כַּשְׂדִּים (kas.di)
kas.di
Chaldea
N:N--LGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 72 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--LG
Word Overview
The noun kasdim refers to the Chaldeans, a people who inhabited the southern region of Mesopotamia near the Persian Gulf. In the Hebrew Bible, this term identifies both the geographical territory and its inhabitants, who lived along the lower Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The sources note that the name is traditionally interpreted as meaning "clod-breakers," a reference to their agricultural life in the fertile river valleys.
While originally denoting a specific ethnic group from the south, the word expands in later biblical texts to encompass the broader Babylonian empire and even wise men or astrologers. This shift reflects how neighboring nations viewed them as experts in divination and celestial observation. Prophets like Jeremiah and Habakkuk use the term to describe the powerful military force that would judge Judah, linking the people directly to their land of origin.
The word appears frequently in books such as Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Daniel, where it often stands in contrast to Israel’s hopes. For instance, Genesis 11:28 mentions Ur of the Chaldeans as the ancestral home of Abram, grounding the nation’s history in this Mesopotamian context. Later, the term serves as a label for the empire that destroyed Jerusalem, emphasizing the political and theological weight attached to this specific group in biblical narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kasdim points to the Chaldeans, a people from southern Mesopotamia who appear throughout Scripture in complex roles. They are first known as the home of Abram’s family in Ur, marking God’s call to leave familiar ground for an unknown promise. Later, they become the military force that brings judgment on Jerusalem, reminding us that history unfolds under God’s sovereign guidance.
For your faith, this term highlights how God uses even distant nations to accomplish His purposes. It invites trust in His timing and justice, especially when circumstances feel overwhelming. The Chaldeans’ rise and fall show that human power is temporary, while God’s promises endure. This perspective encourages reliance on divine wisdom rather than earthly strength.
Reflecting on kasdim can deepen your appreciation for how God weaves personal calls and national events into a single story of redemption. It reassures that no force stands outside His control, offering hope in uncertain times.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 72 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Chaldeans32×
- [the] Chaldeans28×
- of [the] Chaldeans4×
- and/ [the] Chaldeans3×
- Chaldea3×
- from/ [the] Chaldeans1×
- and/ <to> the/ Chaldeans1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים13×
- כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים8×
- כַּשְׂדִּֽים\׃6×
- הַ/כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים4×
- הַ/כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים4×
- כַּשְׂדִּים֙3×
- כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים3×
- כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים3×
- כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים3×
- הַ/כַּשְׂדִּים֙3×
- הַ/כַּשְׂדִּֽים\׃3×
- כַשְׂדִּ֑ים2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 15:7
He said to Abram, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”
This verse identifies Ur of the Chaldeans as the starting point of God’s covenant promise to Abram, grounding Israel’s origins in a specific foreign land.
-
II Kings 25:10
All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem.
Here the Chaldean army destroys Jerusalem’s walls, illustrating the word’s use for the instrument of divine judgment on Judah.
-
Isaiah 47:1
“Come down and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will no longer be called tender and delicate.
The prophet addresses Babylon as the daughter of the Chaldeans, linking the term to the pride and eventual fall of the empire.
-
Jeremiah 21:9
He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he who goes out and passes over to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he will live, and he will escape with his life.
Jeremiah warns that surrendering to the Chaldeans is the path to survival, showing how the word represents a choice between death and life in exile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does kasdim mean in the Bible?
Why are the Chaldeans mentioned in Genesis?
How does kasdim relate to Babylon?
Every Occurrence (72 verses across 9 books)
Genesis 3 verses
Haran died in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldees, while his father Terah was still alive.
Genesis 11:31Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife.…
Genesis 15:7He said to Abram, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”