Original Word: קְשִׂיטָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: qsiytah
Pronunciation: keh-see-tah
Phonetic Spelling: (kes-ee-taw')
KJV: piece of money (silver)
NASB: pieces of money, piece of money
Word Origin: [from an unused root (probably meaning to weigh out)]

1. an ingot (as definitely estimated and stamped for a coin)

piece of money silver

From an unused root (probably meaning to weigh out); an ingot (as definitely estimated and stamped for a coin) -- piece of money (silver).

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
(unit of value), perhaps piece
NASB Translation
piece of money (1), pieces of money (2).

קְשִׂיטָה noun feminine unit of (unknown) value, perhaps weight: Genesis 33:19 "" Joshua 24:32 (both E), Job 42:11.

קשׂשׂ (√ of following; Late Hebrew קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת scale; compare Arabic skim off fat, IV. scale off (Berggren), be healed form small-pox, etc. (Muƒi‰; i.e. scale off), compare get well from leanness, Frey (†am Golius); also sweep (up débris) Dozy^{ii. 347}).

Overview

קְשִׂיטָה (qeśîtâ) designates an early medium of exchange that appears three times in the Old Testament. Though its exact weight or shape is uncertain, the term consistently represents a tangible unit of value used in honorable transactions and acts of generosity.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Genesis 33:19 – Jacob buys a parcel of land at Shechem “for a hundred pieces of silver”, the Hebrew term being qesitah.
2. Joshua 24:32 – The same plot, later receiving Joseph’s bones, is again identified as bought “for a hundred pieces of silver,” confirming the enduring legal validity of Jacob’s purchase.
3. Job 42:11 – Job’s relatives each present him “a piece of silver and a gold earring,” signifying tangible comfort and restoration after his trials.

Economic Significance in the Patriarchal Period

The qesitah predates coined money. Archaeological parallels suggest small ingots or lamb-shaped silver pieces, easily weighed and recognized. Its appearance in patriarchal narratives highlights an ordered economic system in which value could be precisely measured, contracts honored, and property rights secured. Scripture therefore testifies that commerce and covenant co-existed from early stages of redemptive history.

Covenantal and Redemptive Themes

Jacob’s purchase with qesitahs anchors the promise of land to his descendants. Almost four centuries later, Joshua 24:32 recalls the identical payment, showing that God’s covenantal dealings are traceable in concrete historical details. Likewise, Job’s receipt of qesitahs after suffering illustrates a personal redemption that mirrors national restoration: “the LORD blessed Job’s latter days more than the first” (Job 42:12).

Typological and Theological Reflections

1. Permanence of Divine Promises – The same unit of payment links Jacob and Joshua, underscoring the continuity of God’s word through generations (Psalm 105:8-11).
2. Restoration After Suffering – Job’s qesitah anticipates the principle that God “will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25). Tangible silver pieces attest that divine comfort reaches into material realities.
3. Righteous Transactions – The integrity with which Jacob acquired land contrasts sharply with later unlawful seizures (1 Kings 21). Qesitah thus points to ethical stewardship.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Stewardship Teaching – Qesitah occasions invite congregations to view finances as tools for honoring God’s promises and blessing others.
• Biblical Counseling – Job 42:11 supports ministry to the suffering, demonstrating that friends should couple words with practical aid.
• Apologetics – The repetition of the exact payment strengthens confidence in Scripture’s historicity and internal harmony.

Conclusion

Though mentioned only three times, קְשִׂיטָה embodies themes of integrity, covenant fidelity, and compassionate generosity. By tracing this modest monetary term, believers gain fresh assurance that the God who oversees every “piece of silver” also superintends the grand narrative of redemption.

קְשִׂיטָ֑ה קְשִׂיטָ֣ה קְשִׂיטָֽה׃ קשיטה קשיטה׃ kesiTah qə·śî·ṭāh qəśîṭāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts