H3697 H3697
to trim, clip, or shear (as hair)
This verb describes trimming or clipping, used specifically in Ezekiel 44:20 for priests' hair maintenance. They were to neither shave their heads completely nor let their hair grow wild, but rather trim it properly - a middle way of holiness distinct from both pagan practices (head-shaving) and disorder (unkempt growth). The infinitive absolute intensifies the command ('they shall surely trim'), emphasizing the requirement's importance. This prescription balances order and distinction, creating visible markers of priestly status and holiness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To trim or clip hair to proper length, appearing twice in Ezekiel 44:20 (infinitive absolute plus imperfect for emphasis). The command establishes priestly grooming standards distinct from both mourning practices (complete shaving) and neglect (excessive growth). This careful trimming maintained visible holiness without adopting pagan customs, embodying the principle of being set apart while avoiding syncretistic practices. 2×
AR["قَصًّا", "يَقُصُّونَ"]·ben["ছাঁটাই", "তারা-ছাঁটাবে"]·DE["[יכסמו]", "[כסום]"]·EN["they-shall-trim", "trimming"]·FR["tondre"]·heb["יכסמו", "כסום"]·HI["काटते-काटते", "वे-काटेंगे"]·ID["akan-memangkas", "memangkas"]·IT["[יכסמו]", "[כסום]"]·jav["cukur", "sami-nyukur"]·KO["그것들이-까을-것이다", "까는-것으로"]·PT["aparando", "apararão"]·RU["будут-стричь", "стричь"]·ES["cortando", "cortarán"]·SW["kukata-vizuri", "watakata-vizuri"]·TR["kısaltacaklar", "kısaltarak"]·urd["ترشوائیں-گے", "کترواکر"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [כָּסַם] vb. shear, clip (Assyrian kasâmu, cut in pieces, according to DlHWB 344);—only Qal Impf. and Inf. abs. כָּסוֹם יִכְסְמוּ אֶת־רָאשֵׁיהֶם Ez 44:20 they shall by all means clip their heads (opp. יְגַלֵּ֔חוּ shave and יְשַׁלֵּ֑חוּ, i.e. let grow freely).