Word Study for H3704 (כֶּסֶת)

keçeth /keh'-seth/ Ask about this word

Meaninga cushion or pillow (as covering a seat or bed)

KJV usagepillow.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of keçeth — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word keçeth, represented by H3704, refers to a pillow or cushion. It is a rare term, appearing only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. Its base definition relates to a covering for a seat or bed, but its biblical usage is exclusively tied to a practice of spiritual deception condemned by the prophet Ezekiel.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The context for H3704 is found in a prophecy against false prophetesses. In Ezekiel, women are condemned for sewing pillows for armholes as part of a ritual to "hunt souls" Ezekiel 13:18. These objects were not for comfort but were instruments of spiritual entrapment. God's judgment is declared directly against this practice, stating "Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls," and He promises to "tear them from your arms" to set the hunted souls free Ezekiel 13:20.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the function and context of these pillows:

H8609 tâphar: This verb, meaning to sew, describes the physical act of creating the pillows and directly links them to the work of the condemned women Ezekiel 13:18.
H4555 miçpâchâh: Defined as a kerchief or veil, this item is mentioned in parallel with the pillows, suggesting it was another ritual object used to "hunt souls" Ezekiel 13:18.
H6679 tsûwd: This word, meaning to hunt, reveals the sinister purpose of the pillows. They were not passive objects but active tools used to figuratively chase and catch people (Ezekiel 13:18, Ezekiel 13:20).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3704 is entirely focused on the dangers of spiritual deception and God's response to it.

Instruments of Falsehood: The pillows are presented as tangible tools of a corrupt spiritual trade. They symbolize the methods used by false prophets to ensnare people through deceptive practices Ezekiel 13:18.
Perversion of Comfort: An object normally associated with rest and comfort is repurposed for entrapment. This highlights the insidious nature of the false prophetesses' actions, likely offering a false sense of security to their victims.
Divine Judgment: God's declaration against the pillows is a direct judgment on the idolatrous practice itself. His promise to tear them away shows His power to nullify the tools of deception and liberate those trapped by them Ezekiel 13:20.

Summary

In summary, H3704 keçeth is a highly specific term used exclusively in Ezekiel to condemn a form of false prophecy. Far from being a simple cushion, it represents a tool of spiritual manipulation and entrapment. Its presence in scripture serves as a stark warning against those who use rituals and physical objects to mislead others, affirming God's ultimate authority and His power to deliver His people from such snares.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

כְּסָתוֹת
כִּסְּתוֹתֵי

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Ezekiel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.