קָדֵשׁ
𐤒𐤃𐤔
qâdêsh
H6945 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
A male cultic devotee associated with ritual prostitution at certain Canaanite or neighboring Near Eastern shrines, marked by a status of set-apartness for religious purposes, sometimes in contexts involving sexual rituals. The term is primarily used to denote individuals attached to sanctuaries or cultic sites, often with connotations of illicit or non-normative sexual activity linked with pagan worship.
Semantic Range
male cultic devotee, male temple prostitute, individual set apart for pagan religious rituals, participant in ritual sexual acts, outsider associated with illicit worship
Root / Etymology
From the root קדשׁ (q-d-sh), meaning 'to be set apart, to be sacred, holy.' The noun form קָדֵשׁ derives from this root with an active participial suffix, signifying 'one who is set apart' or 'sanctified one.' In this specific context, the meaning shifts to denote a sanctified person serving in certain cultic roles, particularly ritual sexual service.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term קָדֵשׁ appears in contexts in which Israelite literature critiques Canaanite religious practice, particularly the presence of cultic functionaries believed to serve in sexualized rituals (e.g., Deut 23:17; 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:47). In pre-exilic Israel, such individuals were sometimes present on the margins of Israelite society but are consistently condemned in biblical texts, reflecting the distinctiveness of Israelite religious practice. English translations often render the word with terms like 'sodomite' or 'male temple prostitute,' but these anachronistically impose later or foreign concepts of sexuality. The ancient Near Eastern background involves both male and female cultic personnel (cf. קְדֵשָׁה, qedeshah, a female devotee). The negative use in the Hebrew Bible reflects the broader polemic against non-Israelite religious customs. Over later periods, especially after the exile, such roles are not evidenced among Israelites or their descendants. The translation 'sodomite' is based on traditional associations and should be avoided for historical accuracy.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָדַשׁ; a (quasi) sacred person, i.e. (technically) a (male) devotee (by prostitution) to licentious idolatry; sodomite, unclean.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קדשׁ (q-d-sh) — to be holy, set apart, consecrate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4720 | מִקְדָּשׁ | in a consecrated place |
| H6946 | קָדֵשׁ | in Kadesh |
| H6947 | קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ | Qadesh-Barnea |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6945-03 |
הַ/קְּדֵשִׁ֖ים | haqedeshim | HTd/Aampa |
the male cult prostitutes | the set-apart male cult-prostitutes | 2 |
H6945-04 |
קָדֵ֖שׁ | qadesh | HAamsa |
male cult prostitute | Kadesh | 2 |
H6945-02 |
הַ/קָּדֵ֔שׁ | haqadesh | HTd/Aamsa |
of the sodomites | the set-apart cultic male | 1 |
H6945-01 |
בַּ/קְּדֵשִֽׁים | baqedeshim | HRd/Aampa |
among the cult prostitutes | male cult devotees | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6945-04 |
Deuteronomy 23:18 | קָדֵ֖שׁ | qadesh | HAamsa |
male-prostitute | Kadesh |
H6945-04 |
1 Kings 14:24 | קָדֵ֖שׁ | qadesh | HAamsa |
male cult prostitute | Kadesh |
H6945-03 |
1 Kings 15:12 | הַ/קְּדֵשִׁ֖ים | haqedeshim | HTd/Aampa |
the male cult prostitutes | the set-apart male cult-prostitutes |
H6945-02 |
1 Kings 22:47 | הַ/קָּדֵ֔שׁ | haqadesh | HTd/Aamsa |
of the sodomites | the set-apart cultic male |
H6945-03 |
2 Kings 23:7 | הַ/קְּדֵשִׁ֔ים | haqedeshim | HTd/Aampa |
the male cult prostitutes | the set-apart male cult-prostitutes |
H6945-01 |
Job 36:14 | בַּ/קְּדֵשִֽׁים | baqedeshim | HRd/Aampa |
among the cult prostitutes | male cult devotees |