Lexical Summary kesel: Confidence, hope, folly, stupidity Original Word: כֶּסֶל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance confidence, flank, folly, hope, loin From kacal; 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. see HEBREW kacal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kasal Definition loins, stupidity, confidence NASB Translation confidence (4), folly and the foolishness (1), foolish (1), loins (6), thighs (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs כֶּ֫סֶל noun masculine 1 loins, 2 stupidity, 3 confidence (Late Hebrew id. lion; Aramaic כִּסְלָא id.); — 1 loins כָּ֑סֶל Job 15:27; plural כְּסָלִים Leviticus 3:4,10,15; Leviticus 4:9; Leviticus 7:4; suffix כְּסָלַי, Psalm 38:8. 2 stupidity, folly ׳כ Ecclesiastes 7:25 ("" סִכְלוּת), כֵּסֶל Psalm 49:14. 3 confidence, suffix כִּסְלִי Job 31:24; כִּסְלֶ֑ךָ Proverbs 3:26; כִּסְלוֺ Job 8:14; כִּסְלָם Psalm 78:7. Topical Lexicon Scope of Meaning כֶּסֶל (kesel) appears thirteen times in the Old Testament and gathers two main fields of meaning: 1. The physical flank or loins, especially of a sacrificial animal. Because the Hebrews viewed the loins/kidneys as the hidden seat of purpose and emotion, the literal and figurative uses naturally merge. Physical Anatomy and Sacrificial Worship In Leviticus 3:4, 10, 15; 4:9; and 7:4 the word identifies “the fat that is on [the kidneys] at the loins.” These fat portions were removed and offered on the altar as “food of the offering made by fire for a pleasing aroma to the LORD.” Their exclusive dedication to God (Leviticus 3:16-17) underscored that even the innermost life-force of the creature belonged to Him. The priestly handling of the kēsel thus taught Israel to yield its deepest strength to the Lord. Anatomical References Beyond the Torah Job 15:27 describes the wicked whose “waistline bulges with flesh,” while Psalm 38:7 laments, “For my loins are filled with burning, and no soundness remains in my body.” In both cases the loins symbolize the very core of physical vitality—either swollen with proud excess or wracked by chastening pain. Figurative Sense: Security and Confidence Several passages move from the literal flank to the inner stance of the heart: In each text kesel names the unseen support a person leans upon. False props collapse, but resting on the covenant LORD brings sure footing. Moral Dimension: Folly and Self-Reliance Where that inner support is misplaced, kesel can denote “folly”: The same word that can signal robust trust in God can also expose the emptiness of self-reliance that shuts Him out. Interrelation of the Two Fields of Meaning The movement from loins to trust/folly is not accidental. In Hebrew psychology the hidden organs summed up a person’s deepest drives; thus: Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern texts also link kidneys and loins with counsel, emotion, and destiny. Israel’s Scripture, however, anchors these associations in the covenant Lord who alone searches “mind and heart” (literally “kidneys and heart,” Jeremiah 17:10). Kesel therefore serves biblical theology by tying bodily imagery to moral accountability before God. Theological and Devotional Implications • Sacrifice: The removal of the flank fat summons worshipers to yield their hidden life to God, prefiguring the call to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Selected References Leviticus 3:4, 10, 15; 4:9; 7:4 — sacrificial fat at the loins Job 8:14; 31:24 — insecure or idolatrous confidence Job 15:27 — fleshy excess in the loins Psalm 38:7 — afflicted loins Psalm 49:13 — the destiny of folly Psalm 78:7 — confidence in God Proverbs 3:26 — the LORD as confidence Ecclesiastes 7:25 — investigating folly Forms and Transliterations בְכִסְלֶ֑ךָ בכסלך הַכְּסָלִ֑ים הכסלים כְ֭סָלַי כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם כִּסְל֑וֹ כִּסְלִ֑י כֵּ֣סֶל כֶּ֔סֶל כָֽסֶל׃ כסל כסל׃ כסלו כסלי כסלם ḇə·ḵis·le·ḵā ḇəḵisleḵā Chasel Chesalai hak·kə·sā·lîm hakkesaLim hakkəsālîm ḵā·sel ḵāsel ḵə·sā·lay ke·sel kê·sel ḵəsālay kesel kêsel kis·lām kis·lî kis·lōw kisLam kislām kisLi kislî kisLo kislōw vechisLechaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 3:4 HEB: אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־ הַכְּסָלִ֑ים וְאֶת־ הַיֹּתֶ֙רֶת֙ NAS: that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe KJV: and the fat that [is] on them, which [is] by the flanks, and the caul INT: which is on the loins and the lobe of Leviticus 3:10 Leviticus 3:15 Leviticus 4:9 Leviticus 7:4 Job 8:14 Job 15:27 Job 31:24 Psalm 38:7 Psalm 49:13 Psalm 78:7 Proverbs 3:26 Ecclesiastes 7:25 13 Occurrences |
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