קַשְׂקֶ֫שֶׂת (qas.qe.set)
qas.qe.set
scale
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qasqeset refers specifically to the hard, protective plates covering the skin of fish and other aquatic creatures. It appears six times in the Old Testament, primarily within the dietary laws of Leviticus 11:9-12 and Deuteronomy 14:9-10. In these contexts, the word serves as a clear biological marker for distinguishing clean from unclean animals that live in water.
The term is straightforward and concrete, describing a physical feature rather than a metaphorical concept. Its presence in the text highlights the importance of visible characteristics in ancient Israelite law; an animal must possess these scales to be considered permissible for food. The repetition of this specific word across both Levitical and Deuteronomic codes underscores its role as a definitive criterion for dietary purity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When you read about scales in the Old Testament, the image is quite literal: hard, protective plates covering fish that swim in rivers and seas. This word describes a physical reality, not a spiritual metaphor. It served as a clear marker for ancient Israelites to distinguish between clean and unclean animals. The text does not ask us to guess; it points to a visible feature we can see with our own eyes.
For your faith today, this detail reminds us that God cares about the concrete details of daily life, including what we eat. It shows that holiness was woven into the ordinary acts of gathering food and sharing meals. While we do not follow these dietary laws under the New Covenant, the principle remains: God provides clear guidance so His people can live in a way that honors Him.
You might find comfort in knowing that Scripture often uses simple, tangible things to teach profound truths. Just as a fish needs scales for protection, we are called to be grounded in what is real and true. This word invites us to appreciate the order God built into creation, where even small details have purpose and meaning.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ scale5×
- scales1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/קַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂת3×
- קַשְׂקַשִּׂ֖ים1×
- וְ/קַשְׂקֶ֜שֶׂת1×
- וְ/קַשְׂקֶ֗שֶׂת1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:9
“‘You may eat of all these that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that you may eat.
This verse establishes scales as a positive requirement for clean fish, linking them directly with fins as the standard for permissible food.
-
I Samuel 17:5
He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he wore a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.
Here the word shifts from fish to describe Goliath’s coat of mail, showing how the Hebrew term was applied metaphorically to overlapping bronze plates on armor.
-
Leviticus 11:12
Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters is an abomination to you.
This occurrence highlights the consequence of lacking scales, labeling such water creatures as an abomination and reinforcing the strictness of the dietary boundary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does qasqeset mean in the Bible?
Why are scales important in Leviticus 11?
Is this word used only for fish?
Every Occurrence (6 verses across 3 books)
Leviticus 3 verses
“‘You may eat of all these that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the…
Leviticus 11:10All that don’t have fins and scales in the seas and rivers, all that move in the waters, and all the living creatures…
Leviticus 11:12Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters is an abomination to you.