קַשָּׁת
𐤒𐤔𐤕
qashshâth
H7199 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person who uses a bow in warfare, hunting, or ceremonial contexts; specifically, a bowman or archer. In biblical texts, the term can refer to an individual skilled with the bow (archer), a member of military units specializing in archery, or as an attribute of individuals known for their martial prowess with the bow.
Semantic Range
archer, bowman, wielder of the bow, military archer, one skilled in using a bow
Root / Etymology
From the root קשת (q-š-t), meaning 'bow' (the weapon). The form קַשָּׁת is a denominative noun, meaning 'one who uses the bow,' or 'archer.' The '-ת' ending marks an agent noun derived from the object (denoting 'user of the bow').
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word קַשָּׁת appears in narratives involving warfare (e.g., Genesis 21:20, Genesis 49:23, 1 Samuel 31:3), where archers play a critical role in battle and hunting. While the English translation 'archer' is adequate, it can obscure the underlying meaning tied directly to the bow, unlike the Hebrew, which transparently links the practitioner to the weapon. The office or identity of the קַשָּׁת is not purely military; at times it signals prowess or status, as in poetic usages. Distinct from other martial terms (such as רֹמֵה for spearman); the focus here is exclusively on the bow as a weapon. Later periods and translations (especially Greek and Latin) render this term using their standard words for 'archer,' and in post-biblical Hebrew, the term persists with the same meaning. The English term 'bowman' offers a more direct parallel than 'archer' but is less common in modern usage. Care should be used when applying later social or military structures to biblical occurrences.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
intensive (as denominative) from קֶשֶׁת; a bowman; [idiom] archer. r
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קשת (q-š-t) — bow, bending, weaponry
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7199-01 |
קַשָּֽׁת | qashat | HNcmsa |
archer | bowman | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7199-01 |
Genesis 21:20 | קַשָּֽׁת | qashat | HNcmsa |
archer | bowman |