מְכֵרָתִי
𐤌𐤊𐤓𐤕𐤉
Mekherati
H4382 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Demonym referring to an inhabitant or native of Mekerah, a settlement or locality within ancient Israelite territory. The term is used specifically to identify a person originating from this location.
Semantic Range
inhabitant of Mekerah; person originating from Mekerah (Mekerathite); demonymic adjective applied to individuals from the locality
Root / Etymology
From the (attested but otherwise unused) toponym מְכֵרָה (Mekerah), itself formed from the root מָכַר (to sell), though the specific connection or significance is unclear; the gentilic suffix -ִי (-î) forms a demonym indicating origin or affiliation with a place.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְכֵרָתִי occurs only in 1 Chronicles 27:30, where Jaziz the Mekerathite is named among officials responsible for royal livestock in King David's administration, suggesting that Mekerah was a location with recognized inhabitants. The place Mekerah itself is otherwise unattested beyond this mention, and its exact identification remains unknown. English translations traditionally render the term as 'Mecherathite.' The gentilic formation parallels other biblical demonyms (e.g., הַרִּפָּאִי, 'the Rephaimite'), indicating a common way of designating geographic or clan affiliation rather than ethnic or religious identity. The term does not carry broader religious or national connotations; its function is local and territorial. There is no evidence of a broader semantic range or significant development of the term after its biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patrial from an unused name (the same as מְכֵרָה) of a place in Palestine; a Mekerathite, or inhabitant of Mekerah; Mecherathite.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מכר (m-k-r) — to sell, to transfer ownership
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4353 | מָכִיר | to Makir |
| H4354 | מָכִירִי | the Makirite clansman |
| H4376 | מָכַר | the one who sells |
| H4377 | מֶכֶר | sale |
| H4380 | מְכֵרָה | their marketplaces |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4382-01 |
הַ/מְּכֵ֣רָתִ֔י | hamekherati | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Mecherathite | the Mekerahite | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4382-01 |
1 Chronicles 11:36 | הַ/מְּכֵ֣רָתִ֔י | hamekherati | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Mecherathite | the Mekerahite |