Original Word: כַּשְׂדִּי
Part of Speech: Proper Name
Transliteration: Kasdiy
Pronunciation: kas-DEE or kas-DEE-mah
Phonetic Spelling: (kas-dee')
KJV: Chaldeans, Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea
NASB: Chaldeans, Chaldea, Chaldeans', Chaldees
Word Origin: [towards the Kasdites]

1. into Chaldea), patronymically from H3777 (only in the plural)
2. a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed
3. (by implication) a Chaldaean (as if so descended)
4. also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people

Chaldeans, Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea

(occasionally with enclitic) Kasdiymah {kas-dee'- maw}; towards the Kasdites -- into Chaldea), patronymically from Kesed (only in the plural); a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people -- Chaldeans, Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea.

Word Origin
from Kesed
Definition
a region of S. Bab. and its inhab.
NASB Translation
Chaldea (7), Chaldeans (71), Chaldeans' (1), Chaldees (1).

Etymology and Identity

כַּשְׂדִּי designates the “Chaldeans,” a Semitic people whose homeland lay in the marshy southern reaches of Mesopotamia, later incorporated into the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Scripture views them both as a distinct tribal group and as synonymous with Babylon at the height of its power.

Early Biblical Roots

Genesis introduces the Chaldeans in connection with Abram’s ancestry: “Terah took his son Abram… and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans” (Genesis 11:31). Thus the gospel story’s first patriarch is called out of a land already marked by idolatry (cf. Joshua 24:2–3), underscoring the grace of God who sovereignly elects and calls.

Rise to Imperial Power

After the fall of Assyria, the Chaldean king Nabopolassar established the Neo-Babylonian dynasty (circa 626 BC). His son Nebuchadnezzar II is the Scripture’s most prominent Chaldean ruler. 2 Kings describes successive Babylonian campaigns:

• 2 Kings 24:2 – “The LORD sent against Jehoiakim raiding bands of Chaldeans…”
• 2 Kings 25:4–6 – Jerusalem’s walls breached, Zedekiah captured, the city burned.

Parallel accounts appear in 2 Chronicles 36 and Jeremiah 39. The Chaldeans are the human agents, yet Yahweh’s sovereign purpose is explicit: “Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the LORD” (2 Kings 24:3).

Instrument of Divine Judgment

Habakkuk 1:6 succinctly reveals their theological role: “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, a ruthless and impetuous nation.” God employs them to chastise covenant-breaking Judah while simultaneously holding them accountable for their brutality (Habakkuk 2:6–17). In this dual theme—judgment and eventual retribution—the Chaldeans exemplify the tension of divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

Destruction of Babylon and the Chaldeans

The prophets turn from announcing Babylonian ascendancy to proclaiming its downfall:

• Isaiah 13:19 – “Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown like Sodom and Gomorrah.”
• Jeremiah 51:24 – “I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion.”
• Jeremiah 51:54 – “The sound of a cry comes from Babylon… for the LORD is destroying Babylon; He will silence her great voice.”

By the time of Cyrus the Persian (539 BC), the Chaldean empire collapses exactly as foretold, vindicating the prophetic word and demonstrating that no earthly power can thwart God’s redemptive plan.

Chaldean Culture: Wisdom and Astrology

In Isaiah 47:10–13 the Chaldeans are mocked for their confidence in sorcery and stargazing. Daniel’s Aramaic narrative (Daniel 2:2, 10, 4:7, 5:7) pictures “the Chaldeans” among court specialists in divination. Their famed learning magnifies God’s supremacy when Daniel receives divine revelation none of them can attain (Daniel 2:27-28).

Chaldeans in the Exile Narratives

Ezekiel, writing by the Kebar River among the exiles, frequently names “the land of the Chaldeans” (Ezekiel 1:3) and rehearses Jerusalem’s siege (Ezekiel 12:13; 23:23). Ezra 5:12 recalls how “King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean king,” destroyed the first temple—contextualizing the post-exilic community’s rebuilding efforts under Persian sanction.

Theological Themes

1. Sovereignty of God: He raises up and brings down empires (Daniel 2:21).
2. Covenant Faithfulness: Judah’s exile under the Chaldeans fulfills the warnings of Deuteronomy 28, proving God keeps His word both in blessing and in curse.
3. Typology of Babylon: Throughout Scripture “Chaldea/Babylon” becomes a paradigm of worldly pride opposing God, foreshadowing Revelation’s “Babylon the Great.”
4. Hope of Redemption: Even in exile, promises of return (Jeremiah 29:10) and ultimate judgment on the oppressor preserve the messianic line and anticipate the kingdom of Christ.

Ministry and Application

• Worship the Lord who rules history; political upheavals are under His command.
• Guard against the allure of “Chaldean” wisdom that exalts human insight over divine revelation.
• Stand firm in holiness during cultural captivity, like Daniel, whose loyalty to God outshone Chaldean grandeur.
• Proclaim the certain downfall of every contemporary “Babylon,” witnessing to the gospel that outlasts all kingdoms.

Key References (representative among ≈80 occurrences)

Genesis 11:28, 31; 2 Kings 24:2; 2 Kings 25:4-13; 2 Chronicles 36:17; Ezra 5:12; Nehemiah 9:30; Job 1:17; Isaiah 13:19; Isaiah 43:14; Isaiah 47:1-10; Jeremiah 21:4, 9; Jeremiah 32:5, 28-29; Jeremiah 50:1, 8, 25, 45; Jeremiah 51:4-54; Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 12:13; Ezekiel 23:23; Habakkuk 1:6-11.

הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים הַכַּשְׂדִּ֖ים הַכַּשְׂדִּ֗ים הַכַּשְׂדִּ֛ים הַכַּשְׂדִּ֜ים הַכַּשְׂדִּֽים׃ הַכַּשְׂדִּים֙ הכשדים הכשדים׃ וְכַשְׂדִּ֖ים וְכַשְׂדִּ֥ים וְלַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים וכשדים ולכשדים כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים כַּשְׂדִּ֑ימָה כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים כַּשְׂדִּ֜ים כַּשְׂדִּ֞ים כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃ כַּשְׂדִּֽימָה׃ כַּשְׂדִּים֙ כַשְׂדִּ֑ים כַשְׂדִּ֔ים כַשְׂדִּ֖ים כַשְׂדִּ֗ים כַשְׂדִּ֙ימָה֙ כַשְׂדִּֽים׃ כַשְׂדִּים֩ כַשְׂדִּ֔ים כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים כשדים כשדים׃ כשדימה כשדימה׃ מִכַּשְׂדִּים֒ מכשדים chasDim chasDimah hak·kaś·dîm hakkasDim hakkaśdîm kaś·dî·māh ḵaś·dî·māh kaś·dîm ḵaś·dîm kasDim kaśdîm ḵaśdîm kasDimah kaśdîmāh ḵaśdîmāh mik·kaś·dîm mikkasDim mikkaśdîm vechasDim velakkasDim wə·ḵaś·dîm wə·lak·kaś·dîm wəḵaśdîm wəlakkaśdîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts