kesem · divination

What it means

kesem (קֶסֶם) is a Hebrew word of the Bible that means “divination”.

An attempt to know what is hidden by lots or signs; also what was paid to the diviner.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. Trying to know hidden things, as false prophets did.
2. The payment to the diviner.
3. A wise ruling, as if inspired.

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• divination ×9
• anyone who practices ×1
• practiced divinations ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Numbers×2
• Deuteronomy×1
• 1 Samuel×1
• 2 Kings×1
• Proverbs×1
• Jeremiah×1
• Ezekiel×4

• Numbers 22:7

  So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.

• Numbers 23:23

  For there is no omen against Jacob, and no divination against Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What El has done!’

• Deuteronomy 18:10

  There shall not be found among you anyone who makes pass his son or his daughter through the fire, anyone who practices divination, a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,

• 1 Samuel 15:23

  For rebellion is the sin of divination, and stubbornness is wickedness and teraphim. Because you have despised the word of YHWH, he has despised you from being king.”

• 2 Kings 17:17

  They made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divinations and read omens, and sold themselves to do what was evil in the eyes of YHWH, to provoke him to anger.

• Proverbs 16:10

  Divination is on the lips of a king; in judgment his mouth will not be unfaithful.

• Jeremiah 14:14

  And YHWH said to me: “Falsehood the prophets are prophesying in my name; I did not send them, nor command them, nor speak to them; a vision of falsehood, and divination, and a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart they are prophesying to you.

• Ezekiel 13:6

  They have seen emptiness and lying divination, those who say, “Declares YHWH,” and YHWH has not sent them, and they expect him to confirm the word.

• Ezekiel 13:23

  therefore you will not see emptiness nor divine divination any more, and I will deliver my people from your hand, and you will know that I am YHWH.’”

• Ezekiel 21:21

  For the king of Babylon has stopped at the crossroads, at the head of the two roads, to practice divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the teraphim, he looks at the liver.

• Ezekiel 21:22

  In his right hand is the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open the mouth in murder, to raise the voice with a shout, to set battering rams against the gates, to heap up a siege ramp, to build a siege tower.