7199. qashshath

Lexical Summary

qashshath: Archer

Original Word: קַשָּׁת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qashshath
Pronunciation: kash-shath'
Phonetic Spelling: (kash-shawth')
KJV: X archer
Word Origin: [intensive (as denominative) from H7198 (קֶשֶׁת - bow)]

1. a bowman

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

archer

Intensive (as denominative) from qesheth; a bowman -- X archer.

see HEBREW qesheth

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as qesheth
Definition
bowman
NASB Translation
archer* (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

קַשָּׁת noun masculine bowman (si versa l.); — וַיְהִי ׳רֹבֶה ק Genesis 21:20 and he become, growing up, a bowman; but ׳ר then superfluous (omitted by ᵐ5), after וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל v^a; Kn Di רֹבֵה קָ֑שֶׁת (= ׳רֹמֵה ק Jeremiah 4:29, which Ball reads here), compare Holz Gunk.

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Occurrence

קַשָּׁת designates an “archer” and appears only once in the Old Testament, Genesis 21:20. Its singleness of use highlights a specific historical moment rather than a broad lexical field, yet the concept of the archer permeates Scripture both literally and figuratively.

Genesis 21:20 and the Life of Ishmael

“And God was with the boy, and he grew and settled in the wilderness and became an archer.” (Genesis 21:20)

The verse links divine providence with human skill. Cast out into the Wilderness of Paran, Ishmael is sustained by God and develops the ability that will secure his survival and identify his lineage. The vocational note underscores:
• Divine presence precedes competency; “God was with the boy.”
• Skill is cultivated in hardship; the wilderness becomes a training ground.
• The gift meets a practical need; hunting enables Ishmael to provide for his household.

Later genealogies (Genesis 25:12-18) trace tribes known for mobility and warfare, suggesting that this formative skill characterized Ishmael’s descendants.

Archery in Ancient Near Eastern Culture

1. Weaponry and Provision: Nomadic groups valued the bow for hunting game and defending flocks. Ishmael’s adoption of the craft mirrors historical Bedouin practices.
2. Military Prowess: Archers were decisive on Bronze and Iron Age battlefields (1 Samuel 31:3; 2 Chronicles 35:23). Mastery required strength, discipline, and keen eyesight—virtues implicitly commended.
3. Social Status: Skilled archers could attain favor with kings (Genesis 49:23-24; although a different Hebrew term, the theme of recognized expertise remains).

Symbolic and Theological Insights

1. Human Agency under Sovereignty: The narrative balances divine action (“God was with the boy”) with human responsibility (Ishmael “became an archer”), illustrating the harmonious interplay of God’s providence and human endeavor (Philippians 2:13).
2. Arrows as Legacy: “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth.” (Psalm 127:4). Ishmael’s progression from child to archer anticipates Scripture’s portrayal of children as future “arrows” launched into God’s purposes.
3. Judgment and Deliverance Imagery: Throughout the prophets, arrows signify both divine judgment (Lamentations 3:13) and deliverance (Habakkuk 3:11). The solitary קַשָּׁת text furnishes a historical anchor for the broader metaphor.
4. Spiritual Warfare: In Ephesians 6:16 Paul speaks of extinguishing “all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” While Greek imagery prevails in the New Testament, the Old Testament archer motif supplies the background for understanding spiritual assault and defense.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Training the Next Generation: Just as Ishmael’s skill arose through intentional practice, so discipleship involves shaping believers to “aim” accurately in word and deed (2 Timothy 2:15).
2. Wilderness Seasons: Congregations and individuals often encounter spiritual “Paran” experiences. Genesis 21:20 reminds the Church that God’s presence equips His people with new competencies during times of displacement or lack.
3. Holistic Development: Physical, vocational, and spiritual formation are interconnected. Encouraging vocational excellence serves gospel witness: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).
4. Missions Focus: Arrows travel farther than the warrior’s arm could reach; similarly, sending equipped believers extends the gospel beyond immediate boundaries (Acts 1:8).

Summary

Though קַשָּׁת appears only once, its placement at a pivotal juncture in Genesis illuminates God’s faithful provision, the value of cultivated skill, and the enduring biblical motif of archery as a symbol of destiny, warfare, and legacy.

Forms and Transliterations

קַשָּֽׁת׃ קשת׃ kashShat qaš·šāṯ qaššāṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 21:20
HEB: וַיְהִ֖י רֹבֶ֥ה קַשָּֽׁת׃
INT: and became abundance archer

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7199
1 Occurrence

qaš·šāṯ — 1 Occ.