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כֹתֶרֶת

𐤊𐤕𐤓𐤕

kôthereth

H3805 noun

SILEX Entry

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.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

כָּתַר (kôthereth) — to encircle, to crown, to surround

Root כָּתַר to encircle, to crown, to surround

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3805-02 הַ/כֹּתֶ֣רֶת hakoteret HTd/Ncfsa the capital the crowning capital the capital 7
H3805-01 הַ/כֹּֽתָרֹת֙ hakotarot HTd/Ncfpa of-the-capitals the crowning capitals the capitals 6
H3805-05 לַ/כֹּתֶ֣רֶת lakoteret HRd/Ncfsa for-capital to the crowning-capital for the capital 4
H3805-07 וְ/כֹֽתָרֹ֗ת vekhotarot HC/Ncfpa and-the-capitals crowning capitals crowning capitals 2
H3805-08 וְ/כֹתֶ֨רֶת vekhoteret HC/Ncfsa and capital and crowning capital and crowning capital 2
H3805-03 כֹתָרֹ֜ת khotarot HNcfpa capitals crowning capitals capitals 1
H3805-04 לַ/כֹּ֣תָרֹ֔ת lakotarot HRd/Ncfpa for-the-capitals to crowning capitals for the capitals 1
H3805-06 וְ/הַ/כֹּתָר֛וֹת vehakotarot HC/Td/Ncfpa and-the-capitals and the crowning capitals and the crowning capitals 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3805-03 1 Kings 7:16 כֹתָרֹ֜ת khotarot HNcfpa capitals crowning capitals capitals
H3805-02 1 Kings 7:16 הַ/כֹּתֶ֣רֶת hakoteret HTd/Ncfsa the capital the crowning capital the capital
H3805-02 1 Kings 7:16 הַ/כֹּתֶ֥רֶת hakoteret-2 HTd/Ncfsa the capital the crowning capital the capital
H3805-04 1 Kings 7:17 לַ/כֹּ֣תָרֹ֔ת lakotarot HRd/Ncfpa for-the-capitals to crowning capitals for the capitals
H3805-05 1 Kings 7:17 לַ/כֹּתֶ֣רֶת lakoteret HRd/Ncfsa for-capital to the crowning-capital for the capital
H3805-05 1 Kings 7:17 לַ/כֹּתֶ֥רֶת lakoteret-2 HRd/Ncfsa for-capital to the crowning-capital for the capital
H3805-01 1 Kings 7:18 הַ/כֹּֽתָרֹת֙ hakotarot HTd/Ncfpa the capitals the crowning capitals the capitals
H3805-05 1 Kings 7:18 לַ/כֹּתֶ֖רֶת lakoteret HRd/Ncfsa for the capital to the crowning-capital to the capital
H3805-07 1 Kings 7:19 וְ/כֹֽתָרֹ֗ת vekhotarot HC/Ncfpa And the capitals crowning capitals crowning capitals
H3805-07 1 Kings 7:20 וְ/כֹתָרֹ֗ת vekhotarot HC/Ncfpa and-the-capitals crowning capitals crowning capitals
H3805-02 1 Kings 7:20 הַ/כֹּתֶ֥רֶת hakoteret HTd/Ncfsa the-capital the crowning capital the crowning capital
H3805-05 1 Kings 7:31 לַ/כֹּתֶ֤רֶת lakoteret HRd/Ncfsa to-the-capital to the crowning-capital to the crowning-capital
H3805-01 1 Kings 7:41 הַ/כֹּתָרֹ֛ת hakotarot HTd/Ncfpa of-the-capitals the crowning capitals the capitals
H3805-01 1 Kings 7:41 הַ/כֹּֽתָרֹ֔ת hakotarot-2 HTd/Ncfpa of-the-capitals the crowning capitals the capitals
H3805-01 1 Kings 7:42 הַ/כֹּֽתָרֹ֔ת hakotarot HTd/Ncfpa capitals the crowning capitals the crowning capitals
H3805-08 2 Kings 25:17 וְ/כֹתֶ֨רֶת vekhoteret HC/Ncfsa and capital and crowning capital and capital
H3805-02 2 Kings 25:17 הַ/כֹּתֶרֶת֮ hakoteret HTd/Ncfsa the capital the crowning capital the capital
H3805-02 2 Kings 25:17 הַ/כֹּתֶ֛רֶת hakoteret-2 HTd/Ncfsa the capital the crowning capital the capital
H3805-08 Jeremiah 52:22 וְ/כֹתֶ֨רֶת vekhoteret HC/Ncfsa and-capital and crowning capital and crowning capital
H3805-02 Jeremiah 52:22 הַ/כֹּתֶ֥רֶת hakoteret HTd/Ncfsa the-capital the crowning capital the crowning capital
H3805-02 Jeremiah 52:22 הַ/כּוֹתֶ֛רֶת hakoteret-2 HTd/Ncfsa the-capital the crowning capital the crowning capital
H3805-06 2 Chronicles 4:12 וְ/הַ/כֹּתָר֛וֹת vehakotarot HC/Td/Ncfpa and-the-capitals and the crowning capitals and the crowning capitals
H3805-01 2 Chronicles 4:12 הַ/כֹּֽתָר֔וֹת hakotarot HTd/Ncfpa of-the-capitals the crowning capitals the crowning capitals
H3805-01 2 Chronicles 4:13 הַ/כֹּֽתָר֔וֹת hakotarot HTd/Ncfpa of-the-capitals the crowning capitals the crowning capitals
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