What does קֶסֶם (qesem) mean in the Bible?
קֶסֶם (qesem): Divination practice that yields an oracle or decision; often condemned as pagan occultism in Israel's religious law
Hebrew · H7081
קֶסֶם
A lot ; also divination (including its fee), oracle
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קֶסֶםH7081
Pronunciationqesem
What does קֶסֶם (qesem) mean in the Bible?
קֶסֶם (qesem): Divination practice that yields an oracle or decision; often condemned as pagan occultism in Israel's religious law
Full entry for קֶסֶם (H7081) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7081?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include divination (3), A divine verdict (1), a worthless divination (1), an omen (1), divinations (1).
Where does קֶסֶם (qesem) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 22:7. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (4), Numbers (2), 1 Samuel (1), 2 Kings (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itdivination3×Numbers 23:23, 2 Kings 17:17, Ezekiel 13:23
A divine verdict1×Proverbs 16:10
a worthless divination1×Jeremiah 14:14
an omen1×Ezekiel 21:21
divinations1×Ezekiel 13:6
of divination1×1 Samuel 15:23
practices divination1×Deuteronomy 18:10
the portent1×Ezekiel 21:22
with the fees for divination1×Numbers 22:7
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 22:7וּקְסָמִ֖יםtowith the fees for divinationConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralNumbers 23:23קֶ֖סֶםtodivinationNoun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 18:10קְסָמִ֔יםtopractices divinationNoun - masculine plural1 Samuel 15:23קֶ֙סֶם֙toof divinationNoun - masculine singular2 Kings 17:17קְסָמִ֖יםtodivinationNoun - masculine pluralProverbs 16:10קֶ֤סֶם׀toA divine verdictNoun - masculine singularJeremiah 14:14וְקֶ֤סֶםtoa worthless divinationConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularEzekiel 13:6וְקֶ֣סֶםtodivinationsConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructEzekiel 13:23וְקֶ֖סֶםtodivinationConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularEzekiel 21:21קָ֑סֶםtoan omenNoun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowNumbers 22:7
Aligned rows11
Books represented7
Numbers2Deuteronomy11 Samuel12 Kings1Proverbs1Jeremiah1Ezekiel4
Source forms
הַקֶּ֣סֶם1xhaq·qe·semEzekiel 21:22
וְקֶ֤סֶם1xwə·qe·semJeremiah 14:14
וְקֶ֣סֶם1xwə·qe·semEzekiel 13:6
וְקֶ֖סֶם1xwə·qe·semEzekiel 13:23
וּקְסָמִ֖ים1xū·qə·sā·mîmNumbers 22:7
קֶ֖סֶם1xqe·semNumbers 23:23
קֶ֙סֶם֙1xqe·sem1 Samuel 15:23
קָ֑סֶם1xqā·semEzekiel 21:21
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular4xNumbers 23:23, 1 Samuel 15:23, Proverbs 16:10, Ezekiel 21:21
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular2xJeremiah 14:14, Ezekiel 13:23
Noun - masculine plural2xDeuteronomy 18:10, 2 Kings 17:17
Article | Noun - masculine singular construct1xEzekiel 21:22
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural1xNumbers 22:7
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct1xEzekiel 13:6
Evidence Summary
Revelation
Hebrew word. Divination practice that yields an oracle or decision; often condemned as pagan occultism in Israel's religious law
Strong'sH7081
Lexical occurrences11 versesWord forms1 form6 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 2:6-9Source Gloss
a lot ; also divination (including its fee), oracle
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Divination practice that yields an oracle or decision; often condemned as pagan occultism in Israel's religious law
a lot; also divination (including its fee), oracle BDB: divination Usage: (reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms6
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense1×
Participle activeDeut 18:101×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Forbidden practices seeking supernatural guidance apart from the LORD.
Showing 1 selected witness from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
קֶסֶם is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Judah’s embrace of divination reveals a rejection of God’s sufficient revelation and a desire for control through illicit means.Isaiah 2:6-9
Canonical Themes
Revelation
Cross-Language Connections
Greek words that correspond to or develop the meaning of this Hebrew word in the New Testament.
G2973LXX equivalentGreek
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.