כִּיס
a cup; also a bag formoney or weights
Definition
The Hebrew word כִּיס (kîyç) primarily refers to a container or receptacle, with two distinct meanings in the Old Testament. Its most common sense is a 'bag' or 'purse,' specifically one used for holding money or weights, as seen in prohibitions against dishonest scales and bags in Deuteronomy 25:13 and Micah 6:11. In Proverbs 1:14, it is used metaphorically for a 'bag of plunder' shared among thieves. A secondary, less frequent meaning is 'cup' or 'bowl,' as in Isaiah 46:6, where it describes a container for liquid offerings in idol worship. This dual meaning highlights its function as a general term for a hollow vessel.
Biblical Usage
כִּיס is used five times in the Old Testament, appearing in legal, wisdom, and prophetic literature. In legal contexts (Deuteronomy 25:13), it denotes a 'bag' for weights, directly tied to commands for honest commerce. In wisdom literature (Proverbs 1:14; 16:11), it is used both literally for a 'purse' of money and figuratively for a 'bag' of dishonest gain, emphasizing ethical behavior. The prophetic books use it for a 'cup' in idolatry (Isaiah 46:6) and again for a 'bag' of false weights (Micah 6:11), condemning social injustice and false worship.
Etymology
The word כִּיס is considered a by-form or variant of the more common Hebrew word כּוֹס (kôç, H3563), which means 'cup' or 'vessel.' This etymological connection explains its secondary meaning of 'cup.' The development likely moved from a general sense of 'container' to more specific applications like a bag for holding solids (money, weights) or a cup for holding liquids, reflecting the word's functional flexibility in ancient Hebrew.
Semantic Range
The word כִּיס carries theological weight in its association with honesty, justice, and true worship. Its use in Deuteronomy 25:13 and Micah 6:11 underscores God's concern for economic integrity, condemning the use of 'diverse weights' and 'bags of deceit' as abominations. In Proverbs, it illustrates the folly of gaining wealth through wickedness. In Isaiah 46:6, it appears in a polemic against idolatry, contrasting the lifeless 'cup' of idols with the living God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting mundane objects like bags and cups to profound biblical themes of covenant faithfulness, social justice, and the rejection of false gods.
In the ancient Near East, standardized weights were often stones kept in a bag (כִּיס) for transactions, making dishonest weights a common form of fraud. A 'purse' was likely a simple pouch. The 'cup' (כִּיס) in Isaiah 46:6 reflects the cultural practice of pouring out drink offerings to idols. These uses show that the word described everyday items central to commerce and ritual, with their misuse representing broader societal and spiritual corruption.
כּוֹס (kôç, H3563) — The primary word for 'cup' or 'vessel,' from which כִּיס is derived. צְרוֹר (tsᵉrôr, H6872) — A 'bundle' or 'bag,' often for money, but can imply something bound or wrapped tightly. אַמְתַּחַת ('amtachath, H572) — A 'sack' or large bag, typically for grain or provisions, not specifically for money.
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.
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