What is "k-b-d"

K-B-D ( Hebrew כבד; East Semitic K-B-T) is a triliteral Semitic root with the common meaning of to "be heavy", and thence "be important; honour, majesty, glory".

The basic noun formed from the root means " liver", "interior", "soul" in most Semitic languages. The Akkadian word for liver is spelled with the sumerogram , transliterated kabtu; the Ugaritic cognate is spelled kbd.

There is a wide range of uses for kbd as a noun among the Semitic languages. It can be used literally to denote the organ of the " liver", or more figuratively to refer to the "interior of the body", seen as being "the seat of human will and emotions."