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כָּסַף

𐤊𐤎𐤐

kâçaph

H3700 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To yearn for, desire intensely, or long after something or someone; in some contexts, to be consumed with longing to the point of emotional or physical distress. The term can extend to express being overwhelmed by desire, including deep affection, strong yearning, or even covetousness, depending on the object and context. In rare uses, the root can also refer to becoming pale due to strong emotion, such as longing or fear.

Semantic Range

to yearn for, to desire strongly, to long after, to pine away, to covet, to become pale (from longing or dread), to be consumed by longing

Root / Etymology

From the root כסף (k-s-p), which in its primary sense relates to becoming pale, especially as a result of strong emotion such as longing or fear. This physical reaction developed metaphorically into meanings associated with intense yearning or desire. The verb כָּסַף derives directly from this root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כָּסַף appears both in poetic and prose contexts, frequently depicting powerful emotional states, whether positive (ardent longing for a loved one) or negative (pining away in absence or exile). The original sense of physical pallor due to strong emotion underlies its metaphorical uses. In later Hebrew, the term became more narrowly associated with longing, while the root also produces the noun כֶּסֶף (kesef, 'silver'), possibly alluding to its pale color, not to the emotion. In translation, English renditions such as 'desire,' 'long for,' or 'yearn' best capture the nuance, while the sense of 'fear' is extremely rare and context-specific. Across historical periods, there is no significant shift from the core meanings, though the emotional register may intensify in exilic and post-exilic texts reflecting yearning for homeland or restoration. The term differs from חָמַד (ḥāmad, 'to covet, desire') in that כָּסַף focuses on the emotional intensity or ache, not necessarily inappropriate or unethical desire.

Translation Consistency

primary "yearn" 2 occurrences

‘Yearn’ best captures the core semantic range — intense desire, longing, and pining — in a natural English verb. It conveys the emotional strength implied by the Hebrew (including strong affection or covetousness) better than weaker alternatives like ‘want’ or ambiguous choices like ‘long,’ while remaining idiomatic for all forms of the root. The rare sense of ‘become pale’ is marginal and can be handled contextually without changing the base verb.

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"consumed with longing" (2x) "deeply longed for" (1x) "long" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to become pale, i.e. (by implication) to pine after; also to fear; (have) desire, be greedy, long, sore.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

כּסף (kâçaph) — to yearn, to desire, to long after, to become pale (from emotion)

Root כּסף to yearn, to desire, to long after, to become pale (from emotion)

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3700-01 נִכְסָֽף nikhesaf HVNp3ms desired was deeply longed for was deeply longed for 1
H3700-02 נִכְסַ֖פְתָּה nikhesafetah HVNp2ms greatly you have been consumed with longing you have been consumed with longing 1
H3700-03 נִכְסְפָ֬ה nikhesefah HVNp3fs yearns she was consumed with longing she yearned intensely 1
H3700-04 נִכְסֹ֥ף nikhesof HVNa you longed to be consumed with longing to be consumed with longing 1
H3700-05 תִכְסֹֽף tikhesof HVqi2ms you will long you will yearn you will long 1
H3700-06 יִכְס֣וֹף yikhesof HVqi3ms pants he will yearn he will yearn 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3700-04 Genesis 31:30 נִכְסֹ֥ף nikhesof HVNa you longed to be consumed with longing to be consumed with longing
H3700-02 Genesis 31:30 נִכְסַ֖פְתָּה nikhesafetah HVNp2ms greatly you have been consumed with longing you have been consumed with longing
H3700-01 Zephaniah 2:1 נִכְסָֽף nikhesaf HVNp3ms desired was deeply longed for was deeply longed for
H3700-06 Psalms 17:12 יִכְס֣וֹף yikhesof HVqi3ms pants he will yearn he will yearn
H3700-03 Psalms 84:3 נִכְסְפָ֬ה nikhesefah HVNp3fs yearns she was consumed with longing she yearned intensely
H3700-05 Job 14:15 תִכְסֹֽף tikhesof HVqi2ms you will long you will yearn you will long
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