כָּרַת

𐤊𐤓𐤕

kârath

H3772 verb

SILEX Entry

Root כרת to cut, sever, divide, conclude (a covenant)

Definition

To cut, sever, or divide something, typically with a sharp instrument; frequently used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. It carries the sense of physically cutting as well as bringing something to an end; in legal or ritual expressions, it refers to the formal undertaking of a covenant, signifying the act of making or ratifying a solemn agreement, often through a ritual act of cutting (such as animals sacrificed and divided as part of covenant ceremonies).

Semantic Range

to cut, cut off, sever, fell (trees), exterminate, destroy, bring to an end, make (a covenant, treaty, alliance), to be excluded or banished, to free or set apart, conclude or formalize a relationship

Root / Etymology

Root כר״ת. The root meaning is 'to cut, sever.' The verb כָּרַת in its basic sense means 'to cut' or 'to cut off.' The extended sense, especially in legal or ritual contexts, arises from the practice of ratifying covenants through ceremonies involving the cutting of animals, with parties passing between the pieces, hence 'to make a covenant.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

כָּרַת appears frequently in narrative, legal, and prophetic texts. In literal usage, it describes cutting down trees (Deut 19:5; Isa 10:34), severing body parts (Exod 4:25), or destroying enemies (Josh 9:23; Hos 8:4). Its special idiomatic use in covenant-making (Gen 15:18; Jer 34:18) reflects ancient Near Eastern treaty rituals, where 'cutting a covenant' alluded to sacrificial ceremonies. The phrase 'to cut a covenant' became the standard biblical idiom for forming an alliance or treaty, unlike the English 'make a covenant,' obscuring the original imagery. Over time, כָּרַת broadened to mean 'bring to an end' or 'remove,' and in some contexts, 'exterminate' or 'destroy.' In post-exilic and later periods, the root retained legal and metaphorical senses but also developed meanings tied to severing relationships or consequences for covenant violation. English translations sometimes narrowly render the idiom, losing the physical act behind the metaphor. Related roots: גָדַע ('to hew' or 'cut down'), חָרָם ('ban, devote to destruction'), which sometimes overlap but with different emphases.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כרת (k-r-t) — to cut, sever, divide, conclude (a covenant)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3735 כָּרָא she pierced herself in grief
H3747 כְּרִית Kerith, the Cut-Ravine
H3748 כְּרִיתוּת marital cutting-off
H3773 כָּרֻתָה hewn timbers
H3774 כְּרֵתִי the Kerethite guardsman

Word Forms

92 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3772-68 וְ/הִכְרַתִּ֥י vehikherati HC/Vhq1cs and I will cut off and I will cut off 30
H3772-89 יִכָּרֵ֧ת yikaret HVNi3ms be cut off he will be cut off 23
H3772-65 וַ/יִּכְרֹ֥ת vayikherot HC/Vqw3ms and made and he cut 21
H3772-82 וְ/נִכְרְתָ֛ה venikheretah HC/VNq3fs shall be cut off and she shall be cut off 18
H3772-17 כָּרַ֧ת karat HVqp3ms made he cut off 17
H3772-34 לְ/הַכְרִית֙ lehakherit HR/Vhc to cut off to cause to cut off 12
H3772-19 כָּרַ֧תִּי karati HVqp1cs I have cut I cut 11
H3772-63 וַ/יִּכְרְת֥וּ vayikheretu HC/Vqw3mp and they cut off and they cut off 8
H3772-52 תִכְרֹ֥ת tikherot HVqi2ms you make you will cut 7
H3772-41 נִכְרַ֖ת nikherat HVNp3ms cut off was cut off 5

Occurrences in Scripture

290 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3772-89 Genesis 9:11 יִכָּרֵ֧ת yikaret HVNi3ms be cut off he will be cut off
H3772-17 Genesis 15:18 כָּרַ֧ת karat HVqp3ms made he cut off
H3772-82 Genesis 17:14 וְ/נִכְרְתָ֛ה venikheretah HC/VNq3fs shall be cut off and she shall be cut off
H3772-63 Genesis 21:27 וַ/יִּכְרְת֥וּ vayikheretu HC/Vqw3mp made and they cut off
H3772-63 Genesis 21:32 וַ/יִּכְרְת֥וּ vayikheretu HC/Vqw3mp they made and they cut off
H3772-82 Genesis 26:28 וְ/נִכְרְתָ֥ה venikheretah HC/Vqh1cp and let us make and she shall be cut off
H3772-44 Genesis 31:44 נִכְרְתָ֥ה nikheretah HVqh1cp let us make let us cut
H3772-50 Genesis 41:36 תִכָּרֵ֥ת tikaret HVNi3fs be cut off she will be cut off
H3772-60 Exodus 4:25 וַ/תִּכְרֹת֙ vatikherot HC/Vqw3fs and cut off and she cut
H3772-34 Exodus 8:5 לְ/הַכְרִית֙ lehakherit HR/Vhc to destroy to cause to cut off