Lexical Summary kesaph: Silver Original Word: כְּסַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance money, silver (Aramaic) corresponding to keceph -- money, silver. see HEBREW keceph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to keseph Definition silver NASB Translation money (1), silver (12). Brown-Driver-Briggs כְּסַף noun masculineEzra 7:17 silver (see Biblical Hebrew); — absolute ׳כ Ezra 7:15 +, כְּסַ֑ף Daniel 2:32; emphatic כַּסְמָּא Daniel 2:35 +; — 1 as material Daniel 2:32,35,45; Ezra 5:14; Ezra 6:5. 2 as money or its equivalent Ezra 7:17, Ezra 7:15; Ezra 7:16; Ezra 7:18; Ezra 7:22. כְּעַן, כְּעֶ֫נֶת, כְּעֶת see below ענה. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope כְּסַף appears exclusively in the Aramaic passages of Ezra and Daniel. It denotes silver in the forms of bullion, coin, or crafted vessels. In each setting it is tied to worship—either in faithful support of the house of God or in profane misuse that invites divine judgment. Occurrences and Contexts 1. Ezra 5:14; 6:5 – Cyrus returns “the gold and silver articles of the house of God” plundered by Nebuchadnezzar, commissioning their restoration to Jerusalem. Role in Temple Worship and Restoration The return from exile required vast resources. Silver funded sacrifices (Ezra 7:17), enabled the purchase of utensils (7:18), and served as a measurable standard of accountability (7:22). The chronicling of weights and numbers attests to transparent stewardship and to God’s provision through pagan rulers. By recording these details, Scripture affirms that true worship engages the material realm without being ruled by it. Symbolism in Prophetic Visions Silver in Daniel 2 ranks below gold yet above bronze and iron, illustrating the descending glory of successive Gentile kingdoms. Its placement in the torso of the statue (between head and legs) visually seats Medo-Persia within the flow of history, reinforcing the sovereign timeline that culminates in the everlasting kingdom of God. The mixed-metal image teaches both historical accuracy—Medo-Persia did succeed Babylon—and theological certainty—no earthly empire endures. Lessons on Holiness and Stewardship Ezra portrays silver as consecrated wealth: it is counted, weighed, and delivered “according to the command of the God of Israel” (Ezra 7:21). Daniel contrasts this with sacrilege: Belshazzar “praised the gods of silver” (5:4) while drinking from vessels devoted to Yahweh. The juxtaposition warns that value lies not in the metal itself but in its consecration to God’s purposes. Faithful administration invites blessing; profanation invites judgment. Christological Reflections The prophetic image of metals climaxing in a stone “cut out without hands” (Daniel 2:45) anticipates Christ’s kingdom. Silver, though precious, is crushed along with gold when the stone strikes. The passage foreshadows the insufficiency of any human economy—silver included—to inaugurate the reign of God. Redemption is procured “not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19), fulfilling the trajectory hinted at in Daniel. Practical Applications for Ministry Today • Accountability: Ezra’s meticulous records encourage transparent financial practices in church life. Related Themes and Passages Exodus 30:11-16; 38:25-28 – silver as atonement money 1 Kings 10:21-27 – the abundance of silver in Solomon’s reign Acts 3:6 – apostolic ministry transcending silver and gold James 5:1-3 – judgment on hoarded silver כְּסַף therefore serves Scripture as a tangible measure of value, a test of fidelity, and a prophetic marker pointing beyond itself to the unshakable reign of God. Forms and Transliterations בְּכַסְפָּ֣א בכספא וְכַסְפָּ֔א וְכַסְפָּ֛א וְכַסְפָּא֒ וכספא כְּסַ֣ף כְּסַף֮ כְסַ֑ף כַּסְפָּ֣א כַּסְפָּ֥א כַסְפָּֽא־ כסף כספא כספא־ bə·ḵas·pā bechasPa bəḵaspā chaspa cheSaf kas·pā ḵas·pā- kasPa kaspā ḵaspā- kə·sap̄ ḵə·sap̄ keSaf kəsap̄ ḵəsap̄ vechasPa wə·ḵas·pā wəḵaspāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 5:14 HEB: דִּ֣י דַהֲבָ֣ה וְכַסְפָּא֒ דִּ֣י נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר NAS: the gold and silver utensils KJV: gold and silver of the house INT: whom the gold and silver whom Nebuchadnezzar Ezra 6:5 Ezra 7:15 Ezra 7:16 Ezra 7:17 Ezra 7:18 Ezra 7:22 Daniel 2:32 Daniel 2:35 Daniel 2:45 Daniel 5:2 Daniel 5:4 Daniel 5:23 13 Occurrences |