Original Word: כֶּתֶם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: kethem
Pronunciation: KEH-them
Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-them)
Definition: Gold, fine gold
Meaning: something carved out, ore, gold

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to carve or engrave

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G5557 (chrysos): Refers to gold, often used in the New Testament to denote wealth or preciousness.

- G5556 (chrusos): Another Greek term for gold, emphasizing its value and desirability.

Usage: The Hebrew word "kethem" primarily refers to gold, often emphasizing its purity and value. It is used in the Bible to denote not just any gold, but gold of the highest quality, often translated as "fine gold." This term is used metaphorically to describe something of great worth and beauty.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, gold was a symbol of wealth, power, and divine favor. It was used extensively in the construction of temples, palaces, and in the crafting of idols and sacred objects. The Israelites, like their neighbors, valued gold highly, and it played a significant role in their economy and religious practices. Gold's incorruptibility and luster made it a fitting symbol for divine purity and glory.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
gold
NASB Translation
fine gold (2), gold (6), pure gold (1).

כֶּ֫תֶם noun masculine^{Lamentations 4:1} gold, in poetry and late (perhaps loan-word in Hebrew; Phoenician has proper name, masculine כתם; Sabean כתם Hal^{Et. Sab. 190}; kaθam¹ as loan-word in Egyptian, Bondi^80f.); — ׳כ absolute Job 28:19 3t., כָּ֑תֶם Proverbs 25:12; construct כֶּתֶם Isaiah 13:12 3t.; — אוֺפִיר ׳כ Isaiah 13:12 gold of Ophir ("" מָּ֑ז), so Job 28:16; Psalm 45:10; אוּפָ֑ז ׳כ Daniel 10:5 (read perhaps אוֺפִיר for אוּפָז q. v.); ׳כ alone Job 31:24 ׅ "" (זָהָב ׳חֲלִיכֿ Proverbs 25:12 ornament of gold ׅ "" (זָהָבנֶזֶם מָּ֑ז ׳כ Songs 5:11; טָהוֺר ׳כ Job 28:19; הַטּוֺב ׳הַכּ Lamentations 4:1 "" זָהָב.

כתן (√ of following, = clothe? so Zehnpf^{BAS i, 532}, who derives therefrom Assyrian kitinnê, linen, cloth, = Arabic see also Aramaic כִּיתָּנָא and below)

most fine, pure golden wedge

From katham; properly, something carved out, i.e. Ore; hence, gold (pure as originally mined) -- ((most) fine, pure) gold(-en wedge).

see HEBREW katham

בְּכֶ֣תֶם בְּכֶ֥תֶם בכתם הַכֶּ֣תֶם הכתם וְ֝לַכֶּ֗תֶם ולכתם כֶּ֣תֶם כָ֑תֶם כתם מִכֶּ֥תֶם מכתם bə·ḵe·ṯem beChetem bəḵeṯem Chatem hak·ke·ṯem hakKetem hakkeṯem ḵā·ṯem ḵāṯem ke·ṯem Ketem keṯem mik·ke·ṯem mikKetem mikkeṯem velakKetem wə·lak·ke·ṯem wəlakkeṯemInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts