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כָּשֵׁר

𐤊𐤔𐤓

kâshêr

H3787 verb

SILEX Entry

Root כשר to be fit, to be proper, to be suitable, to be acceptable

Definition

To be proper, fitting, or suitable, particularly in the sense of being appropriate for a given use or circumstance; to be correct or worthy in moral, ritual, or functional terms. In extended contexts, can refer to being successful, effective, or advantageous, often with a nuance of acceptability in the sight of others or of the deity.

Semantic Range

to be fitting, to be proper, to be suitable, to succeed, to prosper, to be effective, to be acceptable (socially, morally, or functionally); by extension, to be advantageous or beneficial

Root / Etymology

Root: כשר. The root's core meaning is 'to be fit, proper, or suitable.' The verb כָּשֵׁר appears to derive directly from this root, expressing an intransitive state of fitness or appropriateness. There is no evidence of borrowing or derivation from another root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כָּשֵׁר is rare and appears primarily in Wisdom literature and late biblical texts (notably Ecclesiastes), in which it is associated with outcomes or conduct that are favorable, right, or efficacious. The word is used both in the moral sense (what is appropriate or proper behavior) and with reference to what is successful or advantageous. In later Hebrew (especially Rabbinic and post-biblical contexts), the term becomes more technical, referring to ritual suitability (such as food permissible by halakhic standards—now known as 'kosher'), but this usage is not present in the biblical period. The word is distinct from צָדִיק (righteous, just), which emphasizes justice or moral rightness, and from טָהוֹר (clean, pure), which refers more specifically to ritual purity. Some English translations restrict כָּשֵׁר to ideas such as 'prosper' or 'succeed,' but the underlying concept in biblical contexts is broader—entailing suitability, advantage, or acceptability, not strictly material success or moral uprightness.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root properly, to be straight or right; by implication, to be acceptable; also to succeed or prosper; direct, be right, prosper.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כשר (k-sh-r) — fitness, propriety, suitability, acceptability

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3574 כּוֹשָׁרָה in the favorable circumstances
H3601 כִּישׁוֹר with the spindle
H3788 כִּשְׁרוֹן fitness-of

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3787-02 הכשיר hkhshyr HVhc of sharpening to make fit 1
H3787-04 יִכְשָׁר֙ yikheshar HVqi3ms will prosper he will be fit 1
H3787-01 הַכְשֵׁ֖ר hakhesher HVhc sharpen the making fit 1
H3787-03 וְ/כָשֵׁ֤ר vekhasher HC/Vqp3ms and proper and he was fit and he was fit 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3787-02 Ecclesiastes 10:10 הכשיר hkhshyr HVhc of sharpening to make fit
H3787-01 Ecclesiastes 10:10 הַכְשֵׁ֖ר hakhesher HVhc sharpen the making fit
H3787-04 Ecclesiastes 11:6 יִכְשָׁר֙ yikheshar HVqi3ms will prosper he will be fit
H3787-03 Esther 8:5 וְ/כָשֵׁ֤ר vekhasher HC/Vqp3ms and proper and he was fit and he was fit
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