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קֵרֵחַ

𐤒𐤓𐤇

qêrêach

H7142 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root קרח to be bald, to make bald

Definition

A person who is bald, typically referring to baldness at the crown or back of the head. The term denotes someone who lacks hair in a noticeable region of the scalp and is often used descriptively within legal or ritual contexts. It does not inherently carry negative or pejorative connotation, but denotes a literal physical trait.

Semantic Range

bald-headed, bald at the crown or back of the head, person with a hairless scalp region

Root / Etymology

From the root קָרַח (qarach), meaning 'to be bald, to make bald.' קֵרֵחַ is the qal active participle/adjective form, meaning 'one who is bald' or 'bald-headed.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term קֵרֵחַ occurs in Levitical priestly material (e.g., Leviticus 13:40,41) where various conditions of the scalp are discussed for ritual purity. It specifically distinguishes 'baldness' (especially at the back or crown of the head) from conditions deemed ritually impure, such as skin diseases (נֶגַע/צרעת). In these texts, being a קֵרֵחַ is classified as a natural physical condition that does not automatically render someone impure. The term is not used elsewhere for stigmatization or insult, unlike אָלוּם ('smooth, hairless') which can carry a derogatory sense. In later Hebrew and rabbinic literature, the distinction between types and locations of baldness continued to be relevant for halachic (legal) discussions around ritual status. Modern translations usually render the term as 'bald' or 'bald-headed person,' which accurately reflects the biblical usage, though the specifics of which part of the head is indicated may be obscured.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from קָרַח; bald (on the back of the head); bald (head).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קרח (q-r-ḥ) — to be bald, to make bald

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7139 קָרַח one made bald
H7140 קֶרַח the ice
H7141 קֹרַח like Qorach
H7143 קָרֵחַ Bald-one
H7144 קׇרְחָה bald patch

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7142-01 קֵרֵ֥חַ qerecha HAamsa baldhead bald-headed man 3

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7142-01 Leviticus 13:40 קֵרֵ֥חַ qerecha HAamsa bald bald-headed man
H7142-01 2 Kings 2:23 קֵרֵ֖חַ qerecha HAamsa baldhead bald-headed man
H7142-01 2 Kings 2:23 קֵרֵֽחַ qerecha-2 HAamsa baldhead bald-headed man
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