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כֶּסֶל

𐤊𐤎𐤋

keçel

H3689 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כּסל to be fat, to be firm, to be robust

Definition

The fleshy part of the lower back or loin; by extension, the loins as the seat of physical strength. Figuratively, it is used for inner self-confidence or reliance (i.e., a sense of inward security or hope), and negatively for folly or lack of sound judgment. The word can refer both to the anatomical region and to abstract qualities associated with that part (strength, confidence, or, conversely, self-delusion or folly), depending on context.

Semantic Range

loin, lower back, flank, the seat of strength, confidence, trust, hope, folly, imprudent reliance

Root / Etymology

From the root כסל, which fundamentally means 'to be fat, to be robust or strong.' כֶּסֶל as a noun derives from this sense: from 'firmness/strength (of body)' arises the notions of the loins as the location of physical strength, and then metaphorically as the seat of confidence or trust. The meaning 'folly' as a negative abstraction likely developed from a sense of misplaced or overconfident trust. The derivation from 'fatness' to 'loin' is physical, while the development to 'confidence/folly' is metaphorical.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כֶּסֶל appears in both concrete and figurative contexts. In some passages, it refers to the physical loins or sides (e.g., Job 15:27). In poetry and wisdom literature, it often denotes 'confidence' or 'hope' (e.g., Job 8:14; Psalm 78:7). The negative meaning 'folly' or imprudence arises especially in sapiential contexts (e.g., Job 31:24-25), possibly as a critique of overconfidence. The anatomical sense is largely literal, significant for describing human physique and strength, while the figurative meaning develops to describe internal states—either positive (trust, hope) or negative (folly, unwarranted self-confidence). English translations sometimes flatten the term, often using 'confidence,' 'hope,' or 'folly,' which may miss the nuanced link to physicality present in the original. כֶּסֶל should be distinguished from other Hebrew terms for 'hope' (e.g., תִּקְוָה tiqvah), which do not carry the sense of physical robustness, and from other words for folly (e.g., אִוֶּלֶת ivvelet), which lack the nuance of overconfident reliance. Over time, especially in poetic texts, the word's physical sense diminished, with the figurative senses becoming more prominent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from כָּסַל; properly, fatness, i.e. by implication (literally) the loin (as the seat of the leaf fat) or (generally) the viscera; also (figuratively) silliness or (in a good sense) trust; confidence, flank, folly, hope, loin.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כסל (k-s-l) — fatness, firmness, robustness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3684 כְּסִיל in the thick-minded ones
H3685 כְּסִיל thick-headed one
H3687 כְּסִילוּת foolishness
H3688 כָּסַל and they become dull-minded
H3690 כִּסְלָה your confidence

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3689-01 הַ/כְּסָלִ֑ים hakesalim HTd/Ncmpa loins the loins 5
H3689-02 כֵּ֣סֶל kesel HNcmsa is folly robust loin 2
H3689-07 כִּסְל֑/וֹ kiselo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his confidence his loin-strength 1
H3689-03 כָֽסֶל khasel HNcmsa his loins loin 1
H3689-04 כְ֭סָלַ/י khesalay HNcmpc/Sp1cs I am feeble my loins 1
H3689-05 כִּ֫סְלָ֥/ם kiselam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their hope their loin 1
H3689-08 בְ/כִסְלֶ֑/ךָ vekhiselekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms your confidence in your loin-strength 1
H3689-06 כִּסְלִ֑/י kiseli HNcmsc/Sp1cs my hope my seat-of-strength 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3689-01 Leviticus 3:4 הַ/כְּסָלִ֑ים hakesalim HTd/Ncmpa loins the loins
H3689-01 Leviticus 3:10 הַ/כְּסָלִ֑ים hakesalim HTd/Ncmpa loins the loins
H3689-01 Leviticus 3:15 הַ/כְּסָלִ֑ים hakesalim HTd/Ncmpa loins the loins
H3689-01 Leviticus 4:9 הַ/כְּסָלִ֑ים hakesalim HTd/Ncmpa loins the loins
H3689-01 Leviticus 7:4 הַ/כְּסָלִ֑ים hakesalim HTd/Ncmpa the loins the loins
H3689-04 Psalms 38:8 כְ֭סָלַ/י khesalay HNcmpc/Sp1cs I am feeble my loins
H3689-02 Psalms 49:14 כֵּ֣סֶל kesel HNcmsa is folly robust loin
H3689-05 Psalms 78:7 כִּ֫סְלָ֥/ם kiselam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their hope their loin
H3689-08 Proverbs 3:26 בְ/כִסְלֶ֑/ךָ vekhiselekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms your confidence in your loin-strength
H3689-07 Job 8:14 כִּסְל֑/וֹ kiselo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his confidence his loin-strength
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