קֶרַע
𐤒𐤓𐤏
qeraʻ
H7168 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fragment or torn piece of cloth or fabric, generally resulting from tearing, but by extension any torn or rent portion. Most commonly denotes a piece separated from the whole by force (tearing), often used of garments but not limited to clothing. The word denotes both literal and, by contextual extension, figurative 'rending.'
Semantic Range
torn piece of cloth, rag, fragment, torn scrap (of fabric), piece torn off (of other materials)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root קָרַע (qrʻ), meaning 'to tear, rend, split.' The noun form קֶרַע denotes that which is produced by the action of tearing or rending–specifically, a torn piece, scrap, or fragment.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, קֶרַע typically appears in the context of torn garments (e.g., as a sign of grief or distress, or when clothing is intentionally damaged), but can refer to a torn piece of any material. The term is primarily concrete and rarely metaphorical, though the act of rending (from the same root) is frequently used as a sign of mourning or indignation. English translations often render קֶרַע as 'rag' or 'piece,' but the nuance is specifically that of a part torn from a larger whole, emphasizing the act of tearing. The related verb קָרַע covers the action, whereas קֶרַע is the result or product of tearing. In post-biblical Hebrew, similar use continues, though the term may broaden to any scrap or fragment. The usage remains stable from monarchic through post-exilic periods, with no significant semantic shift detected. In most contexts, the English 'rag' is too narrow and may mislead, as קֶרַע can refer to any torn fragment, not just a scrap of old cloth.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָרַע; a rag; piece, rag.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קרע (q-r-ʿ) — to tear, to rend, to split by force
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7086 | קְעָרָה | the hollowed bowl |
| H7167 | קָרַע | I will tear her |
| H7172 | קַרְקַע | in the supporting-surface of |
| H7173 | קַרְקַע | the Qarqaʿ |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7168-01 |
קְרָעִֽים | qeraim | HNcmpa |
pieces | torn pieces | 3 |
H7168-02 |
וּ֝/קְרָעִ֗ים | uqeraim | HC/Ncmpa |
with-rags | and torn fragments | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7168-01 |
1 Kings 11:30 | קְרָעִֽים | qeraim | HNcmpa |
pieces | torn pieces |
H7168-01 |
1 Kings 11:31 | קְרָעִ֑ים | qeraim | HNcmpa |
pieces | torn pieces |
H7168-01 |
2 Kings 2:12 | קְרָעִֽים | qeraim | HNcmpa |
pieces | torn pieces |
H7168-02 |
Proverbs 23:21 | וּ֝/קְרָעִ֗ים | uqeraim | HC/Ncmpa |
with-rags | and torn fragments |