The Hebrew verb kāḇaš (כָּבַשׁ) means to subdue, conquer, dominate, or bring under control. It occurs about 15 times in the Old Testament, most famously in the creation mandate of Genesis 1:28. It can describe military conquest, the subduing of enemies, or placing one's foot on a conquered territory as a sign of dominion.
Kāḇaš appears in the foundational cultural mandate of Genesis 1:28 — 'Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.' This commission grants humanity the authority to exercise stewardship over creation. However, this dominion is servant-leadership, not exploitation. After the Fall, subjugation becomes a theme of judgment (Jeremiah 34:11) and divine restoration. Micah 7:19 uses this word for God's subduing of human iniquity — an act of redemptive power: He will 'subdue our sins and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.'