קִשֻּׁרִים (qish.shur)
qish.shur
sash
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qishshurim refers to bands or sashes, specifically those worn as decorative ornaments. While it can describe functional belts, the sources highlight its use for adornments bound around the body or head, suggesting a focus on appearance rather than utility.
Its occurrence is rare, appearing in only two verses within Jeremiah and Isaiah. In these contexts, the word likely points to the elaborate dress of women, serving as a tangible symbol of vanity or pride. The imagery connects physical binding with social status, where such ornaments mark identity and wealth.
The term derives from a root meaning to bind or tie, emphasizing the act of securing these items to the person. Translators often render it as "sashes" or "bands," capturing the idea of something wrapped tightly for display. This usage underscores how external adornment was viewed in ancient Israelite society.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qishshurim refers to decorative sashes or bands worn as ornaments. In ancient Israel, these items were not merely functional belts but symbols of status and beauty. They wrapped tightly around the body, marking identity and wealth through elaborate dress.
When Scripture mentions such adornments, it often highlights a tension between external appearance and internal devotion. The prophets used this imagery to show how easily people could focus on outward display while neglecting their relationship with God. It serves as a reminder that true value lies deeper than physical ornaments.
This word invites us to examine what we bind to ourselves. Are we securing our identity in fleeting trends or in something eternal? The call is to let our hearts be adorned with faith rather than just our bodies with silk and silver.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sashes/ her1×
- and/ the/ sashes1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קִשֻּׁרֶ֑י/הָ1×
- וְ/הַ/קִּשֻּׁרִ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 3:20
the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume containers, the charms,
This verse lists sashes among other vanity items, showing how external adornment was part of a broader cultural focus on appearance.
-
Jeremiah 2:32
“Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
Here the word illustrates how deeply people can be attached to their ornaments, using that attachment to highlight how strangely they have forgotten God.