7195. qesher

Lexical Summary

qesher: Conspiracy, treason, alliance

Original Word: קֶשֶׁר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qesher
Pronunciation: KEH-sher
Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-sher)
KJV: confederacy, conspiracy, treason
NASB: conspiracy, treason
Word Origin: [from H7194 (קָשַׁר - conspired)]

1. an (unlawful) alliance

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

confederacy, conspiracy, treason

From qashar; an (unlawful) alliance -- confederacy, conspiracy, treason.

see HEBREW qashar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from qashar
Definition
conspiracy
NASB Translation
conspiracy (10), treason (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

קֶ֫שֶׁר noun masculine^{2Samuel 15:12} conspiracy; — absolute ׳ק 2 Samuel 15:12 +, קָ֑שֶׁר 2 Kings 11:14 +; construct קֶ֫שֶׁר Ezekiel 22:25 (but see below); suffix קִשְׁרוֺ 1 Kings 16:20; 2 Kings 15:15; — conspiracy 2 Samuel 15:12; as accusative of congnate meaning with verb with קָשַׁר 1 Kings 16:20; 2 Kings 12:21; 2 Kings 14:19 2Chronicles 25:27; 2 Kings 15:15,30; וַיִּמְצָא ׳בְּהוֺשֵׁעַ ק 2 Kings 17:4, ׳בְּאִישׁ וגו ׳נִמְצָא ק Jeremiah 11:9; as exclamation 2 Kings 11:14 (twice in verse) = 2Chronicles 23:13 (twice in verse), Isaiah 8:12 (twice in verse) (Gr Lag Che^Comm. Gu^Kau and others קֹדֶשׁ or קָדשׁ); נְבִיאֶיהָ Ezekiel 22:35, < read נְשִׂיאֶיהָ Co Toy Krae and others (after ᵐ5).

Topical Lexicon

Overview of Biblical Usage

The Hebrew term denotes the deliberate joining of persons or parties in covert rebellion against a rightful authority—whether a king, a covenant, or the Lord Himself. Sixteen explicit occurrences span the historical narratives of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the prophetic indictments of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. In every context the word signals an unlawful alliance that threatens God-ordained order.

Political Conspiracies in Israel and Judah

• 2 Samuel 15:12 records the archetypal instance: “So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.” What began as secret counsel grew into open revolt, demonstrating how hidden treachery corrodes the kingdom from within.
• The Northern Kingdom is repeatedly scarred by palace intrigue. Zimri’s brief reign is summarized by “the conspiracy he led” (1 Kings 16:20). Similarly, Shallum murders Zechariah (2 Kings 15:15) and Hoshea topples Pekah (2 Kings 15:30), showing an unbroken chain of plots that hasten Israel’s downfall.
• In Judah, Joash is slain by his own servants (2 Kings 12:20), and Amaziah falls to a similar cabal (2 Kings 14:19; paralleled in 2 Chronicles 25:27). Even the righteous reformer Josiah must station guards when young Joash is crowned, because “the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah was put to the sword” (2 Kings 11:14; 2 Chronicles 23:13). Repeated conspiracies underscore the fragility of the throne whenever leaders or citizens abandon covenant fidelity.

Prophetic Denunciations

• Isaiah 8:12 warns the faithful remnant not to adopt the fearful cry, “Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy,” exhorting them to revere the Lord rather than human schemes.
• Jeremiah 11:9 exposes a deeper reality: “A conspiracy has been discovered among the men of Judah.” Here the plot is spiritual—an agreement to break the covenant through idolatry.
• Ezekiel 22:25 widens the indictment: “The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey.” Corrupt spiritual leaders form an unholy alliance that destroys the flock for personal gain.

Theological Themes

1. Rebellion against God precedes rebellion against His agents. Whether political (Absalom) or prophetic (false seers), every plot springs from a heart already estranged from the Lord.
2. Conspiracies flourish when covenant accountability erodes. The Chronicler notes Amaziah’s “turning away from following the Lord” immediately before the report of the plot against him (2 Chronicles 25:27).
3. Divine sovereignty overthrows human intrigue. Each successful coup is nevertheless folded into the outworking of God’s purposes—whether judgment on a house (1 Kings 16), preservation of David’s line (2 Kings 11), or the eventual exile foretold by prophets.

Historical Significance

The repeated use of the term across the divided monarchy documents a progressive social decay. Political stability proves impossible once loyalty to the covenant and the Davidic promise is abandoned. The prophetic usage reveals that by the eighth and seventh centuries B.C., conspiracy extends beyond court politics into the very fabric of religious and societal life, signaling the imminence of national judgment.

Ministry and Discipleship Implications

• Guard against secret factions within the congregation. Hidden agendas fracture Christ’s body just as they once shattered Israel’s unity.
• Confront spiritual compromise early. Isaiah’s counsel to “fear the Lord” rather than conspiracies remains the antidote to panic and rumor in any age.
• Trust the Lord’s oversight. Though plots may prosper temporarily, 2 Samuel 15 through 2 Samuel 18 shows that God vindicates His anointed in due time.
• Model transparent leadership. Kings who walked uprightly—such as Hezekiah and Josiah—faced no recorded conspiracies, illustrating the protective power of godly integrity.

Canonical Trajectory

The Old Testament pattern of clandestine opposition foreshadows the ultimate conspiracy against the Messiah (Acts 4:27-28). Yet, as at the cross, the sovereign Lord turns human plotting into the means of redemption. For the church, the term therefore serves both as a sober warning and a reassurance that “the counsel of the Lord stands forever” (Psalm 33:11).

Forms and Transliterations

הַקֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ הקשר וְקִשְׁר֖וֹ וקשרו קֶ֔שֶׁר קֶ֗שֶׁר קֶ֙שֶׁר֙ קֶ֛שֶׁר קֶ֜שֶׁר קֶ֤שֶׁר קֶ֥שֶׁר קָ֑שֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃ קשר קשר׃ hakKesher haq·qe·šer haqqešer Kasher Kesher qā·šer qāšer qe·šer qešer vekishRo wə·qiš·rōw wəqišrōw

Englishman's Concordance

2 Samuel 15:12
HEB: הַזְּבָחִ֑ים וַיְהִ֤י הַקֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ אַמִּ֔ץ וְהָעָ֛ם
NAS: the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong,
KJV: sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong;
INT: the sacrifices become and the conspiracy was strong the people

1 Kings 16:20
HEB: דִּבְרֵ֣י זִמְרִ֔י וְקִשְׁר֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָשָׁ֑ר
NAS: of Zimri and his conspiracy which
KJV: of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought,
INT: of the acts of Zimri and his conspiracy which carried

2 Kings 11:14
HEB: בְּגָדֶ֔יהָ וַתִּקְרָ֖א קֶ֥שֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃ ס
NAS: and cried, Treason! Treason!
KJV: and cried, Treason, Treason.
INT: her clothes and cried Treason Treason

2 Kings 11:14
HEB: וַתִּקְרָ֖א קֶ֥שֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃ ס
NAS: and cried, Treason! Treason!
KJV: and cried, Treason, Treason.
INT: and cried Treason Treason

2 Kings 12:20
HEB: עֲבָדָ֖יו וַיִּקְשְׁרֽוּ־ קָ֑שֶׁר וַיַּכּוּ֙ אֶת־
NAS: and made a conspiracy and struck down
KJV: and made a conspiracy, and slew
INT: his servants and made A conspiracy and struck Joash

2 Kings 14:19
HEB: וַיִּקְשְׁר֨וּ עָלָ֥יו קֶ֛שֶׁר בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם וַיָּ֣נָס
KJV: Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem:
INT: conspired against A conspiracy Jerusalem fled

2 Kings 15:15
HEB: דִּבְרֵ֣י שַׁלּ֔וּם וְקִשְׁר֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָשָׁ֑ר
NAS: of Shallum and his conspiracy which
KJV: of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made,
INT: of the acts of Shallum and his conspiracy which made

2 Kings 15:30
HEB: וַיִּקְשָׁר־ קֶ֜שֶׁר הוֹשֵׁ֣עַ בֶּן־
NAS: made a conspiracy against
KJV: made a conspiracy against Pekah
INT: made A conspiracy and Hoshea the son

2 Kings 17:4
HEB: אַשּׁ֨וּר בְּהוֹשֵׁ֜עַ קֶ֗שֶׁר אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁלַ֤ח
NAS: found conspiracy in Hoshea,
KJV: found conspiracy in Hoshea:
INT: of Assyria Hoshea conspiracy who had sent

2 Chronicles 23:13
HEB: בְּגָדֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר קֶ֥שֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃ ס
NAS: and said, Treason! Treason!
KJV: and said, Treason, Treason.
INT: her clothes and said Treason Treason

2 Chronicles 23:13
HEB: וַתֹּ֖אמֶר קֶ֥שֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃ ס
NAS: and said, Treason! Treason!
KJV: and said, Treason, Treason.
INT: and said Treason Treason

2 Chronicles 25:27
HEB: וַיִּקְשְׁר֨וּ עָלָ֥יו קֶ֛שֶׁר בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם וַיָּ֣נָס
KJV: they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem;
INT: conspired against A conspiracy Jerusalem fled

Isaiah 8:12
HEB: לֹא־ תֹאמְר֣וּן קֶ֔שֶׁר לְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־
NAS: You are not to say, [It is] a conspiracy!' In regard to all
KJV: Say ye not, A confederacy, to all [them to] whom this people
INT: are not to say A conspiracy all manner after

Isaiah 8:12
HEB: הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה קָ֑שֶׁר וְאֶת־ מוֹרָא֥וֹ
NAS: call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear
KJV: shall say, A confederacy; neither fear
INT: people this A conspiracy what are not

Jeremiah 11:9
HEB: אֵלָ֑י נִֽמְצָא־ קֶ֙שֶׁר֙ בְּאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה
NAS: said to me, A conspiracy has been found
KJV: said unto me, A conspiracy is found
INT: about has been found A conspiracy the men of Judah

Ezekiel 22:25
HEB: קֶ֤שֶׁר נְבִיאֶ֙יהָ֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ
NAS: There is a conspiracy of her prophets
KJV: [There is] a conspiracy of her prophets
INT: conspiracy of her prophets her midst

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7195
16 Occurrences

haq·qe·šer — 1 Occ.
qā·šer — 4 Occ.
qe·šer — 9 Occ.
wə·qiš·rōw — 2 Occ.