3785. kesheph

Lexicon

kesheph: Sorcery, witchcraft

Original Word: כֶּשֶׁף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: kesheph
Pronunciation: keh'-shef
Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-shef)
Definition: Sorcery, witchcraft
Meaning: magic

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

sorcery, witchcraft

From kashaph; magic -- sorcery, witchcraft.

see HEBREW kashaph

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
sorcery
NASB Translation
sorceries (5), witchcrafts (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[כֶּ֫שֶׁף] noun masculine^{2Kings 9:22} sorcery, only

plural (Assyrian kišpu, id.); — כְּשָׁפִים Micah 5:11; Nahum 3:4; suffix כְּשָׁפַיִךְ Isaiah 47:9,12; כְּשָׁפֶיהָ Nahum 3:4; 2 Kings 9:22; — sorceries:

1 literal מִיָּדֶיךָ ׳וְהִכְרַתִּי כ Micah 5:11, said of Israel; ׳רֹב כ Isaiah 47:9,12 "" חֲבָרַיִךְ, said of Babylon.

2 figurative of seductive and corrupting influences: of Jezebel 2 Kings 9:22 "" זְנוּנִים; of Nineveh personified as harlot Nahum 3:4 ("" id.), called ׳בַּעֲלַת כ Nahum 3:4 (following זוֺנָהמֵרֹב זְנוּנֵי).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb כָּשַׁף (kashaph), which means "to practice magic" or "to use sorcery."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G5331: φαρμακεία (pharmakeia) • This Greek term is often translated as "sorcery" or "witchcraft" and is used in the New Testament to describe similar practices of magic and the use of spells.
• G5332: φαρμακεύς (pharmakeus) • Refers to a "sorcerer" or "magician," one who practices φαρμακεία.

The use of כֶּשֶׁף in the Hebrew Bible underscores the biblical stance against engaging in practices that seek to manipulate spiritual forces outside of God's ordained means. It serves as a warning to remain faithful to God's commandments and to avoid the allure of occult practices.

Usage: The word כֶּשֶׁף is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe practices that are considered abominable and are strictly forbidden. It is often associated with pagan rituals and the use of occult powers.

Context: • The term כֶּשֶׁף appears in the context of prohibitions against sorcery and witchcraft in the Hebrew Scriptures. It is mentioned in passages that warn the Israelites against adopting the magical practices of surrounding nations.
• In Deuteronomy 18:10, the Israelites are instructed: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft." Here, כֶּשֶׁף is listed among other forbidden practices.
• In 2 Kings 9:22, Jehu confronts Jezebel, accusing her of "whoredoms and sorceries" (כֶּשֶׁף), indicating the association of magic with idolatry and moral corruption.
• The practice of כֶּשֶׁף is condemned as it represents a reliance on powers other than God, often leading people away from true worship and obedience to the Lord.

Forms and Transliterations

בִּכְשָׁפֶֽיהָ׃ בכשפיה׃ וּכְשָׁפֶ֖יהָ וכשפיה כְּשָׁפִ֑ים כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ כְשָׁפִ֖ים כשפיך כשפים bichshaFeiha biḵ·šā·p̄e·hā biḵšāp̄ehā cheshaFim kə·šā·p̄a·yiḵ kə·šā·p̄îm ḵə·šā·p̄îm kəšāp̄ayiḵ kəšāp̄îm ḵəšāp̄îm keshaFayich keshaFim ū·ḵə·šā·p̄e·hā ucheshaFeiha ūḵəšāp̄ehā

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 9:22
HEB: אִיזֶ֧בֶל אִמְּךָ֛ וּכְשָׁפֶ֖יהָ הָרַבִּֽים׃
NAS: Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
KJV: Jezebel and her witchcrafts [are so] many?
INT: Jezebel of your mother witchcrafts in abundance

Isaiah 47:9
HEB: עָלַ֔יִךְ בְּרֹ֣ב כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ בְּעָצְמַ֥ת חֲבָרַ֖יִךְ
NAS: In spite of your many sorceries, In spite of the great
KJV: for the multitude of thy sorceries, [and] for the great
INT: and of your many sorceries power of your spells

Isaiah 47:12
HEB: בַחֲבָרַ֙יִךְ֙ וּבְרֹ֣ב כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָגַ֖עַתְּ
NAS: And in your many sorceries With which
KJV: and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein
INT: your spells your many sorceries which have labored

Micah 5:12
HEB: וְהִכְרַתִּ֥י כְשָׁפִ֖ים מִיָּדֶ֑ךָ וּֽמְעוֹנְנִ֖ים
NAS: I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
KJV: And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand;
INT: will cut sorceries your hand fortune-tellers

Nahum 3:4
HEB: חֵ֖ן בַּעֲלַ֣ת כְּשָׁפִ֑ים הַמֹּכֶ֤רֶת גּוֹיִם֙
NAS: the mistress of sorceries, Who sells
KJV: the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth
INT: favour the mistress of sorceries sells nations

Nahum 3:4
HEB: בִּזְנוּנֶ֔יהָ וּמִשְׁפָּח֖וֹת בִּכְשָׁפֶֽיהָ׃
NAS: And families by her sorceries.
KJV: and families through her witchcrafts.
INT: harlotries and families her sorceries

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3785
6 Occurrences

biḵ·šā·p̄e·hā — 1 Occ.
ḵə·šā·p̄îm — 1 Occ.
kə·šā·p̄a·yiḵ — 2 Occ.
kə·šā·p̄îm — 1 Occ.
ū·ḵə·šā·p̄e·hā — 1 Occ.