Bible Word Study
כָּסַם
kâçam · to shear
כָּסַם
to shear
Definition
The Hebrew verb כָּסַם (kâçam) means 'to shear' or 'to cut the hair,' specifically referring to the act of trimming or shaving the hair of the head. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 44:20, it describes a ritual prohibition for priests: they must not shave their heads completely bald. This contrasts with other Hebrew terms for cutting hair that may imply different styles or contexts. The word carries a sense of deliberate, ceremonial grooming related to religious observance.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 44:20. It appears in a context of priestly law and temple service regulations, specifying how priests are to groom their hair. The usage is prescriptive and negative ('they shall not...'), forming part of the holiness code that distinguishes the priests' appearance from pagan mourning practices or common hairstyles.
Etymology
כָּסַם is a primitive root in Hebrew, meaning it is not derived from another Hebrew word. It is specifically associated with the shearing or cutting of hair. A related word, כִּרְסֵם (kircēm, H3765), mentioned in the KJV comparison, means 'to nip' or 'to gnaw,' but the connection is likely phonetic or contextual rather than directly etymological.
Semantic Range
The word is theologically significant as it pertains to the holiness and separation of the priesthood in Israel. The prohibition in Ezekiel 44:20 against priests shaving their heads completely (using כָּסַם) helped maintain a distinction from pagan mourning rites (e.g., Leviticus 21:5) and possibly reflected a standard of dignified, natural appearance for those serving in God's temple. Understanding this specific term highlights how even physical grooming was regulated to symbolize spiritual consecration and identity. In ancient Near Eastern culture, hairstyles often carried religious and social meanings. Complete head-shaving was sometimes associated with pagan mourning rituals or priestly practices in other religions. By restricting כָּסַם, the Israelite law set the priests apart, ensuring their appearance did not mimic idolatrous customs. This reflects a broader biblical theme where external actions signify internal spiritual commitments. גָּזַז (gāzaz, H1494) — to shear, often used for shearing sheep, but can apply to hair; more general. כָּרַת (kārat, H3772) — to cut off or cut down; broader term not specific to hair.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]