כָּסַם
𐤊𐤎𐤌
kâçam
H3697 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To shear or cut short, especially in reference to hair or wool; occurs primarily in idiomatic or specialized usages reflecting cropping, trimming, or reducing by cutting.
Semantic Range
to shear, to trim closely, to clip hair or wool, to cut short, to crop
Root / Etymology
Root כּסם (K-S-M); related to notions of cutting or trimming. The word is derived from the fundamental sense of making something shorter or closer by mechanical removal, generally through shearing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb כָּסַם appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, attested only in Ezekiel 44:20, where it refers to the priests keeping their hair trimmed or cut short, rather than letting it grow long or being completely shaved. It aligns with Levitical regulations that balance neutrality between extremes of appearance. The meaning does not extend to regular 'shaving' (which is covered by גָּלַח, galach) or general 'cutting' (קָצַץ, qatzatz), but specifically references the notion of 'clipping' or 'shearing' as a controlled, moderate act. The derived noun כֶּסֶם is not attested, and the verb is likely a denominative formation tied to ritual or purity practices. The comparison to כִּרְסֵם (kirseim, 'to gnaw, nibble') reflects a related sense of removing or cutting away in small amounts, but כָּסַם more specifically concerns shearing or close clipping. English translations often render it as 'trim' or 'clip,' but nuances related to ritual purity or priestly conduct may be missed in translation. The root is mostly absent from later Hebrew and is replaced by other terms in post-biblical Hebrew contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to shear; [idiom] only, poll. Compare כִּרְסֵם.
Bantu Hebrew
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כסם (k-s-m) — to shear, to clip, to trim
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3697-01 |
כָּס֥וֹם | kasom | HVqa |
they shall surely | to shear | 1 |
H3697-02 |
יִכְסְמ֖וּ | yikhesemu | HVqi3mp |
they shall trim | they will shear | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3697-01 |
Ezekiel 44:20 | כָּס֥וֹם | kasom | HVqa |
they shall surely | to shear |
H3697-02 |
Ezekiel 44:20 | יִכְסְמ֖וּ | yikhesemu | HVqi3mp |
they shall trim | they will shear |