כְּסִיל

From the study of Isaiah 13:10

Range of meaning

Two senses spelled the same way. (1) The common noun 'fool': a thick-headed, self-confident, morally stubborn person, very frequent in Proverbs (e.g. Prov 1:22; 26:11). (2) The proper name of the constellation Orion (Job 9:9; 38:31; Amos 5:8). Isaiah 13:10 is the only place it appears in the plural, 'their Orions', meaning Orion and constellations like it.

Against the English

Most English versions say 'constellations' (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT, ESV, NIV, NASB). That gets the plural meaning right, but a specific, named figure in the sky becomes a vague technical term. 'Orion' stays only in the Greek Septuagint and in footnotes.

How it drifted

Translators chose a general word because 'their Orions' sounds odd in English. Modern 'constellation' also brings in the scientific map of 88 sky regions, or zodiac astrology. Neither is what the Hebrew pictured.

Used elsewhere in the period

Orion is paired with the Pleiades (Hebrew Kimah) in Job 9:9, 38:31 and Amos 5:8, always as a work of God's creative power. Job 38:31 asks, 'Can you loosen the cords of Orion?' Many think this hints at a figure bound in the sky. The Septuagint renders kesil here as Ōriōn. In later Jewish and Arabic tradition the Orion figure was linked with an arrogant giant or rebel; some later sources identify him with Nimrod, the founder of Babel/Babylon (Gen 10:8–10). That link is late and cannot be shown for Isaiah's day.

From the study of Job 9:9

Range of meaning

(1) A fool: someone thick-headed, stubborn and morally careless. This is the common sense in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. (2) As a proper name, the constellation Orion (Job 9:9; 38:31; Amos 5:8). Isaiah 13:10 has the plural, 'their kəsîlîm', meaning the great constellations in general.

Against the English

Every major English version says 'Orion', which very probably names the right constellation. But the name brings in a Greek picture, Orion the hunter, while the Hebrew name pictures 'the Fool'.

How it drifted

English took over the Greek star name through the Septuagint and Vulgate tradition. The star pattern is the same; the story attached to it is not.

Used elsewhere in the period

Job 38:31: 'Can you loosen the cords of Kesil?' The Aramaic Targums render the word with naphla/nephilaya, 'giant(s)'. Arabic calls Orion al-jabbār, 'the giant'. Together these suggest a widespread Near Eastern picture of a huge, overbearing figure bound in the sky. Some later Jewish and Christian traditions tied him to Nimrod or to a rebel against God, but those links are late and uncertain.