קֶרֶץ
𐤒𐤓𐤑
qerets
H7171 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or act of complete destruction, eradication, or annihilation, often conveying the sense of being cut off or removed entirely. Used chiefly to denote utter ruin or the final elimination of something, frequently in judgment or calamity contexts.
Semantic Range
eradication, annihilation, total destruction, complete removal, utter ruin, extermination
Root / Etymology
From the root קָרַץ (qarats), which means 'to nip, pinch off, squeeze; to cut off.' The form קֶרֶץ (qerets) is a noun formation from this root, concretizing the idea of 'being cut off,' and develops semantically to signify total destruction or extirpation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
This rare noun appears in poetic or prophetic contexts to intensify ideas of annihilation, paralleling other biblical terms like חָרֵם (ḥerem, 'devoted to destruction') and שָׁמֵם (shamem, 'to be desolate'). Its underlying image is of something pinched off or uprooted, but its figurative use extends to total ruin or extermination. The root קָרַץ in other contexts often refers to small acts like 'pinching' (e.g., of the lips or eyes), but קֶרֶץ is specialized for the extreme outcome of 'cutting off.' Standard English translations, such as 'destruction' or 'extirpation,' capture the force but not the visual nuance of the Hebrew root. There is no evidence the term maintained a technical or cultic sense across periods; it is always associated with catastrophic removal or death, whether in monarchic prophetic literature (Isaiah 10:23) or later collections.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָרַץ; extirpation (as if by constriction); destruction.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קרץ (q-r-ts) — pinch, cut off, squeeze
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7171-01 |
קֶ֥רֶץ | qerets | HNcmsa |
gadfly | complete cut-off | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7171-01 |
Jeremiah 46:20 | קֶ֥רֶץ | qerets | HNcmsa |
gadfly | complete cut-off |