כֵּס
𐤊𐤎
kêç
H3676 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A banner, flag, or signal—typically a standard raised or prominent marker used for rallying, summoning, or serving as a visible signal in military, ceremonial, or communal contexts. The term appears to refer to a prominent sign, most often associated with a military or communal gathering point. In some contexts, it might carry the broader sense of a distinguishing mark, ensign, or signal for attention.
Semantic Range
banner, flag, standard, signal, rallying point, ensign
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain. While some suggest it is a contraction of כִּסֵּא (kisse', 'throne, seat'), the majority position, following manuscript and translation traditions, reads נֵס (nēs, 'banner, standard, signal') in the relevant biblical passages. The form כֵּס is rare and may reflect a textual variant or scribal error rather than a distinct etymological development. No separate root meaning is clearly established for כֵּס independent of the more common נֵס.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The form כֵּס is extremely rare in the Hebrew Bible and is most likely attested as a variant or corruption of נֵס (nēs). In some textual traditions (e.g., certain manuscripts or editions), כֵּס appears where the expected reading is נֵס. There is no evidence for the English rendering 'sworn' as a primary meaning. The sense of 'flag,' 'banner,' or 'signal' remains primary in the contexts where this variant appears, and it does not seem to carry ceremonial, cultic, or specifically religious connotations. The term should be distinguished from related words such as דֶּגֶל (degel, 'standar, banner') and אוֹת (’ôt, 'sign'). Later translations and editions standardize the text to נֵס, and כֵּס is not attested with independent, distinctive usage. Traditional translations that render the word as 'sail' or 'flagstaff' do so under influence from related Near Eastern languages or later usage but are of limited relevance for understanding its biblical occurrences.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently a contraction for כִּסֵּא, but probably by erroneous transcription for נֵס; {a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff; generally a signal; figuratively, a token}; sworn.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נס (n-s) — to lift up, to display, to signal
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3676-01 |
כֵּ֣ס | kes | HNcmsc |
throne | banner of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3676-01 |
Exodus 17:16 | כֵּ֣ס | kes | HNcmsc |
throne | banner of |