קָשַׁח
to be (causatively, make) unfeeling
Definition
The verb קָשַׁח (qâshach) means to be or become unfeeling, hard, or callous. In its causative form, it means to make something unfeeling or to harden. In Job 39:16, it describes the ostrich's perceived lack of feeling or care for its eggs, treating them as if they were not its own. In Isaiah 63:17, the word is used in a causative sense, as the prophet asks God why He has allowed the people's hearts to be hardened, making them unresponsive to His ways. Both uses convey a state of insensitivity, whether natural or divinely permitted.
Biblical Usage
This rare verb is used only twice in the Old Testament. In Job 39:16, it describes the natural behavior of an ostrich, which was perceived by ancient observers as being harsh or unfeeling toward its offspring. In Isaiah 63:17, it is used in a spiritual and relational context, addressing the hardened heart of Israel as a barrier in their relationship with God. The usage thus spans from a poetic observation in wisdom literature to a prophetic lament about spiritual condition.
Etymology
קָשַׁח is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to being hard or severe. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the sense of hardness or strength. The development of meaning likely moved from a physical sense of hardness to a metaphorical sense of emotional or spiritual insensitivity.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it touches on the concept of the hardened heart, a key theme in biblical anthropology and divine-human interaction. In Isaiah 63:17, it raises profound questions about human responsibility and divine sovereignty in the process of spiritual hardening. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of such passages by highlighting the serious, active state of being unresponsive to God, which is often a precursor to judgment or a call for repentance.
The description in Job 39:16 reflects ancient Near Eastern natural observation, where the ostrich's nesting habits were misinterpreted as cruelty or lack of natural affection. This cultural perception frames the use of the word to mean 'unfeeling.' The concept of a 'hardened heart' in Isaiah would resonate in a culture that understood the heart as the seat of will and understanding, not just emotion.
חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — often 'to be strong' or 'to harden,' used more frequently for physical strength and sometimes for hardening the heart (e.g., Exodus). קָשָׁה (qâshâh, H7185) — to be hard, severe, or difficult, often describing stubbornness or harsh conditions.
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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