Strong's Hebrew: 3697. כָּסַם (kasam) -- To practice divination, to divine

Strong's Lexicon

kasam: To practice divination, to divine

Original Word: כָּסַם
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kacam
Pronunciation: kah-sahm'
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-sam')
Definition: To practice divination, to divine
Meaning: to shear

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3132 (μαντεία, manteia) - Divination

- G4436 (πύθων, puthon) - Spirit of divination

Usage: The Hebrew verb "kasam" refers to the act of divination or seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means. In the biblical context, it is often associated with practices that are forbidden by God, as they rely on sources other than Him for guidance and insight. The term is used to describe the actions of false prophets and those who engage in pagan rituals.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, divination was a common practice used to discern the will of the gods or predict future events. Methods included interpreting omens, consulting oracles, and using various forms of magic. The Israelites were distinct in their prohibition of such practices, as outlined in the Mosaic Law, which emphasized reliance on God alone for guidance and prophecy. This prohibition was part of maintaining the purity of worship and the distinct identity of the Israelite community.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to shear, clip
NASB Translation
only trim (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[כָּסַם] verb shear, clip (Assyrian kasâmu, cut in pieces, according to Dl^{HWB 344}); — only

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

only, poll

A primitive root; to shear -- X only, poll. Compare kircem.

see HEBREW kircem

Forms and Transliterations

יִכְסְמ֖וּ יכסמו כָּס֥וֹם כסום kā·sō·wm kaSom kāsōwm yichseMu yiḵ·sə·mū yiḵsəmū

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