כִּסְלֵו (kis.lev)
kis.lev
Chislev
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The Hebrew word kislev names the ninth month of the post-exilic Jewish calendar, roughly corresponding to November and December in the modern Gregorian system. Its literal meaning is "his confidence," a translation that reflects the linguistic roots of the term rather than describing the season's weather or agricultural state.
Despite its relatively narrow appearance in Scripture, with only two occurrences in Nehemiah and Zechariah, kislev holds significant chronological weight. In Zechariah 7:1, it marks the specific time when a delegation from Bethel visited the prophets to inquire about fasting, anchoring their religious questions in a concrete historical moment. Similarly, Nehemiah 1:1 uses the month to date the narrator’s sorrowful reflection on Jerusalem’s ruined walls, establishing the temporal setting for his prayer and subsequent leadership.
Translators typically retain the proper name "Kislev" rather than attempting to translate its meaning into English, preserving the cultural specificity of the ancient calendar. This approach allows readers to engage with the text as it was originally written, recognizing that biblical events are situated within a real, measured timeline rather than existing in abstract timelessness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Chislev points us toward a season of waiting and quiet confidence. In the ancient calendar, this ninth month brought cooler weather and shorter days, often marking a time when agricultural work slowed down. The meaning behind the word suggests that even in darker or colder seasons, there is room for trust to grow. It reminds us that God’s timing does not always match our urgency, but His presence remains steady through every change of season.
When Nehemiah heard about Jerusalem’s broken walls during Chislev, he did not rush into action immediately. Instead, he sat in Susa and prayed. This month teaches us that reflection is a holy activity. Before we fix what is broken, we often need to sit with our grief and bring it honestly before God. It is okay to pause, to feel the weight of the situation, and to seek His face in the quiet.
Similarly, the people of Zechariah’s day asked about fasting during this same month. They wanted to know if their rituals pleased God. The answer they received was not just about dates or ceremonies, but about justice and mercy. Chislev invites us to look beyond our routines and examine our hearts. It is a time to check if our outward actions match our inner faith, trusting that God sees the sincerity of our spirit.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ Kislev1×
- Kislev1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כִּסְלֵיו֙1×
- בְּ/כִסְלֵֽו\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 1:1
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the palace,
This verse anchors Nehemiah’s deep sorrow and subsequent prayer in a specific historical moment, showing how personal grief can lead to intercession.
-
Zechariah 7:1
In the fourth year of King Darius, Yahweh’s word came to Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Chislev.
Here the month marks a formal inquiry from exiles about fasting, highlighting the tension between religious ritual and genuine obedience.