קֶסֶם
a lot; also divination (including its fee), oracle
Definition
The Hebrew noun קֶסֶם (qeçem) primarily refers to the practice of divination, which is the attempt to gain hidden knowledge or predict the future through supernatural means. In some contexts, it specifically denotes the 'fee' or 'reward' paid to a diviner for their services, as seen when Balak sends such a payment to Balaam in Numbers 22:7. The word can also be used for the 'oracle' or 'divine sentence' itself that is pronounced, as in Proverbs 16:10, where it describes a king's just decree. Throughout the Old Testament, it is consistently associated with prohibited occult practices condemned by God.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in contexts condemning pagan divination and contrasting it with true prophecy from Yahweh. It appears in legal texts forbidding the practice (Deuteronomy 18:10, 2 Kings 17:17), in historical narratives illustrating its use (Numbers 22:7, 1 Samuel 15:23), and in prophetic denunciations of false prophets (Jeremiah 14:14, Ezekiel 13:6). A notable pattern is its use to describe practices Israel was to avoid, often linked with rebellion against God, as when Samuel equates divination with the sin of idolatry in 1 Samuel 15:23.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb קָסַם (qāsam, H7080), which means 'to practice divination' or 'to determine by lot.' The noun form קֶסֶם carries the core sense of a practice or instrument used for discerning the unknown. It is related to other Semitic words for dividing, allotting, or decreeing, reflecting the idea of attempting to determine fate or divine a hidden will.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it highlights a key boundary in Israel's covenant relationship with God. Practices like קֶסֶם were strictly forbidden because they represented a rejection of Yahweh's sole authority to reveal the future and guide His people (Deuteronomy 18:14). True guidance was to come through God's law and His prophets, not through occult means. Understanding this term enriches reading by clarifying the stark biblical contrast between seeking hidden knowledge from other sources and trusting in God's revealed will.
In the ancient Near East, divination was a widespread and culturally accepted practice for seeking guidance from the gods, involving various techniques like observing omens, casting lots, or interpreting dreams. Israel's prohibition of קֶסֶם set it apart from its neighbors, defining a distinct religious identity where trust was placed in Yahweh's direct communication, not in human attempts to manipulate or decipher the divine realm.
אוֹב (ʾôḇ, H178) — Refers specifically to necromancy or consulting spirits of the dead. יִדְּעֹנִי (yiddəʿōnî, H3049) — A 'knowing one' or spiritist, often paired with אוב. נָחַשׁ (nāḥaš, H5172) — To practice enchantment or observe omens, like snake charming.
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 →