כִּשְׁרוֹן
𐤊𐤔𐤓𐤅𐤍
kishrôwn
H3788 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The capacity or fitness for success or prosperity; aptitude, skillfulness, or suitability. In biblical contexts, refers to efficacy, appropriateness, or the quality of being suited or fit for a task. The term can also refer more abstractly to success in an endeavor or to what is proper or right.
Semantic Range
fitness, aptitude, skill, capacity, success, suitability, efficacy, advantage, quality of being fit or proper
Root / Etymology
From the root כָּשֵׁר (kashér), which means 'to be fit, proper, suitable.' The noun כִּשְׁרוֹן (kishrôn) derives from this verb, conveying the meaning of 'quality of fitness' or 'capacity for success.' Root forms in the q-tl noun pattern indicating an abstract quality or state related to the root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Appears in Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) 2:21, 4:4, and 5:10 (ET 5:11), consistently describing skill, aptitude, or the ability enabling prosperity or advantageous outcomes. The word is rare and poetic, distinct from more concrete terms for wisdom (חָכְמָה) or understanding (תְּבוּנָה), focusing instead on the notion of suitability or advantageous ability rather than moral 'rightness.' English translations often render it 'success' or 'skill,' but the underlying concept centers on capability or capacity for achieving a desired result. In post-biblical Hebrew, the derived meaning of "kosher" shifts toward ritual suitability, but in biblical use, it is more general, relating to aptitude or effective capability. Contextually linked to human endeavor and accomplishment, especially in wisdom literature. Not linked to ritual or legal uses in the Hebrew Bible itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּשֵׁר; success, advantage; equity, good, right.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כשר (k-š-r) — to be suitable, proper, fit
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3574 | כּוֹשָׁרָה | in the favorable circumstances |
| H3601 | כִּישׁוֹר | with the spindle |
| H3787 | כָּשֵׁר | the making fit |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3788-01 |
כִּשְׁר֣וֹן | kisheron | HNcmsc |
fitness-of | 2 | |
H3788-02 |
וּ/בְ/כִשְׁר֑וֹן | uvekhisheron | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and in fitness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3788-02 |
Ecclesiastes 2:21 | וּ/בְ/כִשְׁר֑וֹן | uvekhisheron | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and in fitness | |
H3788-01 |
Ecclesiastes 4:4 | כִּשְׁר֣וֹן | kisheron | HNcmsc |
fitness-of | |
H3788-01 |
Ecclesiastes 5:10 | כִּשְׁרוֹן֙ | kisheron | HNcmsa |
fitness-of |