Lexical Summary
keseph: Silver, money
Original Word:כֶּסֶף
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:keceph
Pronunciation:keh-sef
Phonetic Spelling:(keh'-sef)
KJV: money, price, silver(-ling)
NASB:silver, money, price, fine, fine silver, pay, property
Word Origin:[fromH3700 (כָּסַף - eager)]
1. silver (from its pale color)
2. (by implication) money
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
money, price, silverling
Fromkacaph; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money -- money, price, silver(-ling).
see HEBREWkacaph
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
kasaphDefinitionsilver, money
NASB Translationfine (2), fine silver (2), money (100), pay (1), price (10), property (1), purchase price (1), silver (284), silver from the money (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
402Genesis 23:9 (Late Hebrew
id.; Phoenician, Zinjirli ; Aramaic
; Palmyrene Vog
No. 23; Assyrian
kaspu; probably the
pale metal Thes and others, compare RS
JPh xiv,125) — absolute
Genesis 20:16 +,
Exodus 21:11 +; construct Ex 43:21 +; suffix
Genesis 42:28 3t.,
1 Kings 20:3 2t.,
Genesis 17:13;
Isaiah 30:22,
Isaiah 1:22,
Genesis 31:15 2t.,
Hosea 8:4 6t.; plural suffix
Genesis 42:25,35; —
silver,
= silver ore, raw silver (rare and mostly late)Job 28:1, also (in figurative)Ezekiel 22:20,22;Zechariah 13:9;Proverbs 2:4;Proverbs 17:3;Proverbs 27:21;Malachi 3:3 (twice in verse);Psalm 12:7;Psalm 66:10;Isaiah 48:10;Proverbs 25:4remove dross from silver, compareProverbs 26:23 andEzekiel 22:18 (; ; Co strike out in view ofEzekiel 22:20);Jeremiah 6:30 (compareJeremiah 6:29),Isaiah 1:22.
, figurative of dove's wingsPsalm 68:14.
,Genesis 13:2 (J) + often (c. 54 t. in all; frequently with gold, etc., see );Numbers 22:18;Numbers 24:13; figurative of a slave as valuable,Exodus 21:21 (all J E); silver as less valuable than gold1 Kings 10:21 2Chronicles 9:20; compare also1 Kings 10:27 2Chronicles 1:15; 9:27;choice silver,Proverbs 18:19;Proverbs 10:20.
(with , q. v.)Judges 5:19;2 Samuel 8:11 =1 Chronicles 18:11 11t.
Ezekiel 27:12;Proverbs 3:14 (),Zephaniah 1:12; compare also1 Kings 10:22 2Chronicles 9:21.
(with , q. v.)1 Kings 15:18,19 2Chronicles 16:2,3;2 Kings 16:8;2 Kings 18:15; 2Chronicles 9:14; 17:11; 21:3;Isaiah 60:9;Daniel 11:38 (other instances under ).
(c. 117 t. in all; often with , q. v.), of cupGenesis 44:2 compareGenesis 44:8 (J), trumpetsNumbers 10:2 (P),Genesis 24:53 (J) +; of idolsExodus 20:23;Isaiah 2:20;Deuteronomy 29:16;Ezekiel 16:17;Psalm 115:4;Psalm 135:15 4t., compareDeuteronomy 7:25;Jeremiah 10:4;Habakkuk 2:19; especially of fittings of tabernacle Exodus 26.. 27. 36. 38. (19 t.), and those offered by chiefs of peopleNumbers 7 (28 t.), etc.
(c. 184 t.): —
: —Exodus 21:32 (JE), compare2 Samuel 24:24;Leviticus 5:15;Numbers 18:16 (both P),Nehemiah 5:15; also (different order)Leviticus 27:6 (twice in verse) (P), compareJoshua 7:21 (JE),2 Kings 15:20, andGenesis 23:15,16, compareLeviticus 27:3,16 (all P),1 Samuel 9:8; onceJeremiah 32:9.
more often omittedGenesis 20:16;Genesis 45:22 (E),Genesis 37:28 (J),Hosea 3:2;Songs 8:11 17t.
: —Exodus 38:27 (P), compare1 Kings 20:39;2 Kings 5:22;2 Kings 15:19;2 Kings 18:14;2 Kings 23:33 2Chronicles 36:3;1 Chronicles 19:6; 2Chronicles 25:6; 27:5;Esther 3:9;2 Kings 5:5;1 Kings 16:24;2 Kings 5:23;1 Chronicles 22:14; compare1 Chronicles 29:7;Ezra 8:26.
: —Ezra 2:69 compareNehemiah 7:70,71.
more often =money, measure of value and exchange (c. 112 t.; not necess.coined)Genesis 31:15;Genesis 42:25,27 (E),Genesis 43:12 (twice in verse);Genesis 43:15,18 (J),Genesis 23:13;Leviticus 27:18;Numbers 3:48 (P),Judges 16:18;1 Kings 21:2;2 Kings 12:5 etc.; soPsalm 68:31 Che, but see De Grill Bae, and Checritical note.;one bought for moneyGenesis 17:12,13,23,27;Exodus 12:44 (all P);Leviticus 25:51 (H)money for which he was bought;full priceGenesis 23:9 (P)1 Chronicles 21:22,24;Genesis 43:21 i.e. our money in full;Leviticus 25:50the price of his sale;2 Kings 12:7trespass-money, v.2 Kings 12:7sin-money,Exodus 30:16atonement-money,Numbers 3:49redemption-money (both P);Leviticus 27:15,19 i.e. estimated value, etc.
among verbs and phrase with are: —try, refine,Zechariah 13:9;Isaiah 48:10;Malachi 3:3 aPsalm 12:7;Psalm 66:10;Malachi 3:3 b, (compareEzekiel 22:22, v , seeEzekiel 22:20;Ezekiel 22:21);beautifyJeremiah 10:4;Habakkuk 2:19encased with gold andsilver;weigh out the silver to or for a personJeremiah 32:9;Genesis 23:16 (P)Ezra 8:25, withoutJeremiah 32:10, compareExodus 22:16 (E),1 Kings 20:39;Isaiah 55:2 =spend money for;Job 28:15;Zechariah 11:12;Isaiah 46:6, of wighing material for idol;sell for moneyAmos 2:6;Genesis 37:28 (J),Deuteronomy 21:14;Deuteronomy 2:28b1 Kings 21:6,15;Genesis 23:9 (P),1 Chronicles 21:22; also, of food,Deuteronomy 2:28 a;Genesis 23:13 (P)pay the price of the field;buy somethingfor moneyAmos 8:6;Jeremiah 32:25,44;Isaiah 43:24;1 Chronicles 21:24, compareLeviticus 22:11 (H);Deuteronomy 2:6 aIsaiah 55:1;Deuteronomy 2:6b; peculiar is its use with ,redeem (q. v.) inNumbers 18:16;receive money2 Kings 5:26;2 Kings 12:8;2 Kings 12:9;Nehemiah 5:4borrow money;Exodus 22:24 (JE)lend moneyto (c. 2 accusative);give money on usuryLeviticus 25:37 (H),Psalm 15:5; compareDeuteronomy 23:20.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Usageכֶּסֶף appears about 403 times in the Old Testament and is translated chiefly as “silver,” but also as “money,” since silver was the principal medium of exchange in the ancient Near East. Its range of meaning stretches from literal, measured metal to metaphors of purity, wealth, redemption, and judgment.
Silver as Precious Metal and Currency
From the earliest narratives silver functions as currency. Abraham “weighed out four hundred shekels of silver” to purchase the field of Machpelah (Genesis 23:15–16). Joseph was sold for “twenty shekels of silver” (Genesis 37:28). Later, the brothers carry “double the money” (literally, “silver”) back to Egypt (Genesis 43:12). In commerce the metal is regularly weighed (not coined) in shekels, minas, and talents; balances are to be honest (Leviticus 19:36;Proverbs 16:11).
Because silver stood for wealth, lists of booty, tribute, and royal treasuries normally place it alongside gold (2 Kings 14:14;2 Kings 18:14–16;1 Chronicles 29:4). Solomon’s wealth reached a point at which “silver was as common in Jerusalem as stones” (1 Kings 10:27).
Silver in Covenant and Redemption
At Sinai the first census required every Israelite male to pay “a half shekel according to the sanctuary shekel” as “atonement money” (Exodus 30:11–16). These 301,775 shekels of כֶּסֶף became the bases, sockets, and hooks of the Tabernacle (Exodus 38:25–28), rooting the dwelling place of God in the price of atonement.
Redemptive payments recur in the legislation: the firstborn of men and unclean animals are redeemed with silver (Numbers 3:46–51;Numbers 18:16); valuations for vows are set “in silver by the sanctuary shekel” (Leviticus 27:2–7). Such provisions prefigure a final redemption that cannot be bought “with perishable things such as silver or gold” (1 Peter 1:18) but with the blood of Christ, yet they also highlight that substitutionary payment is woven into the fabric of covenant life.
Silver in Sanctuary and Temple Construction
Silver’s structural role begins with the Tabernacle sockets and continues into the Temple. David dedicated “three thousand talents of gold and seven thousand talents of refined silver” for Solomon’s Temple (1 Chronicles 29:4). Temple repairs under Joash are funded by “all the money brought into the house of the Lord” (2 Kings 12:4–16). Post-exilic builders likewise employ silver returned by Cyrus (Ezra 1:4–11;Ezra 2:69). This unbroken chain underscores God’s claim inHaggai 2:8: “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord of Hosts.”
Silver and Offerings
InNumbers 7 each tribal leader brings a silver plate and a silver basin as part of the dedication offerings. Freewill gifts often specify silver (Exodus 25:3;Ezra 8:25). Because silver could be melted and recast, it served as liquid capital for ministry needs, paralleling the New Testament principle of dedicating material resources to the Lord’s work (Acts 4:32–35).
Silver and Idolatry
Scripture presents a stark antithesis: silver can advance true worship or feed idolatry. Israel is commanded, “You must burn up the carved images of their gods…do not covet the silver or gold on them” (Deuteronomy 7:25). The prophets indict nations that “overlay idols with silver and gold” (Isaiah 30:22;Jeremiah 10:4, 9). On the Day of the Lord, “Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them” (Zephaniah 1:18;Ezekiel 7:19).
Metaphors of Refining and Purity
Refining imagery draws on silver’s susceptibility to purging by intense heat. “The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace” (Psalm 12:6). “The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts” (Proverbs 17:3).Malachi 3:3 pictures the coming Messenger “like a refiner’s fire…He will purify the sons of Levi.” The process signifies sanctification: God removes the “dross” of sin to reveal covenant purity (Isaiah 1:22, 25).
Wisdom and Ethical Instruction
Proverbs repeatedly contrasts wisdom with silver: “Receive my instruction instead of silver” (Proverbs 8:10). “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). Silver thus becomes shorthand for great but subordinate value; true riches lie in fear of the Lord (Proverbs 15:16).
Wealth and Its Perils
Accumulation of silver can tempt the heart. Kings must not “multiply…silver and gold” lest their hearts turn away (Deuteronomy 17:17). Ecclesiastes warns, “Whoever loves money never has enough” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Hosea laments that Israel “multiplied silver…they made idols for themselves” (Hosea 8:4).
Historical Survey
• Patriarchal era: exchange and bride-price (Genesis 24:53).
• Exodus: plunder of Egypt (Exodus 12:35–36).
• Conquest: Jericho’s silver belongs to the Lord; Achan’s theft brings judgment (Joshua 6:19; 7:21).
• Monarchy: silver gathers in royal treasuries, yet is stripped by invaders (2 Kings 14:14;2 Kings 24:13).
• Exile and Return: Cyrus returns temple silver; Ezra transports it under divine protection (Ezra 8:25–30).
• Inter-testamental bridge: Zechariah’s “thirty pieces of silver” (Zechariah 11:12–13) foreshadows Judas’s betrayal payment (Matthew 26:15; 27:3–10), demonstrating the unity of covenant themes across Testaments.
Theological Themes
1. Divine ownership and sovereignty: “The silver is Mine” (Haggai 2:8).
2. Redemption price: silver mediates deliverance under the Law, pointing to the costliness of ultimate redemption.
3. Refining and sanctification: God purges His people as silver.
4. Temporal vs. eternal wealth: silver symbolizes material blessing that must be subordinated to covenant faithfulness.
5. Judgment on idolatry and greed: trust in silver brings downfall when misplaced.
Pastoral and Ministry Significance
Believers today steward material resources as Israel stewarded silver: acknowledging divine ownership, funding worship, and aiding the needy (cf.Acts 3:6;James 2:15–17). The refining motif calls the church to embrace sanctifying trials. Finally, silver’s limited power to redeem reminds the redeemed community to proclaim Christ’s priceless blood as the only sufficient ransom.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּכֶ֔סֶף בְּכֶ֖סֶף בְּכֶ֣סֶף בְּכֶ֤סֶף בְּכֶ֥סֶף בְּכֶ֨סֶף בְכֶ֔סֶף בְכֶ֖סֶף בְכָ֑סֶף בַּכֶּ֖סֶף בַּכֶּ֙סֶף֙ בַּכֶּ֣סֶף בַּכֶּ֤סֶף בַּכֶּ֥סֶף בַּכָּ֑סֶף בַכֶּ֑סֶף בַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ בכסף הַ֭כֶּסֶף הַכֶּ֔סֶף הַכֶּ֕סֶף הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַכֶּ֗סֶף הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ הַכֶּ֛סֶף הַכֶּ֜סֶף הַכֶּ֡סֶף הַכֶּ֣סֶף הַכֶּ֤סֶף הַכֶּ֥סֶף הַכֶּ֧סֶף הַכֶּ֨סֶף הַכֶּסֶף֩ הַכֶּסֶף֮ הַכָּ֑סֶף הַכָּֽסֶף׃ הכסף הכסף׃ וְ֝כֶ֗סֶף וְ֠הַכֶּסֶף וְהַכֶּ֔סֶף וְהַכֶּ֖סֶף וְהַכֶּ֡סֶף וְהַכֶּ֣סֶף וְהַכֶּ֤סֶף וְהַכֶּ֥סֶף וְהַכֶּ֨סֶף וְכֶ֕סֶף וְכֶ֖סֶף וְכֶ֗סֶף וְכֶ֛סֶף וְכֶ֣סֶף וְכֶ֥סֶף וְכֶ֧סֶף וְכֶ֨סֶף וְכַכָּ֑סֶף וְלַכֶּ֔סֶף וְלַכֶּ֣סֶף וָכֶ֔סֶף וָכֶ֖סֶף וָכֶ֗סֶף וָכֶ֛סֶף וָכָ֑סֶף וָכָֽסֶף׃ וּ֠בַכֶּסֶף וּבְכֶ֛סֶף וּבַכֶּ֖סֶף וּבַכֶּ֜סֶף וּלְכַסְפִּ֣י וּמִכַּסְפִּי֙ ובכסף והכסף וככסף וכסף וכסף׃ ולכסף ולכספי ומכספי כֶ֔סֶף כֶ֖סֶף כֶ֗סֶף כֶ֙סֶף֙ כֶ֛סֶף כֶ֥סֶף כֶ֧סֶף כֶ֨סֶף כֶּ֔סֶף כֶּ֖סֶף כֶּ֗סֶף כֶּ֙סֶף֙ כֶּ֛סֶף כֶּ֜סֶף כֶּ֡סֶף כֶּ֣סֶף כֶּ֣סֶף ׀ כֶּ֤סֶף כֶּ֥סֶף כֶּ֧סֶף כֶּ֨סֶף כֶּֽסֶף־ כֶֽסֶף־ כֶסֶף֩ כַּסְפְּךָ֔ כַּסְפְּךָ֥ כַּסְפְּךָ֧ כַּסְפְּכֶ֖ם כַּסְפִּ֔י כַּסְפִּ֥י כַּסְפֵּ֖ךְ כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ כַּסְפֵּֽנוּ׃ כַּסְפֵּיהֶ֛ם כַּסְפֵּיהֶם֙ כַּסְפֶּ֑ךָ כַּסְפָּ֞ם כַּסְפָּ֣ם כַּסְפָּ֥ם כַּסְפָּ֨ם כַּסְפּ֔וֹ כַּסְפּ֖וֹ כַּסְפּ֤וֹ ׀ כַכָּ֑סֶף כַסְפֶּ֔ךָ כַסְפּ֔וֹ כַסְפּ֖וֹ כָ֑סֶף כָּ֑סֶף כָּֽסֶף׃ כָֽסֶף׃ ככסף כסף כסף־ כסף׃ כספו כספי כספיהם כספך כספכם כספם כספנו כספנו׃ לְכֶ֤סֶף לְכֶ֨סֶף לְכַסְפָּ֗ם לַ֭כֶּסֶף לַכֶּ֔סֶף לַכֶּ֛סֶף לַכֶּ֜סֶף לַכֶּ֣סֶף לכסף לכספם מִכֶּ֖סֶף מִכֶּ֥סֶף מִכַּסְפָּ֤ם מִכָּ֑סֶף מִכָּֽסֶף׃ מכסף מכסף׃ מכספם bak·kā·sep̄ bak·ke·sep̄ ḇak·ke·sep̄ bakKasef bakkāsep̄ bakKesef bakkesep̄ ḇakkesep̄ ḇə·ḵā·sep̄ bə·ḵe·sep̄ ḇə·ḵe·sep̄ beChesef ḇəḵāsep̄ bəḵesep̄ ḇəḵesep̄ chakKasef Chasef chasPecha chasPo Chesef hak·kā·sep̄ hak·ke·sep̄ hakKasef hakkāsep̄ hakKesef hakkesep̄ kā·sep̄ ḵā·sep̄ ḵak·kā·sep̄ ḵakkāsep̄ kas·pām kas·pê·hem kas·pe·ḵā kas·pə·ḵā ḵas·pe·ḵā kas·pə·ḵem kas·pê·nū kas·pêḵ kas·pî kas·pōw ḵas·pōw Kasef kāsep̄ ḵāsep̄ kasPam kaspām kasPech kasPecha kaspeChem kaspêhem kaspeiHem kaspêḵ kaspeḵā kaspəḵā ḵaspeḵā kaspəḵem kasPenu kaspênū kasPi kaspî kasPo kaspōw ḵaspōw ke·sep̄ ḵe·sep̄ ke·sep̄- ḵe·sep̄- kesef kesep̄ ḵesep̄ kesep̄- ḵesep̄- lak·ke·sep̄ lakKesef lakkesep̄ lə·ḵas·pām lə·ḵe·sep̄ lechasPam leChesef ləḵaspām ləḵesep̄ mik·kā·sep̄ mik·kas·pām mik·ke·sep̄ mikKasef mikkāsep̄ mikkasPam mikkaspām mikKesef mikkesep̄ ū·ḇak·ke·sep̄ ū·ḇə·ḵe·sep̄ ū·lə·ḵas·pî ū·mik·kas·pî ūḇakkesep̄ ūḇəḵesep̄ ulechasPi ūləḵaspî umikkasPi ūmikkaspî uvakKesef uvChesef vaChasef vaChesef vakKesef vechakKasef veChasef veChesef vehakKesef velakKesef wā·ḵā·sep̄ wā·ḵe·sep̄ wāḵāsep̄ wāḵesep̄ wə·hak·ke·sep̄ wə·ḵak·kā·sep̄ wə·ḵe·sep̄ wə·lak·ke·sep̄ wəhakkesep̄ wəḵakkāsep̄ wəḵesep̄ wəlakkesep̄
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