כּוֹשָׁרָה
𐤊𐤅𐤔𐤓𐤄
kôwshârâh
H3574 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State of well-being, prosperity, or advantageous circumstance; can refer specifically to success or good fortune in various endeavors, as well as freedom or benefit, typically in the plural. In rare contexts, refers metaphorically to something that binds together, as chains, but this usage is debated and not primary.
Semantic Range
prosperity, success, favorable circumstance, advantageous situation, freedom (in some plural uses), chain (metaphorical, debated)
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root כשר (k-sh-r), which primarily means 'to be right, proper, fit, suitable, succeed.' כּוֹשָׁרָה is formed as a feminine abstract noun indicating the state or condition of being successful or prosperous. The root meaning relates to the idea of suitability or worthiness, but the noun form כּוֹשָׁרָה emphasizes outcomes or states of fortunate or advantageous conditions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
כּוֹשָׁרָה occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Ecclesiastes 7:14) and is used to denote times of prosperity or favorable circumstances, often in contrast to adversity or trouble. The plural form can indicate multiple occasions of prosperity or, idiomatically, times of liberty or unimpeded activity. English translations often render the term as 'prosperity' or 'success,' but the nuance includes the sense of advantageous timing or circumstances, not merely material wealth. The connection with the concept of 'chain' arises from the root's broader semantic field (that which binds together, or is fitting), but this is not the primary usage and is limited or interpretively dependent. In later Hebrew and in rabbinic literature, related forms concentrate more fully on the idea of fitness or suitability rather than overt material prosperity. כּוֹשָׁרָה is distinct from terms like שָׁלוֹם (shalom, peace, wholeness) or טוֹבָה (tovah, goodness), which refer to broader states of welfare or moral good. Its appearance is mainly post-monarchic, and it is especially characteristic of Ecclesiastes’ late biblical Hebrew style.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּשֵׁר; prosperity; in plural freedom; [idiom] chain.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כשר (k-sh-r) — to be suitable, to be proper, to be fit, to succeed
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3601 | כִּישׁוֹר | with the spindle |
| H3787 | כָּשֵׁר | the making fit |
| H3788 | כִּשְׁרוֹן | fitness-of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3574-01 |
בַּ/כּוֹשָׁר֑וֹת | bakosharot | HRd/Ncfpa |
with-singing | in the favorable circumstances | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3574-01 |
Psalms 68:7 | בַּ/כּוֹשָׁר֑וֹת | bakosharot | HRd/Ncfpa |
with-singing | in the favorable circumstances |