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כִּסֵּא

𐤊𐤎𐤀

kiççêʼ

H3678 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A seat or chair of authority, most frequently referring to a royal throne but also extending to any seat of honor or rule. In many contexts designates not only the physical seat but also the office, authority, or sovereign power associated with it. The semantic range covers both literal and metaphorical uses: a tangible throne, the abstract idea of kingship or rule, and occasionally specialized or ceremonial seats.

Semantic Range

royal throne, seat of governance, seat of honor or dignity, judge's seat, divine throne, metaphor for lasting authority or kingship

Root / Etymology

From the root כסא, debatedly derived from the root כסה (to cover, conceal), suggesting originally a 'covered seat.' While this may point to a throne as something canopied or of special form, the lexical meaning in Biblical Hebrew has come to refer directly to a throne or seat of dignity. The connection to the root כסה is etymological rather than strongly evidenced in practical use.

Historical & Contextual Notes

כִּסֵּא is the principal Hebrew word for 'throne' in the Hebrew Bible, regularly denoting the seat of a king, ruler, or deity (such as references to the divine throne in poetic or prophetic passages). Its usage spans from the earliest monarchic texts through late texts and is largely consistent in meaning. The word can occasionally refer to lesser seats of honor, officials' chairs, or even the seats of judges, but the association with royal or divine authority is primary. In post-exilic and later literature, the metaphorical significance (the seat as a symbol of power and enduring dynasty) becomes more pronounced. The English 'throne' is generally an adequate translation, but the abstraction "seat of authority" is sometimes warranted, particularly in poetic or prophetic texts. Other Hebrew terms, such as מוֹשָׁב (moshav, 'seat' in a generic sense), denote a more ordinary seat, while כִּסֵּא tends to be reserved for high-status or authoritative seats. In later Greek and English translation traditions, 'throne' sometimes acquires additional theological connotations, which may go beyond the Hebrew text's intent.

Translation Consistency

primary "throne" 43 occurrences

Most frequent P2 rendering (121/135) and best captures the primary semantic range: a royal seat and the associated office/authority. 'Throne' naturally covers both literal and metaphorical uses of כִּסֵּא better than the less specific 'seat' or rarer variants, and will produce the most natural, consistent English across contexts.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"seat" (4x) "throne-of" (2x) "chair" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or כִּסֵּה; from כָּסָה; properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied); seat, stool, throne.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

כסה (keçeʼ) — to cover, conceal, hide

Root כסה to cover, conceal
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3677 כֶּסֶא full moon
H3680 כָּסָה I will fully cover
H3681 כָּסוּי covering-of
H3682 כְּסוּת covering-of
H3704 כֶּסֶת covering-cushions

Word Forms

22 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3678-06 כִּסֵּ֧א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of 52
H3678-10 כִּסְא֖/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne 30
H3678-09 כִּסְאִ֑/י kisei HNcmsc/Sp1cs my throne my throne my throne 9
H3678-01 הַ/כִּסֵּא֙ hakise HTd/Ncmsa the seat the throne the seat 7
H3678-15 לְ/כִסֵּ֥א lekhise HR/Ncmsc on the throne to a throne of to a throne of 6
H3678-07 כִּֽסְאֲ/ךָ֔ kiseakha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your throne your throne your throne 5
H3678-22 וְ/כִסְא֕/וֹ vekhiseo HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and his throne and his throne and his throne 5
H3678-13 לַ֠/כִּסֵּא lakise HRd/Ncmsa to the throne to the throne to the throne 3
H3678-21 וְ/כִסֵּ֣א vekhise HC/Ncmsc and a chair and throne-of and throne-of 3
H3678-08 כִּסְאֶ֔/ךָ kiseekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms of your throne your throne your throne 2

Occurrences in Scripture

135 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3678-01 Genesis 41:40 הַ/כִּסֵּ֖א hakise HTd/Ncmsa the throne the throne the throne
H3678-10 Exodus 11:5 כִּסְא֔/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne
H3678-10 Exodus 12:29 כִּסְא֔/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne
H3678-06 Deuteronomy 17:18 כִּסֵּ֣א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-01 Judges 3:20 הַ/כִּסֵּֽא hakise HTd/Ncmsa the seat the throne the seat
H3678-01 1 Samuel 1:9 הַ/כִּסֵּ֔א hakise HTd/Ncmsa the seat the throne the seat
H3678-21 1 Samuel 2:8 וְ/כִסֵּ֥א vekhise HC/Ncmsc and throne and throne-of and throne-of
H3678-01 1 Samuel 4:13 הַ/כִּסֵּ֜א hakise HTd/Ncmsa the seat the throne the seat
H3678-01 1 Samuel 4:18 הַ֠/כִּסֵּא hakise HTd/Ncmsa the seat the throne the seat
H3678-06 2 Samuel 3:10 כִּסֵּ֣א kise HNcmsc throne throne of throne of
H3678-06 2 Samuel 7:13 כִּסֵּ֥א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-07 2 Samuel 7:16 כִּֽסְאֲ/ךָ֔ kiseakha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your throne your throne your throne
H3678-22 2 Samuel 14:9 וְ/כִסְא֖/וֹ vekhiseo HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and his throne and his throne and his throne
H3678-09 1 Kings 1:13 כִּסְאִ֑/י kisei HNcmsc/Sp1cs my-throne my throne my throne
H3678-09 1 Kings 1:17 כִּסְאִֽ/י kisei HNcmsc/Sp1cs my throne my throne my throne
H3678-06 1 Kings 1:20 כִּסֵּ֥א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-09 1 Kings 1:24 כִּסְאִֽ/י kisei HNcmsc/Sp1cs my throne my throne my throne
H3678-06 1 Kings 1:27 כִּסֵּ֥א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-09 1 Kings 1:30 כִּסְאִ֖/י kisei HNcmsc/Sp1cs my throne my throne my throne
H3678-09 1 Kings 1:35 כִּסְאִ֔/י kisei HNcmsc/Sp1cs my throne my throne my throne
H3678-10 1 Kings 1:37 כִּסְא֔/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne
H3678-16 1 Kings 1:37 מִ֨/כִּסֵּ֔א mikise HR/Ncmsc than the throne throne of than the throne of
H3678-06 1 Kings 1:46 כִּסֵּ֥א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-10 1 Kings 1:47 כִּסְא֖/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne
H3678-17 1 Kings 1:47 מִ/כִּסְאֶ֑/ךָ mikiseekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms than your throne your throne than your throne
H3678-09 1 Kings 1:48 כִּסְאִ֖/י kisei HNcmsc/Sp1cs my throne my throne my throne
H3678-06 1 Kings 2:4 כִּסֵּ֥א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-06 1 Kings 2:12 כִּסֵּ֖א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-10 1 Kings 2:19 כִּסְא֔/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne
H3678-06 1 Kings 2:19 כִּסֵּא֙ kise HNcmsa a throne throne of a throne
H3678-06 1 Kings 2:24 כִּסֵּא֙ kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-20 1 Kings 2:33 וּ/לְ/כִסְא֜/וֹ ulekhiseo HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and to his throne and to his throne and to his throne
H3678-21 1 Kings 2:45 וְ/כִסֵּ֣א vekhise HC/Ncmsc and the throne and throne-of and throne-of
H3678-10 1 Kings 3:6 כִּסְא֖/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne
H3678-08 1 Kings 5:19 כִּסְאֶ֔/ךָ kiseekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your-throne your throne your throne
H3678-01 1 Kings 7:7 הַ/כִּסֵּא֙ hakise HTd/Ncmsa the-throne the throne the throne
H3678-06 1 Kings 8:20 כִּסֵּ֣א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-06 1 Kings 8:25 כִּסֵּ֣א kise HNcmsc throne throne of throne of
H3678-06 1 Kings 9:5 כִּסֵּ֧א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-06 1 Kings 9:5 כִּסֵּ֥א kise-2 HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-06 1 Kings 10:9 כִּסֵּ֣א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
H3678-06 1 Kings 10:18 כִּסֵּא kise HNcmsc throne throne of throne of
H3678-14 1 Kings 10:19 לַ/כִּסֵּ֗ה lakiseh HRd/Ncmsa to the throne to the throne to the throne
H3678-14 1 Kings 10:19 לַ/כִּסֵּה֙ lakiseh-2 HRd/Ncmsa of the throne to the throne to the throne
H3678-10 1 Kings 16:11 כִּסְא֗/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne
H3678-10 1 Kings 22:10 כִּסְא֜/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne
H3678-10 1 Kings 22:19 כִּסְא֔/וֹ kiseo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his throne his throne his throne
H3678-21 2 Kings 4:10 וְ/כִסֵּ֣א vekhise HC/Ncmsa and a chair and throne-of and a chair
H3678-06 2 Kings 10:3 כִּסֵּ֣א kise HNcmsc throne throne of throne of
H3678-06 2 Kings 10:30 כִּסֵּ֥א kise HNcmsc the throne throne of throne of
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