Word Study for H7189 (קֹשֶׁט)

qôsheṭ /ko'-shet/ Ask about this word

Rootor קֹשְׁטְ · from an unused root meaning to balance

Meaningequity (as evenly weighed), i.e. reality

KJV usagetruth.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qôsheṭ — 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 qôsheṭ, represented by H7189, denotes equity, reality, or truth, derived from a root concept of balance. It appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, highlighting its specific application. Its meaning is rooted in the idea of something being evenly weighed and therefore real or true.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7189 is presented in distinct contexts. In Psalms, it is a reason for displaying a banner given to those who fear God, linking truth with divine provision and a standard to be upheld Psalms 60:4. In Proverbs, the word is translated as certainty, emphasizing its role as the foundation of reliable knowledge. The goal is to know the certainty of true words in order to give a trustworthy answer Proverbs 22:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context of H7189:

H5414 nâthan (to give): This primitive root has a very broad application, meaning to give, put, or make. In Psalms 60:4, God has given a banner because of the truth H7189, connecting truth to a divine act of provision.
H571 ʼemeth (certainty, truth, trustworthiness): This word, meaning stability and truth, is used in conjunction with H7189 in Proverbs 22:21 to describe "the words of truth," whose certainty H7189 is to be known. This pairing reinforces the idea of a solid, reliable reality.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7189 centers on truth as both a divine standard and a practical foundation.

A Divinely Given Standard: The word is connected with an act of God, who has given a banner "because of the truth" Psalms 60:4. This suggests that truth is not just an abstract concept but a standard provided by God for His people to rally around.
Foundation for Reliable Knowledge: H7189 is presented as the certainty that undergirds true words. The purpose of knowing this certainty is to be able to provide a reliable answer, making it a cornerstone of wisdom and faithful communication Proverbs 22:21.

Summary

In summary, H7189 qôsheṭ, while rare, carries a significant meaning of equity, reality, and certainty. It is not merely an idea but is depicted as a standard given by God and as the very basis for knowing and communicating truth. Its two appearances in Scripture frame it as a concept rooted in divine action and essential for wisdom.

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.

קֹשֶׁט
קֹשְׁטְ

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms and Proverbs (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

Psalms

Proverbs

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.