Lexical Definition

‎קֶסֶם‎ qeçem (keh'-sem) divination ^H:N-M
from ‎קָסַם‎

(reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft.

• a lot
• also divination (including its fee), oracle

1) divination, witchcraft
1a) of the nations, Balaam
1b) of false prophets
1c) in a good sense (king's lips as oracles)

See Greek: Κωσάμ

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎קֶ֫סֶם‎ noun [masculine] divination; — absolute ‎׳‎‎ק‎ Num 23:25+, ‎קָ֑סֶם‎ Ezek 21:26* construct ‎קֶסֶם‎ Ezek 13:6 plural ‎קְסְמִים‎ Deut 18:10 +; —

1. of the nations : Balaam, Num 23:23 (poem in J E; || ‎נַחַשׁ‎; with ‎ב‎ against; as accusative of congnate meaning with verb ‎׳‎‎לִקְאָםקֿ‎ Ezek 21:26* ‎׳‎‎ק‎ as instrument of divination ‎בִּימִינוֺ‎ v.Ezek 21:27* so of elders of Moab and Midian, ‎קְסָמִים בְּיָדָם‎, Num 22:7(E). — Isa 2:6 see [‎קָסַם‎].

2. of false prophets ‎כָּזָב‎ ‎׳‎‎ק‎ Ezek 13:6 (but see [‎קָסַם‎]); ‎׳‎‎ק‎ as accusative of congnate meaning with verb Ezek 13:23 (Co Berthol Krae ‎כָּזָב‎ as vEzek 13:9; Ezek 21:34*; Ezek 22:38); ‎צֱלִיל‎ ‎׳‎‎ק‎ (so Gf for ᵑ0 ‎וֶאֱלִו֯ל‎ Jer 14:4 (all || ‎חזה שׁוא‎ or ‎שׁקר‎) ‎קֹסֵם קְסָמִים‎); prohibited Deut 18:10; 2Kgs 17:17 reprobated 1Sam 15:23 (poem; || ‎תרפים‎).

3. in good sense ‎עַל שִׂפְתֵי‎ ‎׳‎‎ק‎ ‎מֶלֶךְ‎ Prov 16:10 (king's lips as oracle).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References