כֶּסֶת
𐤊𐤎𐤕
keçeth
H3704 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cushion or pillow used as a soft support, typically for sitting or reclining upon, generally indicating an item for personal comfort or rest. In biblical usage, references are rare and specific to luxurious or comfortable arrangements, not general bedding.
Semantic Range
cushion, pillow, padded covering for seat or bed, object used for personal comfort when sitting or reclining
Root / Etymology
From the root כסה (k-s-h), meaning 'to cover, conceal.' כֶּסֶת (keçeth) is a noun derived from this root, signifying an object that 'covers' a seat or bed, i.e., a cushion or pillow.
Historical & Contextual Notes
כֶּסֶת occurs very infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Ezekiel 13:18, 20), where it refers to the materials women sew for reclining or comfort—likely as symbols of luxury or false security within prophetic critique. Unlike מִשְׁכָּב (miškav, 'bed') or מִרְפָּד (mirpad, 'cushion, bolster'), כֶּסֶת focuses on the covering or padded element. Later Hebrew (Rabbinic) uses extend the meaning toward bedding or soft furnishings, but in the biblical context the term retains a specialized sense tied to comfort, status, and occasionally deception. Standard translations as 'pillow' or 'cushion' are accurate, but do not always convey the rare or polemical nature of its biblical usage, nor its association with the act of covering.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּסָה; a cushion or pillow (as covering a seat or bed); pillow.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כסה (k-s-h) — to cover, conceal
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3677 | כֶּסֶא | full moon |
| H3678 | כִּסֵּא | the throne |
| H3680 | כָּסָה | I will fully cover |
| H3681 | כָּסוּי | covering-of |
| H3682 | כְּסוּת | covering-of |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3704-01 |
כְּסָת֜וֹת | kesatot | HNcfpa |
pillows | covering-cushions | 1 |
H3704-02 |
כִּסְּתוֹתֵי/כֶ֨נָה֙ | kisetoteykhenah | HNcfpc/Sp2fp |
your pillows | your cushioned coverings | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3704-01 |
Ezekiel 13:18 | כְּסָת֜וֹת | kesatot | HNcfpa |
pillows | covering-cushions |
H3704-02 |
Ezekiel 13:20 | כִּסְּתוֹתֵי/כֶ֨נָה֙ | kisetoteykhenah | HNcfpc/Sp2fp |
your pillows | your cushioned coverings |