קֹשֶׁט
𐤒𐤔𐤈
qôsheṭ
H7189 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A quality or state of genuineness, uprightness, or truth, especially in speech or judgment; refers to what is reliable, just, and accords with reality or fact. Used to denote truthfulness or veracity, often in contrast with falsehood or injustice.
Semantic Range
truth, uprightness, genuineness, correctness, reliability, speech or statement in accordance with fact or fairness, equitable judgment
Root / Etymology
From the root קשט, which conveys the idea of being upright, straight, or true, especially with reference to matters of speech or moral judgment. The root is not attested as a verb in biblical Hebrew but survives in nouns and adjectives like קֹשֶׁט (qōsheṭ) and the adjective כָּשֵׁט (kāshet, truthful/upright). Closely related in form and sense to Aramaic and Syriac cognates signaling truth and correctness. Root meaning: to be upright, straight, right; actual word meaning: truth, reliability, integrity.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קֹשֶׁט appears only a handful of times (notably in Proverbs 22:21 and in poetry), always in reference to truthful words or speech that is trustworthy. In Israelite usage, it delineates not abstract philosophical truth, but the practical matter of speech or testimony that can be relied upon in legal, social, or religious contexts. The term's late occurrence, mostly in poetry and wisdom literature, reflects the emergence of more abstract terms for truth and honesty, contrasting with more common terms like אֱמֶת (ʾemet), which also denotes faithfulness and reliability. The nuance here centers more on equitable or 'upright' speech and judgment rather than mere factuality. In later Hebrew, other derivatives continue to stress uprightness and correctness, sometimes in the sense of justice or fairness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or קֹשְׁטְ; from an unused root meaning to balance; equity (as evenly weighed), i.e. reality; truth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קשט (q-š-ṭ) — uprightness, straightness, truthfulness
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7189-02 |
קֹ֭שְׁטְ | qoshete | HNcmsc |
certainty | uprightness | 1 |
H7189-01 |
קֹ֣שֶׁט | qoshet | HNcmsa |
the bow | upright truth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7189-01 |
Psalms 60:6 | קֹ֣שֶׁט | qoshet | HNcmsa |
the bow | upright truth |
H7189-02 |
Proverbs 22:21 | קֹ֭שְׁטְ | qoshete | HNcmsc |
certainty | uprightness |