כָּרָה
𐤊𐤓𐤄
kârâh
H3741 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A meadow, pasture, or cultivated field; also used for a settlement, habitation, or cottage in certain contexts. The term generally denotes a tract of ground—often lush, grassy, or suitable for grazing—and in some usages, can refer to a dwelling or shelter situated in such a location.
Semantic Range
meadow, grassy pasture, cultivated field, grazing area, cottage, lodge, temporary shelter
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root כָּרָה (karah), but in this nominal feminine form (with the suffix ה), likely connected with the related noun כַּר (kar) meaning 'pasture, fold.' The root itself may be related to the idea of 'digging' or 'preparing ground,' but the lexical nuance in כָּרָה as a noun appears to have specialized toward the meaning of an open grassy place or meadow.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early Israelite texts, the term כָּרָה is rare and occurs in poetic or descriptive passages (e.g., Isaiah 30:23), likely denoting pastures or meadows suitable for livestock—an important economic and social feature in pre-monarchic and monarchic periods. The sense of 'cottage' or 'habitation' appears contextually, often as a dwelling associated with meadows or open country, sometimes rendered as 'lodge' or 'cottage' in English translations (e.g., Isaiah 1:8). This development likely reflects the practice of shepherds or workers building temporary shelters near fields or pastures. The term is closely related to כַּר (kar), which can refer more broadly to fold, pasture, or even a fertile mound. In post-exilic Hebrew, the term's use is minimal, with pastureland often referred to by other terms (e.g., מִרְעֶה, שָׂדֶה). English translations sometimes obscure the original agricultural or geographic sense, rendering the word as 'cottage' or 'lodge,' which can give the mistaken impression of a permanent structure rather than a shelter or open place. The translation 'Jew' for related ethnonyms does not pertain to this term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of כַּר; a meadow; cottage.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כרה (k-r-h) — to dig, to prepare ground, to clear land
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3738 | כָּרָה | digger |
| H3739 | כָּרָה | you will purchase |
| H3740 | כֵּרָה | acquired portion |
| H4379 | מִכְרֶה | and excavated pit of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3741-01 |
כְּרֹ֥ת | kerot | HNcfpc |
for shepherds | to dig | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3741-01 |
Zephaniah 2:6 | כְּרֹ֥ת | kerot | HNcfpc |
for shepherds | to dig |