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כַּשְׂדִּי

𐤊𐤔𐤃𐤉

Kasedi

H3778 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כשד to be of or pertain to the Kasdim, member of the Kasdim tribal confederation or group

Definition

Designation for a member of the Kasdî (Kasdim), a people or ethnic group originating from southern Mesopotamia, particularly associated with the region of Babylon in the Iron Age; in later usage, refers to inhabitants of the territory called Chaldea. The term can also denote specialists in astrology, divination, or court wisdom among the Babylonians, due to the reputation of the Kasdim as learned sages during the Neo-Babylonian (Chaldean) period. The precise ethnic or geographic boundaries of the group vary with historical context: sometimes denotes a specific Aramean-related tribal confederation, elsewhere represents the ruling class or elite of Babylon, especially under the Neo-Babylonian dynasty.

Semantic Range

member of the Kasdim or Chaldeans, inhabitant of Chaldea, Chaldean (ethnic or geographic), court sage or astrologer of Babylon, learned wise man among the Babylonians

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root כֶּשֶׂד (Kesed), an individual named in Genesis as a descendant of Aram, though this personal name does not reappear elsewhere. The plural form כַּשְׂדִּים (Kasdîm) is attested for the people group. The connection of the ethnonym to the Babylonian region called Chaldea (Akkadian: Kaldu or Kasdu) may reflect the Israelite exilic or post-exilic perspective on Babylonian society. The original etymology of the root is uncertain; some suggest a non-Hebrew, possibly Akkadian, source.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כַּשְׂדִּי (Kasdîy) usually occurs in the plural (כַּשְׂדִּים, Kasdîm), designating ethnic Chaldeans—an Aramean-related tribal people established in southern Babylonia. From the late 8th and especially in the 7th-6th centuries BCE, the Kasdim became the ruling elite of Neo-Babylon. The association with astrology and court wisdom (Daniel 2:2,4-5,10) reflects a later tradition, where the Kasdim are notable for their learning; in these contexts, English translations often use 'Chaldean' to mean 'wise man' or 'astrologer.' However, most earlier biblical usages are ethnic/geographic, identifying the group as inhabitants or rulers of regions around Babylon (especially in prophets and narratives of exile). The English term 'Chaldean' derives from Latin/Greek usage and may obscure the broader Israelite perception of Kasdim as a distinct Near Eastern people. Modern scholarship recognizes the historical contraction of the term from a broader tribal confederation to a label for the Neo-Babylonian ruling class. Not to be confused with later terms like 'Babylonian' (Gk. Babulōnios), which can reference different social or ethnic categories. The 'Jew' or 'Jewish' rendering in later translations is anachronistic; in biblical usage, Kasdi has no Israelite or Judahite connotation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(occasionally with enclitic) כַּשְׂדִּימָה; towards the Kasdites into Chaldea), patronymically from כֶּשֶׂד (only in the plural); a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people; Chaldeans, Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כשד (k-š-d) — to be of or belong to the Kasdim, member of the Kasdim people

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3778-02 כַּשְׂדִּֽים kasedim HNp of the Chaldeans Kasdim 32
H3778-01 הַ/כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים hakasedim HTd/Np the Chaldeans the Kasdim 32
H3778-04 כַשְׂדִּים֩ khasedim HNp Chaldeans Kasdim 8
H3778-08 וְ/כַשְׂדִּ֥ים vekhasedim HC/Np and the Chaldeans and Kasdim-people 3
H3778-06 כשדיים khshdyym HNgmpa Chaldeans Kasdim men 2
H3778-03 כַּשְׂדִּ֑ימָ/ה kasedimah HNp/Sd Chaldea toward the Kasdim 2
H3778-05 כַשְׂדִּ֨ימָ/ה֙ khasedimah HNp/Sd to-Chaldea toward the Kasdim 1
H3778-07 מִ/כַּשְׂדִּים֒ mikasedim HR/Np from the Chaldeans from the Kasdim 1
H3778-09 וְ/לַ/כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים velakasedim HC/Rd/Ngmpa and the Chaldeans and to the Kasdim 1

Occurrences in Scripture

82 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3778-02 Genesis 11:28 כַּשְׂדִּֽים kasedim HNp of the Chaldeans Kasdim
H3778-02 Genesis 11:31 כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים kasedim HNp of the Chaldeans Kasdim
H3778-02 Genesis 15:7 כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים kasedim HNp of the Chaldeans Kasdim
H3778-04 2 Kings 24:2 כַשְׂדִּים֩ khasedim HNp Chaldeans Kasdim
H3778-08 2 Kings 25:4 וְ/כַשְׂדִּ֥ים vekhasedim HC/Np and the Chaldeans and Kasdim-people
H3778-02 2 Kings 25:5 כַּשְׂדִּים֙ kasedim HNp of the Chaldeans Kasdim
H3778-02 2 Kings 25:10 כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים kasedim HNp Chaldeans Kasdim
H3778-04 2 Kings 25:13 כַשְׂדִּ֑ים khasedim HNp Chaldeans Kasdim
H3778-01 2 Kings 25:24 הַ/כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים hakasedim HTd/Np the Chaldeans the Kasdim
H3778-01 2 Kings 25:25 הַ/כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים hakasedim HTd/Np the Chaldeans the Kasdim
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