Strong's Hebrew: 3785. כְּשָׁפִים (kesheph) -- Sorcery, witchcraft

Strong's Lexicon

kesheph: Sorcery, witchcraft

Original Word: כֶּשֶׁף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: kesheph
Pronunciation: keh'-shef
Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-shef)
Definition: Sorcery, witchcraft
Meaning: magic

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb כָּשַׁף (kashaph), meaning "to practice sorcery" or "to enchant."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G5331 (φαρμακεία, pharmakeia): Often translated as "sorcery" or "witchcraft," referring to the use of drugs or potions in magical practices.

- G5332 (φαρμακεύς, pharmakeus): A sorcerer or magician.

Usage: The term "kesheph" refers to the practice of sorcery or witchcraft, which involves the use of supernatural powers or magic, often in opposition to the will of God. In the biblical context, it is associated with practices that are condemned and considered abominations, as they often involve invoking powers other than God.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, sorcery and witchcraft were common practices used to manipulate spiritual forces for personal gain or harm to others. These practices were often linked to pagan religions and involved rituals, incantations, and the use of various objects believed to hold magical properties. The Israelites were explicitly warned against engaging in such practices, as they were contrary to the worship of Yahweh and His commandments.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
sorcery
NASB Translation
sorceries (5), witchcrafts (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[כֶּ֫שֶׁף] noun masculine^{2Kings 9:22} sorcery, only

plural (Assyrian kišpu, id.); — כְּשָׁפִים Micah 5:11; Nahum 3:4; suffix כְּשָׁפַיִךְ Isaiah 47:9,12; כְּשָׁפֶיהָ Nahum 3:4; 2 Kings 9:22; — sorceries:

1 literal מִיָּדֶיךָ ׳וְהִכְרַתִּי כ Micah 5:11, said of Israel; ׳רֹב כ Isaiah 47:9,12 "" חֲבָרַיִךְ, said of Babylon.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

sorcery, witchcraft

From kashaph; magic -- sorcery, witchcraft.

see HEBREW kashaph

Forms and Transliterations

בִּכְשָׁפֶֽיהָ׃ בכשפיה׃ וּכְשָׁפֶ֖יהָ וכשפיה כְּשָׁפִ֑ים כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ כְשָׁפִ֖ים כשפיך כשפים bichshaFeiha biḵ·šā·p̄e·hā biḵšāp̄ehā cheshaFim kə·šā·p̄a·yiḵ kə·šā·p̄îm ḵə·šā·p̄îm kəšāp̄ayiḵ kəšāp̄îm ḵəšāp̄îm keshaFayich keshaFim ū·ḵə·šā·p̄e·hā ucheshaFeiha ūḵəšāp̄ehā

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Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 9:22
HEB: אִיזֶ֧בֶל אִמְּךָ֛ וּכְשָׁפֶ֖יהָ הָרַבִּֽים׃
NAS: Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
KJV: Jezebel and her witchcrafts [are so] many?
INT: Jezebel of your mother witchcrafts in abundance

Isaiah 47:9
HEB: עָלַ֔יִךְ בְּרֹ֣ב כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ בְּעָצְמַ֥ת חֲבָרַ֖יִךְ
NAS: In spite of your many sorceries, In spite of the great
KJV: for the multitude of thy sorceries, [and] for the great
INT: and of your many sorceries power of your spells

Isaiah 47:12
HEB: בַחֲבָרַ֙יִךְ֙ וּבְרֹ֣ב כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָגַ֖עַתְּ
NAS: And in your many sorceries With which
KJV: and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein
INT: your spells your many sorceries which have labored

Micah 5:12
HEB: וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י כְשָׁפִ֖ים מִיָּדֶ֑ךָ וּֽמְעוֹנְנִ֖ים
NAS: I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
KJV: And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand;
INT: will cut sorceries your hand fortune-tellers

Nahum 3:4
HEB: חֵ֖ן בַּעֲלַ֣ת כְּשָׁפִ֑ים הַמֹּכֶ֤רֶת גּוֹיִם֙
NAS: the mistress of sorceries, Who sells
KJV: the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth
INT: favour the mistress of sorceries sells nations

Nahum 3:4
HEB: בִּזְנוּנֶ֔יהָ וּמִשְׁפָּח֖וֹת בִּכְשָׁפֶֽיהָ׃
NAS: And families by her sorceries.
KJV: and families through her witchcrafts.
INT: harlotries and families her sorceries