כִּי

כִּי

a brand or scar

Definition

The Hebrew word כִּי (kîy) refers to a brand or scar, specifically a mark left by burning. It denotes a physical disfigurement resulting from branding or burning, often as a form of punishment or identification. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 3:24, it describes a mark of judgment and humiliation, contrasting with beauty. This usage highlights a visible sign of degradation.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 3:24, within a prophecy of judgment against the daughters of Zion. It is part of a list of replacements for items of beauty and adornment, where 'instead of beauty' there will be 'a brand' (כִּי). The context is poetic and prophetic, emphasizing shame and societal downfall as consequences of pride and injustice.

Etymology

Derived from the root כָּוָה (kāwâ, H3554), meaning 'to burn' or 'to brand.' The noun form כִּי directly denotes the result of that action—a burn mark or brand. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to burning or branding, indicating a shared semantic field focused on marking by heat.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, כִּי carries theological weight in Isaiah 3:24 as a symbol of divine judgment. It represents the reversal of fortune and beauty into shame, illustrating God's response to societal sin and arrogance. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the tangible, physical nature of the judgment prophesied, connecting moral failure to visible consequence. In ancient Near Eastern culture, branding was a known practice for marking slaves, criminals, or animals, often as a permanent sign of ownership or punishment. In Isaiah's prophecy, this cultural reality is turned against the proud women of Jerusalem, using a familiar symbol of degradation to convey the severity of coming judgment. The modern reader might overlook the full shame implied without this context. מוֹפֵת (môphēt, H4159) — a sign or wonder, often miraculous, not a mark of shame; אוֹת (ʾôth, H226) — a sign, token, or pledge, broader in usage including covenantal signs.

Word Details