah 44:3
to taunt her1×1 Samuel 1:6
was angry1×2 Chronicles 16:10
who had provoked the LORD to anger1×2 Kings 23:19
you have provoked1×1 Kings 21:22
you have provoked Me to anger1×Jeremiah 25:7
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 4:25לְהַכְעִיסֽוֹ׃to[and] provoking Him to angerPreposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 9:18לְהַכְעִיסֽוֹ׃toand provoking Him to angerPreposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 31:29לְהַכְעִיס֖וֹtoto provoke Him to angerPreposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 32:16יַכְעִיסֻֽהוּ׃tothey enraged HimVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 32:21כִּעֲס֖וּנִיtothey have enraged MeVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singularDeuteronomy 32:21אַכְעִיסֵֽם׃toI will make them angryVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralJudges 2:12וַיַּכְעִ֖סוּtoand provokedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1 Samuel 1:6וְכִֽעֲסַ֤תָּהtoto taunt herConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular1 Samuel 1:7תַּכְעִסֶ֑נָּהto[her rival] taunted herVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular1 Kings 14:9לְהַכְעִיסֵ֔נִיtoto provokePreposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 4:25
Aligned rows53
Books represented13
Deuteronomy6Judges11 Samuel21 Kings102 Kings72 Chronicles4Nehemiah2Psalms3Ecclesiastes1Isaiah1Jeremiah11Ezekiel4Hosea1
Source forms
לְהַכְעִיסֽוֹ׃4xlə·haḵ·‘î·sōwDeuteronomy 4:25, Deuteronomy 9:18, 2 Kings 17:17, 2 Chronicles 33:6
הַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי2xhaḵ·‘î·sê·nî2 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 34:25
הַכְעִסֵֽנִי׃2xhaḵ·‘i·sê·nîJeremiah 7:18, Jeremiah 32:29
לְהַכְעִ֗יס2xlə·haḵ·‘îs1 Kings 16:13, 1 Kings 16:26
לְהַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי2xlə·haḵ·‘î·sê·nî1 Kings 14:9, Ezekiel 8:17
לְהַכְעִסֵ֔נִי2xlə·haḵ·‘i·sê·nîJeremiah 32:32, Jeremiah 44:3
מַכְעִסִ֖ים2xmaḵ·‘i·sîm2 Kings 21:15, Jeremiah 7:19
אַכְעִיסֵֽם׃1x’aḵ·‘î·sêmDeuteronomy 32:21
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular8x1 Kings 14:9, 1 Kings 16:2, Jeremiah 11:17, Jeremiah 32:32
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct6x1 Kings 16:13, 1 Kings 16:26, 1 Kings 16:33, 2 Kings 17:11
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular6xDeuteronomy 4:25, Deuteronomy 9:18, Deuteronomy 31:29, 1 Kings 16:7
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular5x2 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 34:25, Jeremiah 7:18, Jeremiah 25:7
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural4x1 Kings 14:15, 2 Kings 21:15, Jeremiah 7:19, Jeremiah 32:30
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2xJudges 2:12, Psalms 106:29
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2x1 Kings 22:53, 2 Chronicles 28:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Chronicles 16:10, Nehemiah 4:1
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- When anger appears in a power-imbalanced setting, protect complainants and witnesses, preserve evidence, and use an independent process rather than demanding private confrontation.
- When sustained taunting contributes to inability to eat, severe depression, or thoughts of self-harm, arrange prompt clinical or emergency support while ending the harmful contact.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that being provoked removes responsibility for violent, coercive, humiliating, or retaliatory conduct.
- Do not claim that every experience of grief or anger is sinful, faithless, or evidence of rebellion against authority.
- Do not claim that God's anger authorizes believers to identify enemies and carry out personal judgment.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Emotional turmoil ranging from inward grief to outward anger, often triggered by provocation or offense
Strong'sH3707
Lexical occurrences55 versesWord forms2 forms10 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkJeremiah 11:14-17Source Gloss
to trouble ; by implication, to grieve , rage , be indignant
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Emotional turmoil ranging from inward grief to outward anger, often triggered by provocation or offense
to trouble; by implication, to grieve, rage, be indignant BDB: be vexed Usage: be angry, be grieved, take indignation, provoke (to anger, unto wrath), have sorrow, vex, be wroth.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms10
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action9×
Participle active1Kgs 14:15 · 2Kgs 21:15 · Jer 7:19 · Jer 32:304×
Perfect1Kgs 15:30 · Hos 12:15 · 1Kgs 21:22 · Neh 3:374×
ImperfectJer 25:61×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
ImperfectEzek 16:421×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
to provoke God to anger through unfaithful religious practices and idolatry
Showing 1 selected witness from 55 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
כַּעַס is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Kaas directs attention to both the pressure that produces distress and the choices made in response. First Samuel refuses to minimize Peninnah's repeated treatment of Hannah. The provocation is vicious, lasts year after year, and contributes to weeping and loss of appetite. The text does not blame Hannah for being affected, and responsible care should likewise take sustained humiliation, reproductive grief, and bodily distress seriously.
Second Chronicles shows a different movement: Asa is angered by truthful correction and uses royal power to imprison the seer and oppress other people. His emotional response does not excuse his conduct; power increases his responsibility. Ecclesiastes counsels slowness because anger that settles into the inner life distorts judgment. Jeremiah locates divine provocation in persistent idolatry while also showing that the people's conduct harms and shames them.
Nehemiah records indignation moving into ethnic ridicule and opposition. Across these contexts, faithful teaching validates suffering without canonizing every reaction, confronts retaliation by authorities, provides safe ways to report mistreatment, and directs anger toward truthful, nonviolent, accountable action rather than contempt or revenge.
Anchor passage
2Chr.16.10
Doctrinal connections
- Hannah's suffering shows that repeated taunting can wound a faithful worshiper deeply.
- God hears anguished prayer without blaming the sufferer for her bodily distress.
- Asa's rage reveals how threatened authority can turn correction into persecution.
- Wisdom calls people to govern anger before it settles into folly.
- Covenant offense concerns concrete idolatrous conduct rather than divine emotional instability.
- Sanballat's ridicule exposes anger that resists restoration and targets a people group.
Kaas is a Hebrew verb whose forms can describe provoking another, becoming vexed, suffering grief, or expressing indignation. Subject, object, verbal stem, and resulting action determine whether a passage emphasizes inflicted distress, inward response, or culpable provocation.
From Old to New Testament
The New Testament commands believers to be slow to anger, forbids contempt and vengeance, and requires leaders to receive truthful correction without domineering. Those teachings continue the moral distinction between feeling provoked and choosing speech or action that harms another person.