Hebrew word · H3800

כֶּ֫תֶם

ketem

gold

Gold, specifically the finest gold. It is a rare and elevated word, used almost only in poetry and often paired with Ophir. It is often thought to come from an Egyptian word for gold (ktm.t), though this is not certain.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

gold, pure gold

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Daniel 10:5

Range of meaning

Gold, specifically the finest gold. It is a rare and elevated word, used almost only in poetry and often paired with Ophir. It is often thought to come from an Egyptian word for gold (ktm.t), though this is not certain.

Against the English

KJV and BSB 'fine gold' and WEB and YLT 'pure gold' both convey the sense well. Simply 'gold' loses the elevated register.

Used elsewhere in the period

Job 28:16, 19 (wisdom cannot be bought with 'ketem of Ophir'); Job 31:24; Ps 45:9 ('the queen in ketem of Ophir'); Prov 25:12; Song 5:11 (the beloved's head is 'ketem, paz'); Isa 13:12 ('ketem of Ophir'); Lam 4:1 ('how the fine gold has changed').

From the study of Lamentations 4:1

Range of meaning

Ketem is a high-register poetic word for gold, often associated with the finest grades and distant sources. Tov adds "good," meaning of excellent quality.

Against the English

"Pure gold" (BSB, WEB, and others) and "most fine gold" (KJV) give the sense well. "Pure" is an interpretation of status, since the Hebrew literally says "good." YLT shows the wording most clearly: "the best — the pure gold."

Used elsewhere in the period

Found in Job 28:16, 19; 31:24; Psalm 45:9; Proverbs 25:12; Song of Songs 5:11; Isaiah 13:12; Daniel 10:5. It is probably borrowed from an Egyptian word for gold (see HALOT). The Greek Septuagint translates it here as "silver," and the Vulgate as "colour." Solomon's temple is described as overlaid with zahav tov, "good gold" (2 Chronicles 3:5).

From the study of Proverbs 25:12

Range of meaning

Gold, specifically of the finest or purest kind. It is a poetic and rare word, found almost only in poetry and prophecy. It may be borrowed from Egyptian ktm(t), 'gold' (HALOT considers this; it is not certain).

Against the English

'Fine gold' (BSB, KJV, WEB) and 'pure gold' (YLT) catch the step up from ordinary zahav. ESV's plain 'gold' loses it.

Used elsewhere in the period

Job 28:16, 19 (wisdom cannot be valued in 'gold of Ophir'); Job 31:24; Ps 45:9 [Heb 45:10] (the queen in 'gold of Ophir'); Song 5:11 ('his head is the finest gold'); Isa 13:12; Lam 4:1 ('how the fine gold has changed'); Dan 10:5. This is its only use in Proverbs.

Where it appears

Job · 3

  1. Job 28:16 בְּכֶ֣תֶם in [the] gold of

    It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.

  2. Job 28:19 בְּכֶ֥תֶם in gold

    Topaz from Cush cannot compare to it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.

  3. Job 31:24 וְ֝לַכֶּ֗תֶם and to <the> pure gold

    If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,

    Here: 'And to the fine gold': a rare poetic word for the purest, most precious gold, used for 'gold of Ophir' (Job 28:16; Isaiah 13:12). The preposition 'to' sets up direct speech: Job is speaking *to* the gold.

Psalms · 1

  1. Psalm 45:9 בְּכֶ֣תֶם in [the] gold of

    The daughters of kings are among your honored women; the queen stands at your right hand, adorned with the gold of Ophir.

    Here: A poetic word for the finest, purest gold. 'In' gold means dressed and adorned with it: jewelry, gold thread, or both.

Proverbs · 1

  1. Proverbs 25:12 כָ֑תֶם pure gold

    Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

    Here: A rare, poetic word for gold of the finest quality, the sort of word used for 'gold of Ophir'. Using it raises the second half-line a step above the first: gold, and then the very best gold.

Song of Songs · 1

  1. Song of Songs 5:11 כֶּ֣תֶם [is] gold of

    His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 13:12 מִכֶּ֥תֶם more than [the] gold of

    I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.

Lamentations · 1

  1. Lamentations 4:1 הַכֶּ֣תֶם the gold

    How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner.

    Here: A rarer, poetic word for gold of the highest prestige, matching the plain zahav in the previous line. The poet moves from gold to the finest gold, and the loss grows as he does.

Daniel · 1

  1. Daniel 10:5 בְּכֶ֥תֶם with [the] gold of

    I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.

    Here: Ketem is a rare, elevated word for the finest gold, used mostly in poetry (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Lamentations). Choosing it signals royal splendour.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.