To tie , physically ( gird , confine , compact ) or mentally (in love , league )
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The Hebrew verb qashar describes tying something physically, binding lives or affections together, or joining people in a conspiracy. Rahab ties the scarlet cord in her window, Jonathan's life is knit to David's, Jacob's life is bound up with Benjamin's, and royal narratives use the verb for plots against rulers.
Reader summary
Full entry for קָשַׁר (H7194) · Open the biblical lexicon
The Hebrew verb qashar describes tying something physically, binding lives or affections together, or joining people in a conspiracy. Rahab ties the scarlet cord in her window, Jonathan's life is knit to David's, Jacob's life is bound up with Benjamin's, and royal narratives use the verb for plots against rulers.
The BSB source-word alignment has 44 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include conspired (10), tie (2), Tie them (2), who conspired (2), who had conspired (2).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 30:41. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Kings (10), 2 Chronicles (6), 1 Kings (4), Genesis (4).
The Hebrew verb qashar describes tying something physically, binding lives or affections together, or joining people in a conspiracy. Rahab ties the scarlet cord in her window, Jonathan's life is knit to David's, Jacob's life is bound up with Benjamin's, and royal narratives use the verb for plots against rulers. Proverbs says folly is bound up in a child's heart within ancient discipline instruction.
These uses do not make every strong attachment healthy or every alliance faithful. People can join in covenant loyalty, anxious dependence, political conspiracy, or harm. The scarlet cord is a specific sign within Joshua's conquest narrative, not a protective object for ritual reuse. Proverbs 22:15 must not be used to justify beating or humiliating children; discipline across Scripture remains accountable to protection, proportion, instruction, and the child's dignity.
Responsible teaching distinguishes a knot, relational attachment, shared loyalty, and secret plot while testing every bond by truth, consent, justice, and freedom from abuse.
Qashar ranges from tying an object to lives knit in affection and groups bound in conspiracy. The thing joined, the participants, and the purpose determine whether the bond signals protection, love, dependency, treason, or disciplined formation.
Unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house.
The spies instruct Rahab to tie the scarlet cord in the window as the agreed sign for her household.
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
Jonathan's life becomes knit to David's, and Jonathan loves him as himself.
Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”
Saul accuses his servants of conspiring against him and concealing Jonathan's covenant with David.
So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life,
Judah explains that Jacob's life is closely bound to Benjamin's life as he pleads to protect his brother.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
The proverb describes folly as bound up in a child's heart within wisdom instruction about correction.
When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and cast it into the Euphrates.
Seraiah is told to tie a stone to the scroll and throw it into the Euphrates as an enacted sign of Babylon's fall.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Hebrew word. Binding ranges from physical tying to forming covenantal bonds; conspiracy/treason as illegitimate binding against authority.
Binding ranges from physical tying to forming covenantal bonds; conspiracy/treason as illegitimate binding against authority.
to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league) BDB: bind Usage: bind (up), (make a) conspire(-acy, -ator), join together, knit, stronger, work (treason).
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 44 lexical occurrence verses.
קָשַׁר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Qashar names connection, but Scripture evaluates what the connection serves. Rahab's cord is a concrete, agreed sign within the spies' promise and the fall of Jericho. Its color and knot do not become a reusable charm. Jonathan's life knit to David models costly affection and covenant loyalty, yet even cherished friendship should not be invoked to demand isolation from other relationships or unquestioned allegiance.
Genesis 44 describes Jacob's life bound to Benjamin's as Judah appeals to Joseph. The attachment reveals profound grief and love within a wounded family; it should not make emotional survival the child's burden. Royal narratives repeatedly use qashar for conspiracy, reminding readers that unity can organize deception and violence. Saul's accusations also show how a fearful ruler may call relationships treasonous in order to protect power.
Proverbs 22 addresses folly and correction in compact wisdom language. It cannot bear an application that injures children or treats physical pain as the guaranteed remover of sin. Jeremiah's stone-bound scroll is a commanded prophetic sign concerning Babylon, not a general ritual. Faithful application welcomes loyal relationships and clear signs while preserving consent, truth, outside support, and safeguarding.
Strong bonds should help people love God and neighbor, not trap them through secrecy, fear, exclusivity, or force.
1Sam.18.1
Qashar is a Hebrew verb for tying or binding. A concrete object can be tied, lives can be described as knit together, and a group can bind itself in conspiracy. Voice and complements identify physical, relational, or political joining.
New Testament language about unity, conspiracy, family attachment, friendship, discipline, and binding uses several Greek terms. Canonical comparison can clarify loyal and harmful bonds without turning physical signs into universal rituals.