כֵּן
𐤊𐤍
kên
H3654 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A small parasitic insect; specifically, a louse (Pediculus humanus or a similar parasitic, biting insect), almost always occurring in the plural and designating the third plague upon Egypt described in Exodus. In broader usage, refers to a minute, pernicious pest; in postbiblical Hebrew extended to refer to gnats or other tiny biting insects. Modern Hebrew and later tradition sometimes identify the term with lice in the biological sense, but in ancient usage, may have included various biting vermin of similar type.
Semantic Range
louse, lice, small biting vermin, gnat (rare, later or in translation tradition); a tiny pest attached to a host (esp. in the context of the Exodus plague)
Root / Etymology
Root כָּנַן (k-n-n), to fix or establish, possibly from the notion of fastening or attaching (uncertain etymology; connection between root and insect is debated). The noun כֵּן is derived by meaning extension to 'that which fastens or attaches,' referring to the parasitic attachment of the louse to host. The exact semantic link to the root is not always clear.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Exodus plague narrative (Exodus 8:13–14 [English: 8:17–18]), כֵּנִים (kenim) is presented as the third sign against Egypt, the swarming of biting vermin upon human beings and animals. The term is always plural in biblical usage and is used exclusively for this plague episode in the Torah. Ancient versions (LXX: σκνῖφες [gnats], Vulgate: sciniphes) suggest a broader or different identification, such as gnats or mosquitoes, but Rabbinic and later Jewish tradition settled on 'lice,' which influenced English translations. The singular form כֵּן is rare and likely reconstructive. The pest symbolized discomfort and uncleanness, and the word does not appear outside the Exodus account in the Hebrew Bible. Its semantic scope overlaps with other pest terms but is distinct from words for flies or common household insects.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּנַן in the sense of fastening; (from infixing its sting; used only in plural (and irregular in Exodus 8:17,18; Hebrews 13:14)); a gnat; lice, [idiom] manner.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כנן (k-n-n) — to fasten, to establish, to anchor
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3657 | כַּנָּה | and a cultivated plant |
| H3662 | כְּנָנִי | Planted One |
| H3663 | כְּנַנְיָה | And Yah-has-established |
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3654-01 |
הַ/כִּנָּ֔ם | hakinam | HTd/Ncmsa |
gnats | the fastening louse | 2 |
H3654-04 |
כִנִּ֖ים | khinim | HNcmpa |
gnats | clinging lice | 1 |
H3654-03 |
כֵ֣ן | khen | HD |
so | thus | 1 |
H3654-02 |
הַ/כִּנִּ֖ים | hakinim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the gnats | the fastening parasites | 1 |
H3654-05 |
כִּ֝נִּ֗ים | kinim | HNcmpa |
gnats | clinging lice | 1 |
H3654-06 |
לְ/כִנִּ֖ם | lekhinim | HR/Ncmpa |
gnats | to clinging lice | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3654-06 |
Exodus 8:12 | לְ/כִנִּ֖ם | lekhinim | HR/Ncmpa |
gnats | to clinging lice |
H3654-01 |
Exodus 8:13 | הַ/כִּנָּ֔ם | hakinam | HTd/Ncmsa |
gnats | the fastening louse |
H3654-04 |
Exodus 8:13 | כִנִּ֖ים | khinim | HNcmpa |
gnats | clinging lice |
H3654-02 |
Exodus 8:14 | הַ/כִּנִּ֖ים | hakinim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the gnats | the fastening parasites |
H3654-01 |
Exodus 8:14 | הַ/כִּנָּ֔ם | hakinam | HTd/Ncmsa |
gnats | the fastening louse |
H3654-03 |
Isaiah 51:6 | כֵ֣ן | khen | HD |
so | thus |
H3654-05 |
Psalms 105:31 | כִּ֝נִּ֗ים | kinim | HNcmpa |
gnats | clinging lice |