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מְכֵרָה

𐤌𐤊𐤓𐤄

mᵉkêrâh

H4380 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מכר to sell, to trade

Definition

A place of selling or trade; specifically, a site or building designated as a market, marketplace, or trading-post. The term also extends to mean a mart or commercial exchange, emphasizing the function of buying and selling goods.

Semantic Range

marketplace, market, place of sale, trading-post, mart

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root מכר (m-k-r), meaning 'to sell'. מְכֵרָה is a feminine noun form designating the place—rather than the action—of sale. The connection to כּוּר ('to dig; to pierce') suggested in Strong's is unlikely; modern scholarship affirms מְכֵרָה derives from מכר, not כּוּר. Thus, its core meaning is a location or institution where commerce takes place.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מְכֵרָה appears predominantly in post-exilic texts (Ezra 10:16) where it refers to sites of market activity and trade rather than simply a generic 'habitation.' Its rare attestation likely corresponds to a stage of Israelite society with more formalized commerce, distinguishing it from earlier periods described in the texts, which had barter or more informal trade arrangements. The usual English rendering 'marketplace' or 'market' captures the essential function, though it may not convey (as the Hebrew does) the nuance of a specifically designated or recognized space within the community. The term stands in contrast with מָקוֹם ('place') or חָנוּת ('shop' in later Hebrew), as מְכֵרָה denotes communal or organized trading venues rather than generic locations or individual stalls. The association with 'sword' in older lexica is erroneous and reflects confusion with unrelated roots or similar-sounding terms. In rabbinic and later Hebrew, related forms maintain the sense of commercial activity, confirming this interpretation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from the same as כּוּר in the sense of stabbing; a sword; habitation.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מכר (m-k-r) — to sell, to trade

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4353 מָכִיר to Makir
H4354 מָכִירִי the Makirite clansman
H4376 מָכַר the one who sells
H4377 מֶכֶר sale
H4381 מִכְרִי Sold-one

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4380-01 מְכֵרֹתֵי/הֶֽם mekheroteyhem HNcfpc/Sp3mp their swords their marketplaces 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4380-01 Genesis 49:5 מְכֵרֹתֵי/הֶֽם mekheroteyhem HNcfpc/Sp3mp their swords their marketplaces
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