English · KJV
H7193

קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת

qasqeseth /kas-keh'-seth/ Ask about this word
Rootby reduplication from an unused root meaning to shale off as bark
Meaninga scale (of a fish); hence a coat of mail (as composed of or covered with jointed plates of metal)
KJV usagemail, scale.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qasqeseth — 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 qasqeseth, represented by H7193, describes a scale or a coat of mail. According to its base definition, it can refer to the scales of a fish or a coat of mail composed of jointed metal plates. It appears 8 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible, illustrating its dual meaning in both natural and martial contexts.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H7193 is applied in two distinct ways. Primarily, it is a key feature in the dietary laws outlined in the Torah. Aquatic creatures that possess both fins and scales are permissible to eat (Leviticus 11:9, Deuteronomy 14:9). Conversely, those lacking these features are considered unclean Deuteronomy 14:10 and an abomination Leviticus 11:12. The word is also used to describe military armor, as seen in the description of Goliath, who was armed with a coat of mail 1 Samuel 17:5. Finally, it appears metaphorically in prophecy, where the scales of a great fish, representing Egypt, are part of an image of divine judgment Ezekiel 29:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning and application of H7193:

  • H5579 çᵉnappîyr (fins): This word is consistently paired with scales in the dietary laws. The presence or absence of both fins and scales determines whether a water creature is clean or unclean (Leviticus 11:10, Deuteronomy 14:10).
  • H8302 shiryôwn (coat of mail, breastplate, habergeon, harness): This term is used for a piece of armor and appears directly alongside H7193 in the description of Goliath's armor, specified as a "coat H8302 of mail H7193" 1 Samuel 17:5.
  • H2931 ṭâmêʼ (unclean): This word defines the status of creatures lacking scales. In Deuteronomy 14:10, aquatic animals without fins and scales are explicitly declared unclean unto Israel.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H7193 is expressed through its different contexts.

  • Ritual Purity: The most frequent use of the word establishes a boundary between what is clean and unclean for God's people. The presence of scales is a physical marker for a divinely ordered system of holiness and separation from the surrounding nations Leviticus 11:9-10.
  • Symbol of Hostile Strength: When used to describe Goliath's armor, the coat of mail symbolizes the formidable, man-made defenses of an enemy of Israel. This armor represented a physical challenge that was ultimately overcome by divine power 1 Samuel 17:5.
  • Metaphor for Judgment: In Ezekiel's prophecy, the scales of the great fish are part of a vivid metaphor for God's judgment upon a prideful nation. The very things that are part of the creature's nature become entangled in its downfall Ezekiel 29:4.

Summary

In summary, H7193 carries a dual meaning that the biblical authors use to convey important concepts. As the scale of a fish, it is a cornerstone of dietary laws that teach holiness and separation. As mail on a warrior, it represents the physical might of those who oppose God. This single term powerfully illustrates how the natural world and human technology are used in Scripture to articulate principles of purity, conflict, and divine judgment.

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 8 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת
  • קַשְׂקְשֹׂתֶי
  • קַשְׂקַשִּׂים

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H5579 סְנַפִּיר of uncertain derivation; a fin (collectively); fins. H8302 שִׁרְיוֹן or שִׁרְיֹן; and שִׁרְיָן; also (feminine) שִׁרְיָה; and שִׁרְיֹנָה; from שָׁרָה in the original sense of turning; a cor H2931 טָמֵא from טָמֵא; foul in a religious sense; defiled, [phrase] infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean.

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 7 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Leviticus (3 verses); never once in the other 35.

3
Leviticus
2
Deuteronomy
1
1 Samuel
1
Ezekiel

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.