Lexical Summary keseph: Silver, money Original Word: כֶּסֶף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance money, price, silverling From kacaph; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money -- money, price, silver(-ling). see HEBREW kacaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kasaph Definition silver, money NASB Translation fine (2), fine silver (2), money (100), pay (1), price (10), property (1), purchase price (1), silver (284), silver from the money (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs כֶּ֫סֶף402 noun masculineGenesis 23:9 silver, money (Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician, Zinjirli כסף; Aramaic כַּסְמָּא  ; Palmyrene כספא VogNo. 23; Assyrian kaspu; probably the pale metal Thes and others, compare RSJPh xiv,125) — ׳כ absolute Genesis 20:16 +, כָּ֑סֶף Exodus 21:11 +; construct Ex 43:21 +; suffix כַּסְמִּי Genesis 42:28 3t., כַּסְמְּךָ 1 Kings 20:3 2t., כַּסְמֶּ֑ךָ Genesis 17:13; Isaiah 30:22, כַּסְמֵּךְ Isaiah 1:22, כַּסְמֵּנוּ Genesis 31:15 2t., כַּסְמָּם Hosea 8:4 6t.; plural suffix כַּסְמֵּיהֶם Genesis 42:25,35; — silver, 1 = silver ore, raw silver (rare and mostly late) Job 28:1, also (in figurative) Ezekiel 22:20,22; Zechariah 13:9; Proverbs 2:4; Proverbs 17:3; Proverbs 27:21; Malachi 3:3 (twice in verse); Psalm 12:7; Psalm 66:10; Isaiah 48:10; ׳הָגוֺ סִיגים מִכּ Proverbs 25:4 remove dross from silver, compare סִיגִים ׳כ Proverbs 26:23 and ׳מִגִים כ Ezekiel 22:18 (ᵑ0; ᵐ5 ׳ס ׳כ; Co strike out in view of Ezekiel 22:20); נִמְאָס ׳כ Jeremiah 6:30 (compare Jeremiah 6:29), כַּסְמֵּךְ הָיָה לְסִיגִים Isaiah 1:22. 2 sliver as bright, shining, figurative of dove's wings כַּנְפֵי יוֺנָה נֶחְמָּה בַכֶּ֑סֶף Psalm 68:14. 3 silver, as wealth, Genesis 13:2 (J) + often (c. 54 t. in all; frequently with gold, etc., see זהב); מְלֹא וזהב ׳בֵיתוֺ כ Numbers 22:18; Numbers 24:13; figurative of a slave as valuable, כַּסְמּוֺ הוּא Exodus 21:21 (all J E); silver as less valuable than gold 1 Kings 10:21 2Chronicles 9:20; compare also 1 Kings 10:27 2Chronicles 1:15; 9:27; נִבְחָר ׳כ choice silver, Proverbs 18:19; Proverbs 10:20. 4 silver as spoil of war (with זהב, q. v.) Judges 5:19; 2 Samuel 8:11 = 1 Chronicles 18:11 11t. 5 sliver as merchandise Ezekiel 27:12; Proverbs 3:14 (׳סְחַרכֿ), Zephaniah 1:12; compare also 1 Kings 10:22 2Chronicles 9:21. 6 silver as costly gift (with זהב, q. v.) 1 Kings 15:18,19 2Chronicles 16:2,3; 2 Kings 16:8; 2 Kings 18:15; 2Chronicles 9:14; 17:11; 21:3; Isaiah 60:9; Daniel 11:38 (other instances under 8). 7 silver as material (c. 117 t. in all; often with זהב, q. v.), of cup Genesis 44:2 compare Genesis 44:8 (J), trumpets Numbers 10:2 (P), ׳כְּלֵיכֿ Genesis 24:53 (J) +; of idols Exodus 20:23; Isaiah 2:20; Deuteronomy 29:16; Ezekiel 16:17; Psalm 115:4; Psalm 135:15 4t., compare Deuteronomy 7:25; Jeremiah 10:4; Habakkuk 2:19; especially of fittings of tabernacle Exodus 26.. 27. 36. 38. (19 t.), and those offered by chiefs of people Numbers 7 (28 t.), etc. 8 silver as measure of weight and value (c. 184 t.): — a. shekels: — שְׁלשִׁים שְׁקָלִים ׳כ Exodus 21:32 (JE), compare 2 Samuel 24:24; Leviticus 5:15; Numbers 18:16 (both P), Nehemiah 5:15; also (different order) ׳חֲמִשָּׁה שׁקלים כ Leviticus 27:6 (twice in verse) (P), compare Joshua 7:21 (JE), 2 Kings 15:20, and ׳אַרְבַּע מֵאֹת שֶׁקֶל י Genesis 23:15,16, compare Leviticus 27:3,16 (all P), 1 Samuel 9:8; once ׳שִׁבְעָה שְׁקָלִים וַעֲשָׂרָה הַכּ Jeremiah 32:9. b. more often omitted שׁקל Genesis 20:16; Genesis 45:22 (E), Genesis 37:28 (J), Hosea 3:2; Songs 8:11 17t. c. talents: — ׳כִּכַּר (הַ)כּ Exodus 38:27 (P), compare 1 Kings 20:39; 2 Kings 5:22; 2 Kings 15:19; 2 Kings 18:14; 2 Kings 23:33 2Chronicles 36:3; 1 Chronicles 19:6; 2Chronicles 25:6; 27:5; Esther 3:9; ׳עֶשֶׂר כִּכְּרֵיכֿ 2 Kings 5:5; ׳כִּכְּרַיִם כ 1 Kings 16:24; 2 Kings 5:23; אלף אלפים ככרים ׳כ 1 Chronicles 22:14; compare 1 Chronicles 29:7; Ezra 8:26. d. minas: — מָנִים חֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים ׳כ Ezra 2:69 compare Nehemiah 7:70,71. e. more often = money, measure of value and exchange (c. 112 t.; not necess. coined) Genesis 31:15; Genesis 42:25,27 (E), Genesis 43:12 (twice in verse); Genesis 43:15,18 (J), Genesis 23:13; Leviticus 27:18; Numbers 3:48 (P), Judges 16:18; 1 Kings 21:2; 2 Kings 12:5 etc.; so Psalm 68:31 Che, but see De Grill Bae, and Checritical note.; ׳מִקְנַת כ one bought for money Genesis 17:12,13,23,27; Exodus 12:44 (all P); מִקְנָתוֺ ׳כ Leviticus 25:51 (H) money for which he was bought; מָלֵא ׳כ full price Genesis 23:9 (P) 1 Chronicles 21:22,24; כַּסְמֵּנוּ בְּמִשְׁקָלוֺ Genesis 43:21 i.e. our money in full; מִמְכָרוֺ ׳כ Leviticus 25:50 the price of his sale; אָשָׁם ׳כ 2 Kings 12:7 trespass-money, חַטָּאוֺת ׳כ v.2 Kings 12:7 sin-money, הַכִּמֻּרִים ׳כ Exodus 30:16 atonement-money, הַמִּדְיוֺן ׳כ Numbers 3:49 redemption-money (both P); עֶרְכְּךָ ׳כ Leviticus 27:15,19 i.e. estimated value, etc. 9 among verbs and phrase with ׳כ are: — צרף try, refine, Zechariah 13:9; Isaiah 48:10; Malachi 3:3 a Psalm 12:7; Psalm 66:10; זִקַּק Malachi 3:3 b, (compare הִתּוּךְ Ezekiel 22:22, v נתך, see Ezekiel 22:20; Ezekiel 22:21); ימּה beautify ׳בכ Jeremiah 10:4; ׳תָּפוּשׂ כ Habakkuk 2:19 encased with gold and silver; לְ ׳שָׁקַל אתהַֿכּ weigh out the silver to or for a person Jeremiah 32:9; Genesis 23:16 (P) Ezra 8:25, without לְ Jeremiah 32:10, compare Exodus 22:16 (E), 1 Kings 20:39; ׳ב ׳שׁקל כ Isaiah 55:2 = spend money for; מְחִירָהּ ׳לֹא יִשָּׁקֵל כ Job 28:15; ׳וַיִּשְׁקְלוּ אֶתשְֿׂכָרִי שׁלשׁים כ Zechariah 11:12; בַּקָּנֶה ישׁקלו ׳כ Isaiah 46:6, of wighing material for idol; ׳מָכַר בכ sell for money Amos 2:6; Genesis 37:28 (J), Deuteronomy 21:14; ׳נָתַן בכ Deuteronomy 2:28b 1 Kings 21:6,15; Genesis 23:9 (P), 1 Chronicles 21:22; also, of food, ׳הִשְׁבִּיר ב Deuteronomy 2:28 a; השׂדה ׳נתן כ Genesis 23:13 (P) pay the price of the field; ׳קָנָה בְכ buy something for money Amos 8:6; Jeremiah 32:25,44; Isaiah 43:24; 1 Chronicles 21:24, compare ׳קָנָה נֶפֶשׁ קִנְיַן כ Leviticus 22:11 (H); ׳שׁבר בכ Deuteronomy 2:6 a Isaiah 55:1; ׳כרה בכ Deuteronomy 2:6b; peculiar is its use with מָּדָה, redeem (q. v.) in Numbers 18:16; ׳לקח כ receive money 2 Kings 5:26; 2 Kings 12:8; 2 Kings 12:9; ׳לָוָה כ Nehemiah 5:4 borrow money; הִלְוָה Exodus 22:24 (JE) lend money to (c. 2 accusative); בְּנֶשֶׁךְ ׳נתן כ give money on usury Leviticus 25:37 (H), Psalm 15:5; compare לֹא תַשִּׁיךְ ׳לְאָחִיךָ נֶשֶׁךְ כ Deuteronomy 23:20. Topical Lexicon Overview of Usageכֶּסֶף appears about 403 times in the Old Testament and is translated chiefly as “silver,” but also as “money,” since silver was the principal medium of exchange in the ancient Near East. Its range of meaning stretches from literal, measured metal to metaphors of purity, wealth, redemption, and judgment. Silver as Precious Metal and Currency From the earliest narratives silver functions as currency. Abraham “weighed out four hundred shekels of silver” to purchase the field of Machpelah (Genesis 23:15–16). Joseph was sold for “twenty shekels of silver” (Genesis 37:28). Later, the brothers carry “double the money” (literally, “silver”) back to Egypt (Genesis 43:12). In commerce the metal is regularly weighed (not coined) in shekels, minas, and talents; balances are to be honest (Leviticus 19:36; Proverbs 16:11). Because silver stood for wealth, lists of booty, tribute, and royal treasuries normally place it alongside gold (2 Kings 14:14; 2 Kings 18:14–16; 1 Chronicles 29:4). Solomon’s wealth reached a point at which “silver was as common in Jerusalem as stones” (1 Kings 10:27). Silver in Covenant and Redemption At Sinai the first census required every Israelite male to pay “a half shekel according to the sanctuary shekel” as “atonement money” (Exodus 30:11–16). These 301,775 shekels of כֶּסֶף became the bases, sockets, and hooks of the Tabernacle (Exodus 38:25–28), rooting the dwelling place of God in the price of atonement. Redemptive payments recur in the legislation: the firstborn of men and unclean animals are redeemed with silver (Numbers 3:46–51; Numbers 18:16); valuations for vows are set “in silver by the sanctuary shekel” (Leviticus 27:2–7). Such provisions prefigure a final redemption that cannot be bought “with perishable things such as silver or gold” (1 Peter 1:18) but with the blood of Christ, yet they also highlight that substitutionary payment is woven into the fabric of covenant life. Silver in Sanctuary and Temple Construction Silver’s structural role begins with the Tabernacle sockets and continues into the Temple. David dedicated “three thousand talents of gold and seven thousand talents of refined silver” for Solomon’s Temple (1 Chronicles 29:4). Temple repairs under Joash are funded by “all the money brought into the house of the Lord” (2 Kings 12:4–16). Post-exilic builders likewise employ silver returned by Cyrus (Ezra 1:4–11; Ezra 2:69). This unbroken chain underscores God’s claim in Haggai 2:8: “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord of Hosts.” Silver and Offerings In Numbers 7 each tribal leader brings a silver plate and a silver basin as part of the dedication offerings. Freewill gifts often specify silver (Exodus 25:3; Ezra 8:25). Because silver could be melted and recast, it served as liquid capital for ministry needs, paralleling the New Testament principle of dedicating material resources to the Lord’s work (Acts 4:32–35). Silver and Idolatry Scripture presents a stark antithesis: silver can advance true worship or feed idolatry. Israel is commanded, “You must burn up the carved images of their gods…do not covet the silver or gold on them” (Deuteronomy 7:25). The prophets indict nations that “overlay idols with silver and gold” (Isaiah 30:22; Jeremiah 10:4, 9). On the Day of the Lord, “Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them” (Zephaniah 1:18; Ezekiel 7:19). Metaphors of Refining and Purity Refining imagery draws on silver’s susceptibility to purging by intense heat. “The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace” (Psalm 12:6). “The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts” (Proverbs 17:3). Malachi 3:3 pictures the coming Messenger “like a refiner’s fire…He will purify the sons of Levi.” The process signifies sanctification: God removes the “dross” of sin to reveal covenant purity (Isaiah 1:22, 25). Wisdom and Ethical Instruction Proverbs repeatedly contrasts wisdom with silver: “Receive my instruction instead of silver” (Proverbs 8:10). “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). Silver thus becomes shorthand for great but subordinate value; true riches lie in fear of the Lord (Proverbs 15:16). Wealth and Its Perils Accumulation of silver can tempt the heart. Kings must not “multiply…silver and gold” lest their hearts turn away (Deuteronomy 17:17). Ecclesiastes warns, “Whoever loves money never has enough” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Hosea laments that Israel “multiplied silver…they made idols for themselves” (Hosea 8:4). Historical Survey • Patriarchal era: exchange and bride-price (Genesis 24:53). Theological Themes 1. Divine ownership and sovereignty: “The silver is Mine” (Haggai 2:8). Pastoral and Ministry Significance Believers today steward material resources as Israel stewarded silver: acknowledging divine ownership, funding worship, and aiding the needy (cf. Acts 3:6; James 2:15–17). The refining motif calls the church to embrace sanctifying trials. Finally, silver’s limited power to redeem reminds the redeemed community to proclaim Christ’s priceless blood as the only sufficient ransom. Forms and Transliterations בְּכֶ֔סֶף בְּכֶ֖סֶף בְּכֶ֣סֶף בְּכֶ֤סֶף בְּכֶ֥סֶף בְּכֶ֨סֶף בְכֶ֔סֶף בְכֶ֖סֶף בְכָ֑סֶף בַּכֶּ֖סֶף בַּכֶּ֙סֶף֙ בַּכֶּ֣סֶף בַּכֶּ֤סֶף בַּכֶּ֥סֶף בַּכָּ֑סֶף בַכֶּ֑סֶף בַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ בכסף הַ֭כֶּסֶף הַכֶּ֔סֶף הַכֶּ֕סֶף הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַכֶּ֗סֶף הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ הַכֶּ֛סֶף הַכֶּ֜סֶף הַכֶּ֡סֶף הַכֶּ֣סֶף הַכֶּ֤סֶף הַכֶּ֥סֶף הַכֶּ֧סֶף הַכֶּ֨סֶף הַכֶּסֶף֩ הַכֶּסֶף֮ הַכָּ֑סֶף הַכָּֽסֶף׃ הכסף הכסף׃ וְ֝כֶ֗סֶף וְ֠הַכֶּסֶף וְהַכֶּ֔סֶף וְהַכֶּ֖סֶף וְהַכֶּ֡סֶף וְהַכֶּ֣סֶף וְהַכֶּ֤סֶף וְהַכֶּ֥סֶף וְהַכֶּ֨סֶף וְכֶ֕סֶף וְכֶ֖סֶף וְכֶ֗סֶף וְכֶ֛סֶף וְכֶ֣סֶף וְכֶ֥סֶף וְכֶ֧סֶף וְכֶ֨סֶף וְכַכָּ֑סֶף וְלַכֶּ֔סֶף וְלַכֶּ֣סֶף וָכֶ֔סֶף וָכֶ֖סֶף וָכֶ֗סֶף וָכֶ֛סֶף וָכָ֑סֶף וָכָֽסֶף׃ וּ֠בַכֶּסֶף וּבְכֶ֛סֶף וּבַכֶּ֖סֶף וּבַכֶּ֜סֶף וּלְכַסְפִּ֣י וּמִכַּסְפִּי֙ ובכסף והכסף וככסף וכסף וכסף׃ ולכסף ולכספי ומכספי כֶ֔סֶף כֶ֖סֶף כֶ֗סֶף כֶ֙סֶף֙ כֶ֛סֶף כֶ֥סֶף כֶ֧סֶף כֶ֨סֶף כֶּ֔סֶף כֶּ֖סֶף כֶּ֗סֶף כֶּ֙סֶף֙ כֶּ֛סֶף כֶּ֜סֶף כֶּ֡סֶף כֶּ֣סֶף כֶּ֣סֶף ׀ כֶּ֤סֶף כֶּ֥סֶף כֶּ֧סֶף כֶּ֨סֶף כֶּֽסֶף־ כֶֽסֶף־ כֶסֶף֩ כַּסְפְּךָ֔ כַּסְפְּךָ֥ כַּסְפְּךָ֧ כַּסְפְּכֶ֖ם כַּסְפִּ֔י כַּסְפִּ֥י כַּסְפֵּ֖ךְ כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ כַּסְפֵּֽנוּ׃ כַּסְפֵּיהֶ֛ם כַּסְפֵּיהֶם֙ כַּסְפֶּ֑ךָ כַּסְפָּ֞ם כַּסְפָּ֣ם כַּסְפָּ֥ם כַּסְפָּ֨ם כַּסְפּ֔וֹ כַּסְפּ֖וֹ כַּסְפּ֤וֹ ׀ כַכָּ֑סֶף כַסְפֶּ֔ךָ כַסְפּ֔וֹ כַסְפּ֖וֹ כָ֑סֶף כָּ֑סֶף כָּֽסֶף׃ כָֽסֶף׃ ככסף כסף כסף־ כסף׃ כספו כספי כספיהם כספך כספכם כספם כספנו כספנו׃ לְכֶ֤סֶף לְכֶ֨סֶף לְכַסְפָּ֗ם לַ֭כֶּסֶף לַכֶּ֔סֶף לַכֶּ֛סֶף לַכֶּ֜סֶף לַכֶּ֣סֶף לכסף לכספם מִכֶּ֖סֶף מִכֶּ֥סֶף מִכַּסְפָּ֤ם מִכָּ֑סֶף מִכָּֽסֶף׃ מכסף מכסף׃ מכספם bak·kā·sep̄ bak·ke·sep̄ ḇak·ke·sep̄ bakKasef bakkāsep̄ bakKesef bakkesep̄ ḇakkesep̄ ḇə·ḵā·sep̄ bə·ḵe·sep̄ ḇə·ḵe·sep̄ beChesef ḇəḵāsep̄ bəḵesep̄ ḇəḵesep̄ chakKasef Chasef chasPecha chasPo Chesef hak·kā·sep̄ hak·ke·sep̄ hakKasef hakkāsep̄ hakKesef hakkesep̄ kā·sep̄ ḵā·sep̄ ḵak·kā·sep̄ ḵakkāsep̄ kas·pām kas·pê·hem kas·pe·ḵā kas·pə·ḵā ḵas·pe·ḵā kas·pə·ḵem kas·pê·nū kas·pêḵ kas·pî kas·pōw ḵas·pōw Kasef kāsep̄ ḵāsep̄ kasPam kaspām kasPech kasPecha kaspeChem kaspêhem kaspeiHem kaspêḵ kaspeḵā kaspəḵā ḵaspeḵā kaspəḵem kasPenu kaspênū kasPi kaspî kasPo kaspōw ḵaspōw ke·sep̄ ḵe·sep̄ ke·sep̄- ḵe·sep̄- kesef kesep̄ ḵesep̄ kesep̄- ḵesep̄- lak·ke·sep̄ lakKesef lakkesep̄ lə·ḵas·pām lə·ḵe·sep̄ lechasPam leChesef ləḵaspām ləḵesep̄ mik·kā·sep̄ mik·kas·pām mik·ke·sep̄ mikKasef mikkāsep̄ mikkasPam mikkaspām mikKesef mikkesep̄ ū·ḇak·ke·sep̄ ū·ḇə·ḵe·sep̄ ū·lə·ḵas·pî ū·mik·kas·pî ūḇakkesep̄ ūḇəḵesep̄ ulechasPi ūləḵaspî umikkasPi ūmikkaspî uvakKesef uvChesef vaChasef vaChesef vakKesef vechakKasef veChasef veChesef vehakKesef velakKesef wā·ḵā·sep̄ wā·ḵe·sep̄ wāḵāsep̄ wāḵesep̄ wə·hak·ke·sep̄ wə·ḵak·kā·sep̄ wə·ḵe·sep̄ wə·lak·ke·sep̄ wəhakkesep̄ wəḵakkāsep̄ wəḵesep̄ wəlakkesep̄Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 13:2 HEB: מְאֹ֑ד בַּמִּקְנֶ֕ה בַּכֶּ֖סֶף וּבַזָּהָֽב׃ NAS: in livestock, in silver and in gold. KJV: in cattle, in silver, and in gold. INT: was very livestock silver gold Genesis 17:12 Genesis 17:13 Genesis 17:23 Genesis 17:27 Genesis 20:16 Genesis 23:9 Genesis 23:13 Genesis 23:15 Genesis 23:16 Genesis 23:16 Genesis 24:35 Genesis 24:53 Genesis 31:15 Genesis 37:28 Genesis 42:25 Genesis 42:27 Genesis 42:28 Genesis 42:35 Genesis 42:35 Genesis 43:12 Genesis 43:12 Genesis 43:15 Genesis 43:18 Genesis 43:21 403 Occurrences |
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