כַּדְכֹּד
𐤊𐤃𐤊𐤃
kadkôd
H3539 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A precious stone characterized by a sparkling or glowing appearance, used in biblical passages primarily as a metaphor for brilliance or as an actual material in high-status ornamentation. The term refers to a type of gemstone, but its precise mineral identification is debated; ancient references likely suggest a bright, reddish or glowing stone such as a ruby, carbuncle, or possibly agate.
Semantic Range
a sparkling gemstone, a precious stone (exact species uncertain, possibly ruby, agate, carbuncle); used metaphorically for brightness, beauty, value; material for ornamentation or building
Root / Etymology
Uncertain; possibly from the root כָּד (kad), meaning 'to strike' or 'jar,' combined with a suffix, suggesting something associated with striking or glowing, such as a sparkling effect. The connection to metalworking or fiery appearance links the term to visual properties (sparkling, gleaming). However, a direct root derivation is not definitively established.
Historical & Contextual Notes
כַּדְכֹּד occurs only in poetic or symbolic descriptions of precious materials, notably in Isaiah 54:12 (metaphorically describing splendid building materials in restored Jerusalem) and Ezekiel 27:16 (as a precious item traded by Tyre). The term's identification as 'ruby' or 'agate' in translations is speculative; ancient versions rendered it variously, indicating uncertainty. It is distinct from other biblical gem-terms such as אֹדֶם (ʼodem, 'carnelian'), פִּטְדָה (pitdah, 'topaz'), and שֹׁהַם (shoham, 'onyx'), though all denote valued gemstones. English translations as 'ruby' or 'agate' reflect attempts to give a recognizable reference, but neither captures the precise ancient concept. The word does not denote ethnic, geographic, or religious identity, and is always used in contexts emphasizing grandeur, beauty, or value. The Septuagint renders it as 'iaspis' (jasper) in Isaiah but as 'sardonyx' or similar in Ezekiel, showing further lack of consensus. Its appearance is confined to exilic and post-exilic prophetic literature, possibly suggesting evolving knowledge or appreciation of exotic gems in Israelite and later Judean contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as כַּד in the sense of striking fire from a metal forged; a sparkling gem, probably the ruby; agate.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כד (k-d) — to strike, to jar, to sparkle
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3537 | כַּד | in the earthenware jar |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3539-02 |
וְ/כַדְכֹּ֔ד | vekhadekod | HC/Ncmsa |
and rubies | sparkling gemstone | 1 |
H3539-01 |
כַּֽדְכֹד֙ | kadekhod | HNcmsa |
your-pinnacles | sparkling gemstone | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3539-01 |
Isaiah 54:12 | כַּֽדְכֹד֙ | kadekhod | HNcmsa |
your-pinnacles | sparkling gemstone |
H3539-02 |
Ezekiel 27:16 | וְ/כַדְכֹּ֔ד | vekhadekod | HC/Ncmsa |
and rubies | sparkling gemstone |