כִּי
𐤊𐤉
kîy
H3587 conjunction
SILEX Entry
Definition
A mark or brand produced by burning, a scar or physical sign resulting from being branded or burned. Refers specifically to a seared mark left on the skin by fire, often as a token of ownership, punishment, or identification.
Semantic Range
brand, burn scar, branded mark, physical sign from burning
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root כָּוָה (k-w-h), meaning 'to burn' or 'to scorch.' The noun כִּי (kîy) represents the result of burning — specifically, the mark, scar, or branding produced by fire. Root meaning 'to burn' gives rise to this nominal form indicating the object or evidence of burning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term כִּי (kîy) is rare in the Hebrew Bible and occurs specifically in reference to branding or physical scarring by fire. Such a practice was known in the ancient Near East as a method of marking individuals, animals, or even objects with a distinguishing sign, often for identification or punitive purposes. Most occurrences pertain to contexts of slavery or criminal punishment. The English term 'brand' or 'scar' captures the basic meaning, but does not always convey the full social and legal implications attached to branding in ancient societies. The word is distinct from linguistic homographs in Biblical Hebrew, such as כִּי (ki) meaning 'that, for, because,' which is etymologically unrelated. In English Bibles, the translation is typically 'brand' or 'scar,' though explanatory footnotes sometimes clarify the cultural context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּוָה; a brand or scar; burning.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
— (—) — indicate cause, confirm, explain, contrast, result
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | then |
| H133 | אַדְמָתָא | Admatha |
| H175 | אַהֲרוֹן | and in Aharon |
| H1834 | דַּמֶּשֶׂק | Damascus |
| H1867 | דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ | Darius |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3587-01 |
כִּי | ki | HC |
instead of | for / because | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3587-01 |
Isaiah 3:24 | כִּי | ki | HC |
instead of | for / because |