קָשַׁר (qa.shar)
qa.shar
to conspire
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 40 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qashar fundamentally means to bind or tie, yet its usage spans both physical restraint and deep emotional connection. In Proverbs, it appears in commands to bind wisdom like a token on the hand (Proverbs 3:3), illustrating a tangible act of securing knowledge. Conversely, it describes the profound bond between Jonathan and David, whose souls were bound together in intimate friendship (1 Samuel 18:1). This duality shows that binding can signify either restrictive confinement or unbreakable loyalty.
A distinct shift occurs when qashar denotes political collusion. In the historical books, particularly 2 Kings, it frequently describes conspiracies against kings, such as the plots led by Jehu or Shallum (2 Kings 10:9; 15:10). Here, the sense of "joining together" turns toward secret alliances aimed at overthrowing authority. The sources also note a rare participial form meaning "robust," describing strong livestock in Genesis 30:42, which ties physical strength to the idea of being tightly compacted.
Translators often render this word as "conspire" when the context involves treason, but the underlying imagery remains one of binding. Whether it is the binding of a covenant, the tying of a scarf, or the secret league of rebels, the core concept involves things or people being fastened together. This range highlights how ancient Hebrew thought linked physical ties with social and emotional bonds.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qashar carries the image of binding things together, whether that means tying a physical knot or forming a secret alliance. In everyday life, we see this duality clearly. A bond can be a source of deep loyalty, like the friendship between Jonathan and David, where souls were knit together in trust. Yet the same verb describes conspiracies against kings, where people join forces to undermine authority for selfish gain.
For your faith, this word invites reflection on what you are binding yourself to. Are you tying your heart to wisdom and truth, as Proverbs suggests? Or are you drawn into alliances that oppose God’s order? The text reminds us that connections matter. They shape our character and our community. We are called to choose bonds that build up rather than tear down.
This tension between loyalty and rebellion is not new. Ancient Israel faced leaders who conspired against one another, yet also friends who stood by each other through danger. Your life offers similar choices. You can seek relationships that honor God or those that serve only your own interests. The call is to bind yourself to what is good, true, and lasting.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 40 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he conspired6×
- bind/ them3×
- and/ they conspired3×
- those/ [who] had conspired2×
- he has conspired2×
- he conspired2×
- and/ people conspired2×
- ¿/ will you bind on1×
- ¿/ will you bind1×
- you will tie1×
- you will bind1×
- you have conspired1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָשָׁ֑ר2×
- קָשְׁרֵ֥/ם2×
- וַ/יִּקְשֹׁ֤ר2×
- וַ/יִּקְשְׁר֨וּ2×
- תִּקְשֹׁ֤ר1×
- תִּקְשְׁרִ֗י1×
- קָשַׁ֨ר1×
- קָשַׁ֤רְתִּי1×
- קָשַׁ֣ר1×
- קָשְׁרֵ֣/ם1×
- קְשׁוּרָ֥ה1×
- קְשׁוּרָ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 18:1
When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
This verse uses the binding imagery positively to describe the profound spiritual and emotional union between Jonathan and David.
-
I Samuel 22:8
Is that why all of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who discloses to me when my son makes a treaty with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is today?”
Saul accuses his courtiers of conspiring against him, showing how the word shifts to denote treasonous alliance.
-
II Kings 10:9
In the morning, he went out and stood, and said to all the people, “You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?
Jehu openly admits he conspired against his master, highlighting the word’s use in describing political murder and usurpation.
-
Deuteronomy 6:8
You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
Here the binding is metaphorical, instructing Israel to keep God’s commands close as a permanent sign on their hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word qashar mean?
How is qashar different from other words for 'conspire'?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Does this word have a positive meaning?
Every Occurrence (40 verses across 13 books)
Genesis 4 verses
Whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, Jacob laid the rods in front of the eyes of the flock in the watering…
Genesis 30:42but when the flock were feeble, he didn’t put them in. So the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.
Genesis 38:28When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came…
Genesis 44:30Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us; since his life is bound up in the…