כּוּמָז
𐤊𐤅𐤌𐤆
kûwmâz
H3558 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An ornament, typically a form of jewelry worn by women, often understood as a golden nose ring, earring, or pendants. In biblical passages, כּוּמָז refers specifically to personal adornments, most likely fashioned from precious metal, that are associated with wealth and status.
Semantic Range
gold ornament, piece of jewelry, pendant, nose ring, earring, bead, feminine adornment
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. Although Strong's suggests an unused root meaning 'to store away,' this is conjectural. No securely attested Hebrew root can be directly related to כּוּמָז.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word כּוּמָז appears rarely, notably in Exodus 35:22 and Numbers 31:50, where it designates an object of gold given as a contribution or tribute. Most ancient and modern interpreters (LXX, Vulgate, Rabbinic tradition) understand it as a kind of jewelry, generally associated with women's adornments: possibilities include pendant, nose ring, or gold bead—'tablet' reflects a misunderstanding in some English translations or glosses. In biblical usage, the כּוּמָז functions as a status symbol and a piece of valuable property; its association is always with precious metal, typically gold. There is no evidence for any specific religious or cultic function, nor for general use as a container. Later in Hebrew, similar terms were interpreted in rabbinic sources and by medieval commentators as feminine jewelry, specifically pendants in intimate areas, but this is interpretive and reflects halakhic application rather than the earliest known meaning. The ambiguity of the term is typical of rare Hebrew words describing ornaments; its exact form and placement remain uncertain due to limited evidence. English translations often render it simply as 'ornament' or 'jewel,' which preserves the generic sense but loses the probable specificity as gold jewelry.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to store away; a jewel (probably gold beads); tablet.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כומז (uncertain) (k-w-m-z (uncertain)) — uncertain; possibly adornment, treasured object
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3558-01 |
וְ/כוּמָז֙ | vekhumaz | HC/Ncmsa |
and-necklace | precious ornament | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3558-01 |
Exodus 35:22 | וְ/כוּמָז֙ | vekhumaz | HC/Ncmsa |
and tablets | precious ornament |
H3558-01 |
Numbers 31:50 | וְ/כוּמָ֑ז | vekhumaz | HC/Ncmsa |
and-necklace | precious ornament |