קִשֻּׁר
an (ornamental) girdle (for women)
Definition
קִשֻּׁר refers to an ornamental girdle or sash, specifically a decorative belt worn by women in ancient Israel. The word describes a piece of attire that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing, used to secure or adorn garments. In Isaiah 3:20, it is listed among various luxury items of women's clothing that would be taken away as judgment, indicating its status as a valued accessory. In Jeremiah 2:32, it is used metaphorically to illustrate forgetfulness, as a bride might forget her wedding sash, highlighting its personal and memorable significance.
Biblical Usage
This noun occurs only twice in the Old Testament, both in prophetic books. In Isaiah 3:20, it appears in a list of women's fineries that symbolize pride and excess, which God will remove. In Jeremiah 2:32, it is used in a rhetorical question comparing Israel's forgetfulness of God to a bride forgetting her ornamental sash, emphasizing the intimacy and covenant relationship. Both uses are in contexts of rebuke, employing the item to illustrate spiritual unfaithfulness or impending judgment.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb קָשַׁר (qāshar, H7194), meaning 'to bind, tie, or conspire.' The noun form קִשֻּׁר specifically denotes something that binds or is tied, reflecting its function as a girdle that secures clothing. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to binding or tying, confirming this core sense. The development from a general act of binding to a specific ornamental item shows a specialization in meaning for cultural attire.
Semantic Range
This word matters theologically as it is used in prophetic literature to symbolize both human vanity and covenantal intimacy. In Isaiah, it represents the luxury and pride that lead to divine judgment, reminding readers of the dangers of materialism. In Jeremiah, it serves as a poignant metaphor for Israel's forgetfulness of God, akin to a bride neglecting a cherished symbol of her marriage, thus enriching understanding of God's relationship with His people as a broken covenant of love.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, an ornamental girdle was more than mere clothing; it was a sign of status, beauty, and identity for women, often worn on special occasions like weddings. Unlike modern belts, these sashes could be elaborate, made with fine materials, and held personal or symbolic value. The references in Isaiah and Jeremiah assume this cultural understanding, where forgetting or losing such an item would be unthinkable, amplifying the prophetic critique of Israel's behavior.
אַבְנֵט (ʾavnēṭ, H73) — a priestly sash or girdle, used in ceremonial contexts. חֲגוֹר (ḥăḡôr, H2290) — a general term for belt or girdle, often for men and functional purposes. פְּתִיל (pĕthîl, H6616) — a cord or thread, sometimes used for tying, but less specific to attire.
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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