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כָּרָה

𐤊𐤓𐤄

kârâh

H3738 verb

SILEX Entry

Root כרה to dig, cut into, excavate

Definition

To dig, bore, or excavate, with primary reference to cutting into the ground or another surface. The term can be used concretely for the manual process of digging (e.g., wells, pits, graves) and more rarely is extended metaphorically for the act of scheming, plotting, or devising—especially in the sense of laying a trap or preparing harm. The concept further extends by metonymy to preparing or making something, particularly a feast, by provisioning and setting up through labor.

Semantic Range

to dig (a well, pit, grave), to bore or open a hole, to prepare (a banquet), to devise or plot (especially evil), to scheme, to make provision through physical labor

Root / Etymology

From the root כרה, which carries the core idea of 'digging, excavating, cutting into.' The verb כָּרָה arises as a primary verb, generally denoting the action of digging or preparing by excavation. Its less frequent metaphorical senses (to plot or devise) and metonymic use in 'making a banquet' derive from the physical act and work of preparation implied by the root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, כָּרָה most often refers to concrete acts of digging—such as wells (Genesis 26:25), cisterns, or graves (Psalm 7:16). The act is associated with physical exertion and provisioning, critical to ancient agrarian and semi-nomadic life. The verb becomes metaphorical in certain poetic or wisdom contexts, where 'digging a pit' may refer to scheming or planning another's downfall (Psalm 57:7, Proverbs 16:27), a common idiom in ancient Near Eastern literature. The derived sense for 'preparing a feast' (1 Samuel 25:25) relates to the work or labor required for preparation, possibly reflecting the need to dig ovens, pits, or firepits for cooking. English translations often use 'dig,' 'prepare,' or 'make'—but these may obscure the connection to underlying physical labor in the original text. Unlike some other Hebrew verbs for digging (e.g., חָפַר), כָּרָה carries the additional semantic extension toward preparation and scheming, showing a broader semantic range.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to dig; figuratively, to plot; generally, to bore or open; dig, [idiom] make (a banquet), open.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כרה (k-r-h) — to dig, excavate, cut into

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3739 כָּרָה you will purchase
H3740 כֵּרָה acquired portion
H3741 כָּרָה to dig
H4379 מִכְרֶה and excavated pit of

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3738-05 כָּר֣וּ karu HVqp3cp have dug they dug 2
H3738-08 כֹּרֶ֣ה koreh HVqrmsa digs one who digs 2
H3738-02 כָּ֭רָֽה karah HVqp3ms he dug he dug 2
H3738-07 כָר֥וּ kharu HVqp3cp they have dug they dug 2
H3738-06 כָּר֨וּ/הָ֙ karuha HVqp3cp/Sp3fs dug it they dug her 1
H3738-12 יִכְרֶ֥ה yikhereh HVqi3ms digs he digs 1
H3738-04 כָּרִ֤יתִי kariti HVqp1cs I dug I dug 1
H3738-09 וַ/יִּכְרוּ vayikheru HC/Vqw3mp and they dug and they dug 1
H3738-10 וְ֝/תִכְר֗וּ vetikheru HC/Vqi2mp and bargain and you will dig 1
H3738-01 כָּ֝/אֲרִ֗י kaari HRd/Ncmsa like a lion digger 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3738-09 Genesis 26:25 וַ/יִּכְרוּ vayikheru HC/Vqw3mp and they dug and they dug
H3738-04 Genesis 50:5 כָּרִ֤יתִי kariti HVqp1cs I dug I dug
H3738-12 Exodus 21:33 יִכְרֶ֥ה yikhereh HVqi3ms digs he digs
H3738-06 Numbers 21:18 כָּר֨וּ/הָ֙ karuha HVqp3cp/Sp3fs dug it they dug her
H3738-07 Jeremiah 18:20 כָר֥וּ kharu HVqp3cp they have dug they dug
H3738-07 Jeremiah 18:22 כָר֤וּ kharu HVqp3cp they have dug they dug
H3738-02 Psalms 7:16 כָּ֭רָֽה karah HVqp3ms he dug he dug
H3738-01 Psalms 22:17 כָּ֝/אֲרִ֗י kaari HRd/Ncmsa like a lion digger
H3738-03 Psalms 40:7 כָּרִ֣יתָ karita HVqp2ms you have dug you dug
H3738-05 Psalms 57:7 כָּר֣וּ karu HVqp3cp they dug they dug
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