kashaph, “to use enchantment,” strong’s H3784

1 Jun 2017

First occurrence

Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their secret arts. Exo 7:11

Original Hebrew

Strong’s H3784 כשף kashaph, a primitive root meaning, “to pray, to offer prayers or worship;” Gesenius’ Hebrew Lexicon says its usage in Hebrew is restricted only to the worship of idols, thus “to use enchantment.” The ancient pictographs are kaph + shin + pey.

kaph כ, ך = the open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
shin ש = two front teeth, thus sharp, press, eat, two, again
pey פ, ף = the mouth, thus open, blow, scatter, edge

Opened palms (kaph) lifted up in worship while whispering (as the breath passes through the teeth, shin) with the mouth (pey), i.e. to pray; however in the Hebrew Bible only used of false idols, thus, to mutter enchantments.

THE ANCIENT HEBREW LEXICON | INDEX OF HEBREW ROOTS