כֹתֶרֶת (H3805) — Hebrew Lexicon

כֹתֶרֶת

𐤊𐤕𐤓𐤕

kôthereth

H3805 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כָּתַר to encircle, to crown, to surround

Definition

An architectural term denoting the uppermost part or decorative capital of a column or pillar, frequently elaborately ornamented. In biblical descriptions, 'kôthereth' commonly refers to the decorative tops, especially of the columns in the temple constructed by Solomon, sometimes featuring motifs such as lilies or pomegranates. The term can extend to structurally and artistically significant crowning elements in ancient architecture, though it narrowly designates architectural capitals, not crowns for people.

Semantic Range

capital of a column, decorative architectural top of a pillar, chapiter

Root / Etymology

From the root כתר (k-t-r), which carries the core sense of 'to encircle, surround, crown.' 'Kôthereth' is a feminine noun form likely derived from this root, applied in the context of construction to describe the encircling or crowning feature at the top of a pillar.

Historical & Contextual Notes

'Kôthereth' is used exclusively in architectural contexts within the Hebrew Bible, particularly describing the capitals atop the two prominent columns, Jachin and Boaz, at the entrance of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 3). The term is never used to indicate a crown worn on the head (for this, Hebrew uses עֲטָרָה 'atarah' or נֵזֶר 'nezer'). In later periods and in rabbinic Hebrew, the meaning may broaden to other types of architectural ornament, but in the Hebrew Bible it is specific. English translations often render it as 'capital' or occasionally 'chapiter,' but 'chapiter' is archaic and can obscure the strictly architectural reference. The term does not denote ‘crown’ in the sense of royal headgear, though its root, shared with the noun for crown, influenced later developments in Hebrew and other Semitic architectural vocabulary. No significant semantic shifts are evident between monarchic and exilic periods, as its use remains archaic and tied to descriptions of the temple's physical structure.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine active participle of כָּתַר; the capital of a column; chapiter.

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Root Family

כתר (k-t-r) — to encircle, to crown, to surround

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H3803	כָּתַר	Encircle tightly!
H3804	כֶּתֶר	in a crown of

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H3805-02`	הַ/כֹּתֶ֣רֶת	hakoteret	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the capital	the crowning capital	7
`H3805-01`	הַ/כֹּֽתָרֹת֙	hakotarot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	of-the-capitals	the crowning capitals	6
`H3805-05`	לַ/כֹּתֶ֣רֶת	lakoteret	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for-capital	to the crowning-capital	4
`H3805-08`	וְ/כֹתֶ֨רֶת	vekhoteret	`HC/Ncfsa`	and capital	and crowning capital	2
`H3805-07`	וְ/כֹֽתָרֹ֗ת	vekhotarot	`HC/Ncfpa`	and-the-capitals	crowning capitals	2
`H3805-04`	לַ/כֹּ֣תָרֹ֔ת	lakotarot	`HRd/Ncfpa`	for-the-capitals	to crowning capitals	1
`H3805-03`	כֹתָרֹ֜ת	khotarot	`HNcfpa`	capitals	crowning capitals	1
`H3805-06`	וְ/הַ/כֹּתָר֛וֹת	vehakotarot	`HC/Td/Ncfpa`	and-the-capitals	and the crowning capitals	1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H3805-03`	1 Kings 7:16	כֹתָרֹ֜ת	khotarot	`HNcfpa`	capitals	crowning capitals
`H3805-02`	1 Kings 7:16	הַ/כֹּתֶ֣רֶת	hakoteret	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the capital	the crowning capital
`H3805-02`	1 Kings 7:16	הַ/כֹּתֶ֥רֶת	hakoteret-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the capital	the crowning capital
`H3805-04`	1 Kings 7:17	לַ/כֹּ֣תָרֹ֔ת	lakotarot	`HRd/Ncfpa`	for-the-capitals	to crowning capitals
`H3805-05`	1 Kings 7:17	לַ/כֹּתֶ֣רֶת	lakoteret	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for-capital	to the crowning-capital
`H3805-05`	1 Kings 7:17	לַ/כֹּתֶ֥רֶת	lakoteret-2	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for-capital	to the crowning-capital
`H3805-01`	1 Kings 7:18	הַ/כֹּֽתָרֹת֙	hakotarot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	the capitals	the crowning capitals
`H3805-05`	1 Kings 7:18	לַ/כֹּתֶ֖רֶת	lakoteret	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for the capital	to the crowning-capital
`H3805-07`	1 Kings 7:19	וְ/כֹֽתָרֹ֗ת	vekhotarot	`HC/Ncfpa`	And the capitals	crowning capitals
`H3805-07`	1 Kings 7:20	וְ/כֹתָרֹ֗ת	vekhotarot	`HC/Ncfpa`	and-the-capitals	crowning capitals
`H3805-02`	1 Kings 7:20	הַ/כֹּתֶ֥רֶת	hakoteret	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the-capital	the crowning capital
`H3805-05`	1 Kings 7:31	לַ/כֹּתֶ֤רֶת	lakoteret	`HRd/Ncfsa`	to-the-capital	to the crowning-capital
`H3805-01`	1 Kings 7:41	הַ/כֹּתָרֹ֛ת	hakotarot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	of-the-capitals	the crowning capitals
`H3805-01`	1 Kings 7:41	הַ/כֹּֽתָרֹ֔ת	hakotarot-2	`HTd/Ncfpa`	of-the-capitals	the crowning capitals
`H3805-01`	1 Kings 7:42	הַ/כֹּֽתָרֹ֔ת	hakotarot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	capitals	the crowning capitals
`H3805-08`	2 Kings 25:17	וְ/כֹתֶ֨רֶת	vekhoteret	`HC/Ncfsa`	and capital	and crowning capital
`H3805-02`	2 Kings 25:17	הַ/כֹּתֶרֶת֮	hakoteret	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the capital	the crowning capital
`H3805-02`	2 Kings 25:17	הַ/כֹּתֶ֛רֶת	hakoteret-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the capital	the crowning capital
`H3805-08`	Jeremiah 52:22	וְ/כֹתֶ֨רֶת	vekhoteret	`HC/Ncfsa`	and-capital	and crowning capital
`H3805-02`	Jeremiah 52:22	הַ/כֹּתֶ֥רֶת	hakoteret	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the-capital	the crowning capital
`H3805-02`	Jeremiah 52:22	הַ/כּוֹתֶ֛רֶת	hakoteret-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the-capital	the crowning capital
`H3805-06`	2 Chronicles 4:12	וְ/הַ/כֹּתָר֛וֹת	vehakotarot	`HC/Td/Ncfpa`	and-the-capitals	and the crowning capitals
`H3805-01`	2 Chronicles 4:12	הַ/כֹּֽתָר֔וֹת	hakotarot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	of-the-capitals	the crowning capitals
`H3805-01`	2 Chronicles 4:13	הַ/כֹּֽתָר֔וֹת	hakotarot	`HTd/Ncfpa`	of-the-capitals	the crowning capitals

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