3800. kethem

Lexicon

kethem: Gold, fine gold

Original Word: כֶּתֶם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: kethem
Pronunciation: KEH-them
Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-them)
Definition: Gold, fine gold
Meaning: something carved out, ore, gold

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

most fine, pure golden wedge

From katham; properly, something carved out, i.e. Ore; hence, gold (pure as originally mined) -- ((most) fine, pure) gold(-en wedge).

see HEBREW katham

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
gold
NASB Translation
fine gold (2), gold (6), pure gold (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

כֶּ֫תֶם noun masculine^{Lamentations 4:1} gold, in poetry and late (perhaps loan-word in Hebrew; Phoenician has proper name, masculine כתם; Sabean כתם Hal^{Et. Sab. 190}; kaθam¹ as loan-word in Egyptian, Bondi^80f.); — ׳כ absolute Job 28:19 3t., כָּ֑תֶם Proverbs 25:12; construct כֶּתֶם Isaiah 13:12 3t.; — אוֺפִיר ׳כ Isaiah 13:12 gold of Ophir ("" מָּ֑ז), so Job 28:16; Psalm 45:10; אוּפָ֑ז ׳כ Daniel 10:5 (read perhaps אוֺפִיר for אוּפָז q. v.); ׳כ alone Job 31:24 ׅ "" (זָהָב ׳חֲלִיכֿ Proverbs 25:12 ornament of gold ׅ "" (זָהָבנֶזֶם מָּ֑ז ׳כ Songs 5:11; טָהוֺר ׳כ Job 28:19; הַטּוֺב ׳הַכּ Lamentations 4:1 "" זָהָב.

כתן (√ of following, = clothe? so Zehnpf^{BAS i, 532}, who derives therefrom Assyrian kitinnê, linen, cloth, = Arabic see also Aramaic כִּיתָּנָא and below)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From an unused root meaning to carve or engrave

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G694 (ἄργυρος, argyros) • silver, often used in contrast to gold
• G2441 (χρυσίον, chrysiōn) • gold, a diminutive form indicating small pieces or items of gold
• G3037 (λίθος, lithos) • stone, sometimes used metaphorically for precious stones or materials
• G4185 (πολύτιμος, polytimos) • very precious, often used to describe valuable materials like gold
• G5553 (χρυσός, chrysos) • gold, the primary Greek term for gold, used extensively in the New Testament to denote wealth and value

In summary, כֶּתֶם (kethem) is a term rich with cultural and theological significance, symbolizing purity, value, and divine craftsmanship in the biblical narrative. Its usage across various contexts highlights the multifaceted role of gold in ancient Israelite society and its enduring symbolic power.

Usage: The term כֶּתֶם is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to gold, often emphasizing its purity and value. It is associated with wealth, splendor, and divine craftsmanship.

Context: The Hebrew word כֶּתֶם (kethem) appears in several Old Testament passages, primarily denoting gold. This term is often used to describe gold in its purest form, highlighting its intrinsic value and beauty. In the ancient Near Eastern context, gold was a symbol of wealth, power, and divine favor. It was used extensively in the construction of sacred objects, royal adornments, and as a medium of exchange.

In the Book of Job, כֶּתֶם is used metaphorically to describe wisdom and understanding, comparing their value to that of the finest gold (Job 28:16). This usage underscores the cultural perception of gold as the ultimate standard of worth.

In the Song of Solomon, the beloved's head is described as being "like gold, pure gold" (Song of Solomon 5:11, BSB), using כֶּתֶם to convey the idea of unmatched beauty and desirability.

The term also appears in prophetic literature, where it is used to depict the opulence and splendor of nations or individuals (Isaiah 13:12). This reflects the broader biblical theme of gold as a representation of both earthly and heavenly glory.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּכֶ֣תֶם בְּכֶ֥תֶם בכתם הַכֶּ֣תֶם הכתם וְ֝לַכֶּ֗תֶם ולכתם כֶּ֣תֶם כָ֑תֶם כתם מִכֶּ֥תֶם מכתם bə·ḵe·ṯem beChetem bəḵeṯem Chatem hak·ke·ṯem hakKetem hakkeṯem ḵā·ṯem ḵāṯem ke·ṯem Ketem keṯem mik·ke·ṯem mikKetem mikkeṯem velakKetem wə·lak·ke·ṯem wəlakkeṯem

Englishman's Concordance

Job 28:16
HEB: לֹֽא־ תְ֭סֻלֶּה בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִ֑יר בְּשֹׁ֖הַם
NAS: be valued in the gold of Ophir,
KJV: It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,
INT: cannot be valued the gold of Ophir onyx

Job 28:19
HEB: פִּטְדַת־ כּ֑וּשׁ בְּכֶ֥תֶם טָ֝ה֗וֹר לֹ֣א
NAS: can it be valued in pure gold.
KJV: with pure gold.
INT: the topaz of Ethiopia gold pure Nor

Job 31:24
HEB: זָהָ֣ב כִּסְלִ֑י וְ֝לַכֶּ֗תֶם אָמַ֥רְתִּי מִבְטַחִֽי׃
NAS: And called fine gold my trust,
KJV: or have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence;
INT: gold my confidence fine and called my trust

Psalm 45:9
HEB: שֵׁגַ֥ל לִֽ֝ימִינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃
NAS: stands the queen in gold from Ophir.
KJV: did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
INT: the queen your right gold Ophir

Proverbs 25:12
HEB: זָ֭הָב וַחֲלִי־ כָ֑תֶם מוֹכִ֥יחַ חָ֝כָ֗ם
NAS: and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise
KJV: and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise
INT: of gold and an ornament of fine reprover wise

Songs 5:11
HEB: רֹאשׁ֖וֹ כֶּ֣תֶם פָּ֑ז קְוּצּוֹתָיו֙
NAS: His head is [like] gold, pure gold;
KJV: His head [is as] the most fine gold,
INT: his head is gold pure his locks

Isaiah 13:12
HEB: מִפָּ֑ז וְאָדָ֖ם מִכֶּ֥תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃
NAS: And mankind than the gold of Ophir.
KJV: even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
INT: pure and mankind the gold of Ophir

Lamentations 4:1
HEB: זָהָ֔ב יִשְׁנֶ֖א הַכֶּ֣תֶם הַטּ֑וֹב תִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֙כְנָה֙
NAS: [How] the pure gold has changed!
KJV: [how] is the most fine gold changed!
INT: the gold has changed gold the pure are poured

Daniel 10:5
HEB: וּמָתְנָ֥יו חֲגֻרִ֖ים בְּכֶ֥תֶם אוּפָֽז׃
NAS: was girded with [a belt of] pure gold of Uphaz.
KJV: [were] girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
INT: waist was girded pure of Uphaz

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3800
9 Occurrences

bə·ḵe·ṯem — 4 Occ.
ḵā·ṯem — 1 Occ.
hak·ke·ṯem — 1 Occ.
ke·ṯem — 1 Occ.
mik·ke·ṯem — 1 Occ.
wə·lak·ke·ṯem — 1 Occ.