Word Study for H3787 (כָּשֵׁר)

kâshêr /kaw-share'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root properly, to be straight or right

Meaningby implication, to be acceptable; also to succeed or prosper

KJV usagedirect, be right, prosper.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of kâshêr — 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 kâshêr, represented by H3787, is a primitive root meaning to be straight or right. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. By implication, its meaning extends to concepts like being acceptable, succeeding, or prospering, often in the context of practical wisdom and favorable outcomes.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its scriptural occurrences, H3787 is applied in distinct practical situations. In Esther's plea to the king, she frames her petition by asking if "the thing seem right before the king," connecting the word to royal approval and justice Esther 8:5. In Ecclesiastes, it is used to convey success in human labor, where a sower does not know which of his efforts will prosper Ecclesiastes 11:6. The word is also used to illustrate the value of wisdom, which is described as being "profitable to direct," implying that wisdom provides the right path to a successful outcome Ecclesiastes 10:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Two related words help clarify the scope of H3787:

H3504 yithrôwn (preeminence, gain; better, excellency(-leth), profit(-able)): This word appears alongside H3787 in the proverb about the dull axe, where wisdom is described as profitable to direct one's efforts Ecclesiastes 10:10. This links the rightness of H3787 with a tangible advantage or gain.
H2896 ṭôwb (good (as an adjective) in the widest sense): This term for good is closely associated with H3787. In Esther's appeal, her request being seen as right is presented alongside it being pleasing and good in the king's eyes Esther 8:5. Similarly, the sower does not know if his work will prosper or if the results will be equally good Ecclesiastes 11:6.

Theological Significance

The conceptual significance of H3787 centers on practical wisdom and the nature of success.

Rightness and Acceptability: The word establishes a link between what is inherently right and what is deemed acceptable by an authority. For Esther, the rightness of her plan was essential for it to gain favor and be approved by the king Esther 8:5.
Prosperity and Effort: In the context of labor, to prosper is the desired outcome of diligent work. However, its use in Ecclesiastes suggests that this success is not guaranteed by effort alone, pointing to factors beyond human control Ecclesiastes 11:6.
Wisdom and Direction: The term underscores that wisdom is the key to effective action. Wisdom provides the proper direction that leads to a profitable result, distinguishing it from mere unguided strength or effort Ecclesiastes 10:10.

Summary

In summary, H3787 is a practical term that encompasses a range of meanings from being right and acceptable to prospering and being directed. Though it appears infrequently, its usage in Esther and Ecclesiastes illustrates a consistent theme in biblical wisdom: that which is truly right is also wise, effective, and ultimately leads to a favorable or successful outcome. It bridges the gap between moral correctness and practical success.

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 verb 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.

כָשֵׁר
יִכְשָׁר

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

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ecclesiastes (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

Esther

Ecclesiastes

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.