כָּסָה

𐤊𐤎𐤄

kâçâh

H3680 verb

SILEX Entry

Root כסה to cover, to conceal, to hide

Definition

To cover over, conceal, or hide something; to place something over or upon in order to provide covering, protection, or concealment. Also used metaphorically to mean forgive or atone for (sin), as in 'covering' or 'removing' guilt or offense. The verb can refer to physical acts (such as covering objects, people, or the earth) or to figurative actions (such as covering shame, sin, or fault).

Semantic Range

to cover, to conceal something from view, to clothe or provide covering for, to hide (oneself or someone/something), to overlay or envelop, to overwhelm, to forgive or remove guilt (metaphorically), to protect by covering, to cover shame or disgrace

Root / Etymology

Root: כסה. The root כסה primarily means 'to cover' or 'to conceal.' This verb is a straightforward derivative of the root, preserving its core sense in nearly all its forms. There is some debate about ultimate etymology, with possible links to similar Semitic roots (cf. Aramaic and Arabic cognates), but it is generally treated as a distinct Hebrew root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, כָּסָה is used in a variety of contexts, from covering the altar with ashes (Num 4:13), concealing physical objects (Gen 7:19; covering mountains with water), and providing clothing (Isa 61:10), to metaphorical uses such as covering shame (Gen 9:23) and, notably, the concept of atonement and forgiveness where sins are 'covered' (Ps 32:1, Prov 10:12). In priestly and wisdom literature, 'to cover' can be synonymous with absolving or removing guilt, though the word itself does not inherently mean 'to forgive.' Later translation traditions, such as the Septuagint and English versions, sometimes extend the metaphor in ways that may obscure the nuance of the Hebrew, where the emphasis is often on the action of concealing or protecting. The standard English 'to cover' fails to capture some ritual and social nuances, such as covering disgrace or providing protective shelter. The related root כָּשָׂה (with sin as the final radical) is a separate and much rarer term, and should not be conflated with כָּסָה.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy); clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm. Compare כָּשָׂה.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כסה (k-s-h) — to cover, to conceal, to hide

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3677 כֶּסֶא full moon
H3678 כִּסֵּא the throne
H3681 כָּסוּי covering-of
H3682 כְּסוּת covering-of
H3704 כֶּסֶת covering-cushions

Word Forms

75 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3680-23 לְ/כַסּ֖וֹת lekhasot HR/Vpc to-cover to thoroughly cover 12
H3680-03 הַֽ/מְכַסֶּ֤ה hamekhaseh HTi/Vprmsa that covers the covering-one 9
H3680-65 יְכַסֶּ֣ה yekhaseh HVpi3ms he covered he covers over 9
H3680-13 כִּסָּ֤ה kisah HVpp3ms covered he fully covered 8
H3680-43 וַ/תְּכַ֤ס vatekhas HC/Vpw3fs and covered she covered over 7
H3680-34 תְכַסֶּ֖ה tekhaseh HVpi2ms you shall cover you thoroughly cover 6
H3680-48 וַ/יְכַ֞ס vayekhas HC/Vpw3ms and covered and he covered over 5
H3680-61 וְ/כִ֨סּוּ vekhisu HC/Vpq3cp and cover and they covered over 5
H3680-25 מְכַסֶּ֣ה mekhaseh HVprmsa conceals one who covers over 4
H3680-50 וַ/יְכַסּ֕וּ vayekhasu HC/Vpw3mp and covered and they covered over 4

Occurrences in Scripture

153 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3680-52 Genesis 7:19 וַ/יְכֻסּ֗וּ vayekhusu HC/VPw3mp and were covered and they were covered over
H3680-52 Genesis 7:20 וַ/יְכֻסּ֖וּ vayekhusu HC/VPw3mp were covered and they were covered over
H3680-50 Genesis 9:23 וַ/יְכַסּ֕וּ vayekhasu HC/Vpw3mp and covered and they covered over
H3680-03 Genesis 18:17 הַֽ/מְכַסֶּ֤ה hamekhaseh HTi/Vprmsa hide the covering-one
H3680-47 Genesis 24:65 וַ/תִּתְכָּֽס vatitekas HC/Vtw3fs and covered herself she covered herself
H3680-58 Genesis 37:26 וְ/כִסִּ֖ינוּ vekhisinu HC/Vpq1cp and cover up and we covered over
H3680-43 Genesis 38:14 וַ/תְּכַ֤ס vatekhas HC/Vpw3fs and covered she covered over
H3680-11 Genesis 38:15 כִסְּתָ֖ה khisetah HVpp3fs she had covered she covered over
H3680-43 Exodus 8:2 וַ/תְּכַ֖ס vatekhas HC/Vpw3fs and covered she covered over
H3680-54 Exodus 10:5 וְ/כִסָּה֙ vekhisah HC/Vpq3ms and it will cover and he covered over