כֶּשֶׂד
𐤊𐤔𐤃
Kesed
H3777 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Kesed: the name of an individual listed as a relative of Abraham, specifically a son of Nahor (Abraham's brother). The word functions exclusively as a personal name in the Hebrew Bible, with no evidence of its use as a common noun or title. The lexical meaning as a common word is not attested, and its specific etymological sense remains unknown.
Semantic Range
personal name; possible eponym for a clan, tribe, or geographic region, but unattested outside the genealogies
Root / Etymology
From an unused root of uncertain meaning; the etymology is uncertain and not connected linguistically to more common Hebrew roots (such as חסד meaning 'loyal love'). The form כֶּשֶׂד is unique in biblical Hebrew, likely a loan or adaptation from a non-Hebrew Semitic name or regional designation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name כֶּשֶׂד (Kesed) appears in Genesis 22:22 as one of the sons of Nahor, Abraham's brother, situating the figure within the broader Aramean familial line associated with the region of northern Mesopotamia. The figure of Kesed does not appear elsewhere in the biblical narrative, and later tradition sometimes associates his line with the Chaldeans (cf. Akkadian 'Kaldū'). However, the biblical usage does not make this connection explicit. English translations occasionally render the name as 'Chesed,' but there is no biblical warrant for connecting it to the Hebrew concept of kindness (חסד). The word is an example of a theonym or ethnonym whose precise origin and meaning have been lost to history. In modern scholarship, it is important not to confuse כֶּשֶׂד with the unrelated Hebrew root חסד (ḥesed, meaning 'steadfast love, loyalty').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root of uncertain meaning; Kesed, a relative of Abraham; Chesed.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כשׂד (k-ś-d) — uncertain; personal name of obscure origin
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3777-01 |
כֶּ֣שֶׂד | kesed | HNp |
Kesed | Kesed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3777-01 |
Genesis 22:22 | כֶּ֣שֶׂד | kesed | HNp |
Kesed | Kesed |