כְּסוּת
a cover (garment); figuratively, a veiling
Definition
The Hebrew noun כְּסוּת (kᵉçûwth) primarily means 'a covering' and most often refers to literal garments or clothing. In legal contexts, it denotes the essential clothing that must be provided to a wife (Exodus 21:10) or to a poor person whose cloak is taken as collateral (Exodus 22:27). Figuratively, it can describe a veiling of the heavens, as in Isaiah 50:3 where God clothes the skies in blackness, or the covering over the realm of the dead in Job 26:6. Thus, its meaning spans from basic physical raiment to metaphorical concealment.
Biblical Usage
כְּסוּת is used eight times in the Old Testament, appearing in legal, narrative, and poetic books. Its primary context is the provision of basic material needs: clothing for a wife (Exodus 21:10), for the poor (Exodus 22:27), and as part of restitution (Genesis 20:16). In Deuteronomy 22:12, it refers to the tassels on garments. In the poetic books of Job and Isaiah, it takes on a more figurative sense, describing the covering of the naked (Job 24:7, 31:19), the veil over Sheol (Job 26:6), and God's darkening of the heavens (Isaiah 50:3).
Etymology
The word כְּסוּת is a noun derived from the common Hebrew root כָּסָה (kāsâ, H3680), which means 'to cover, conceal, or clothe.' This root is the source for several words related to covering, including כִּסֵּא (kissē', throne, a covered seat) and מִכְסֶה (mikseh, covering). The development from the verbal action of covering to the noun for a garment or veil is straightforward and reflects the word's core semantic field.
Semantic Range
כְּסוּת carries theological weight in its connection to divine provision, human dignity, and God's sovereign power. In the Law, providing 'covering' is a matter of justice and covenant faithfulness, protecting the vulnerable (Exodus 21:10, 22:27). This reflects God's character as a provider. Figuratively, the word describes God's active control over creation, as He can 'clothe' the heavens in darkness (Isaiah 50:3), demonstrating His majesty. Understanding this range—from social obligation to cosmic metaphor—enriches reading by linking practical compassion with God's overarching sovereignty.
In ancient Israelite culture, 'covering' (כְּסוּת) was a fundamental necessity and a basic right. A person's outer garment (like the cloak in Exodus 22:27) was often their most valuable possession, used for warmth, bedding, and as collateral. The legal mandates to provide it underscore that depriving someone of this covering was a severe violation of their dignity and welfare. The term's use for a wife's conjugal rights (Exodus 21:10) also implies the broader duty of a husband to provide materially for his household, which was central to the social structure.
לְבוּשׁ (lᵉḇûš, H3830) — A more general term for clothing or apparel, often of a finer or complete set of garments. בֶּגֶד (beḡeḏ, H899) — A general term for garment or clothing, but can specifically imply a treacherously worn garment or a covering. שִׂמְלָה (śimlâ, H8071) — A wrapper or mantle, often an outer garment or cloak, very close in meaning to כְּסוּת in contexts like Exodus 22:27.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →