מִקְסָם
𐤌𐤒𐤎𐤌
miqçâm
H4738 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An act, ritual, or object used for divination—specifically, the practice or token of seeking knowledge about the future or hidden matters through supernatural means, typically by interpreting omens or signs. The term μεקְסָם encompasses both the act of divining and the instrument or oracle that results from such practice.
Semantic Range
divination, omen, augury, oracle, the act or product of seeking or delivering knowledge through forbidden supernatural means
Root / Etymology
מִקְסָם (miqsam) derives from the root קסם (q-s-m), which means 'to divine,' 'to practice divination.' The noun form מִקְסָם refers to the result or product of divination, such as an oracle, prophecy, or omen discovered via that process.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מִקְסָם is attested as a term for a divinatory act, oracle, or omen, often in contexts where such practices are condemned or viewed negatively within Israelite religious law (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:10, Ezekiel 21:21[26]). In the broader ancient Near Eastern context, related terms in Akkadian (qīsamum) and Ugaritic share the semantic field of divination, emphasizing the widespread nature of such practices. Biblical usage consistently places miqçam in a context of forbidden or foreign ritual alongside other forms of prohibited divination (such as עָנָן, 'soothsaying'). Later Jewish and Christian translations sometimes render this word as 'soothsaying' or 'oracle,' and use the term 'witchcraft' or 'sorcery' in translation tradition; these terms are not precise, as miqçam refers strictly to omen-based divination and not broader magical practices. The usage of miqçam in the Hebrew Bible does not connote the interpretive authority of prophetic revelation (נְבוּאָה, 'nevuʾah'), but instead characterizes a practice deemed illicit by Israelite law. Its usage remains consistent in exilic and post-exilic texts, maintaining a strong association with foreign, non-Israelite religious practices.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָסַם; an augury; divination.
Bantu Hebrew
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קסם (q-s-m) — to divine, to seek an omen, to practice supernatural prognostication
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4738-01 |
וּ/מִקְסַ֣ם | umiqesam | HC/Ncmsc |
and-divination | and divination-of | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4738-01 |
Ezekiel 12:24 | וּ/מִקְסַ֣ם | umiqesam | HC/Ncmsc |
or divination | and divination-of |
H4738-01 |
Ezekiel 13:7 | וּ/מִקְסַ֥ם | umiqesam | HC/Ncmsc |
and-divination | and divination-of |